Northern Lesotho Tourism Information

Quick Facts: Northern Lesotho

• The northern region of Lesotho consists of the 5 districts: Butha-Bute, Leribe, Mokhotlong, Berea and the Maseru District
• Maseru is the capital of Lesotho as well as the capital of the Maseru District
• Maseru is situated on the Caledon River which borders South Africa

Introducing Northern Lesotho

The following districts form part of the Northern region of Lesotho:

•      Butha- Bute District
•      Leribe District
•      Mokhotlong District
•      Berea District
•      Maseru District

Maseru District, Lesotho

Maseru is the capital of Lesotho as well as the capital of the Maseru District.  Maseru is situated on the Caledon River, bordering South Africa.  Maseru was established as a police camp and assigned as the capital after Lesotho became a British protectorate in 1869. When Lesotho achieved independence in 1966, Maseru retained its status as capital. The name of the city is a Sesotho word meaning "place of the red sandstone".

Berea District, Lesotho

The Berea district in the northern region of Lesotho covers an area of 2,222 km².  Teyateyaneng is the capital of the district.  In the west, this district in Lesotho borders on the Free State Province of South Africa.

Within Lesotho, the Berea District borders on the following districts:

• Leribe District to the north
• Thaba-Tseka District to the southeast
• Maseru District to the south.

Butha-Buthe District, Lesotho

The Butha-Buthe district of Lesotho covers a region of 1,767 km² and has an approximate population of 150,000.  Butha-Buthe is the capital and the only town in the district.  In the north, Butha-Buthe borders on South Africa's Free State Province.  The Butha-Buthe district of Lesotho is traversed by the northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude.

Within Lesotho, the Butha-Buthe district shares borders with the following districts:

• Mokhotlong District to the southeast
• Leribe District to the south.

Leribe District, Lesotho

Lesotho's Leribe district covers an area of 2,828 km² and has a population of about 500 000. Hlotse is the capital of the Leribe district. The Leribe district has one additional town, namely Maputsoe.  Towards its western side, the Leribe district borders on the Free State Province of South Africa.

Within Lesotho, the Leribe district borders on the following districts:

• Butha-Buthe District to the north
• Mokhotlong District to the east
• Thaba-Tseka District to the southeast
• Berea District to the southwest.

Mokhotlong district in Lesotho

The Mokhotlong district in Lesotho is home to the highest terrain in the Maloti Range and the source of the Senqu River which is Lesotho’s primary watershed.  The Mokhotlong district in Lesotho covers an area of 4,075 km².  Mokhotlong is the capital and the only town in this district. Mokhotlong is traversed by the northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude. Towards the east, Mokhotlong borders on the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, with its northern side bordering the Free State Province of South Africa.

Within Lesotho, the Mokhotlong district borders on the following districts:

• Butha-Buthe District to the northwest
• Leribe District to the west
• Thaba-Tseka District to the south.