Which country is completely surrounded by South Africa?
Quick answer
Lesotho is the country completely surrounded by South Africa. Known as the “Kingdom in the Sky,” it’s the only independent country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters (3,281 feet). Its capital is Maseru, and it has about 2.3 million people.
Key facts
- Capital
- Maseru
- Area
- About 30,355 km²
- Languages
- Sesotho and English
- Currency
- Loti (pegged to the South African rand, which is also accepted)
- Independence
- 1966, from the United Kingdom
Countries completely inside another country
Only three independent countries are enclaves, surrounded on all sides by a single other country:
| Country | Surrounded by |
|---|---|
| Lesotho | South Africa |
| Vatican City | Italy |
| San Marino | Italy |
Lesotho is by far the largest of the three. For the smallest, see the smallest country in the world.
The Kingdom in the Sky
- Its lowest point is about 1,400 m, the highest low point of any country.
- Its highest peak, Thabana Ntlenyana, reaches 3,482 m.
- Winter brings snow, and Lesotho has a ski resort, Afriski.
- Rivers rising in its mountains supply water to South Africa through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a major source of income.
History in brief
In the 1820s, King Moshoeshoe I united the Basotho people in the mountains to resist raids and later colonial expansion. The territory became the British protectorate of Basutoland in 1868, avoiding absorption into South Africa, and gained independence as the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966. It’s a constitutional monarchy.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by road from South Africa or fly into Moshoeshoe I International Airport near Maseru. Mountain roads such as the Sani Pass are famous for their steep hairpin bends.
Culture
The Basotho blanket, worn like a cloak, and the cone-shaped mokorotlo hat are national symbols; the hat even appears on the flag.
Africa is also the only continent in all four hemispheres.
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