MASERU: The Capital City of LESOTHO | 10 INTERESTING FACTS скачать в хорошем качестве

MASERU: The Capital City of LESOTHO | 10 INTERESTING FACTS

Maseru, the largest city in Lesotho, is the capital of the Maseru District and is the only city. The name ‘Maseru’ is a Sesotho word meaning ‘red sandstones’. The city lies directly on the Lesotho-South Africa border, on the Caledon River. In the 2016 census, Maseru had a population of 330,760 people. Lying in a shallow valley at the foot of the Sehlabeng-Sa-Likhama foothills of the Maloti Mountains, Maseru has an area of about 138 square kilometers. In this video, we will discover 10 facts about this beautiful African city. The border between Lesotho and South Africa is 909 kilometers long and forms a complete loop, as Lesotho is an enclave completely surrounded by South Africa. There are 11 fully functional road borders between South Africa and Lesotho. Maseru bridge is one of them. It is open 24hrs and is located in the town of Maseru which is in Lesotho. Passports are needed to enter Lesotho or go back to South Africa. They must be valid for a minimum of 6 months. Other requirements(optional) are; Original vehicle registration papers, vehicle license papers, valid driver's license. It is advised to have a red emergency triangle. You are not allowed to take plants out of the country. The toll fee for entering Lesotho is determined by the weight of your vehicle. Compulsory vaccinations should be taken for Yellow Fever only if coming into the country from an affected area. Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus and Polio. All visitors must hold documents and tickets required for their return or onward journey and enough funds to cover their stay. Visitors who wish to stay longer than 14 days in the country, are expected to apply for extensions at the Lesotho Immigration Authorities within the initial 14 day period. Lesotho’s parliament building is located on Mpilo Hill in Maseru. It was designed by China Northeast Architectural design and Research Institute and constructed by the China Yanjian Group. The parliament complex covers an area of 43,273 square meters. This includes a four storey building that houses the National Assembly offices, accessory buildings, parking lot, the debate chamber, open grounds, the reception checkpoint, and a retaining wall. The parliament building opening coincided with a change in the Lesotho electoral system which introduced legislators chosen through a mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation. Due to the instability of the coalition governments, the building ended up being seen by most Basotho as the epitome of political dysfunction. The building was inaugurated in 2012. The debate chamber roof is designed as a mokorotlo, the traditional Lesotho hat which is a distinctive national symbol. There are several hotels close to the magnificent building offering accommodation like, Avani Maseru Hotel, City Stay West, Scenery Guesthouse Stadium and Lapeng Ha Mamosa. The Mokorotlo hat is a national symbol of Lesotho. This is a type of straw hat used for traditional Sotho clothing. It is made from an indigenous grass known as ‘leholi’ or ‘mosea’. An image of the Mokorotlo started appearing on Lesotho license plates as well as the country’s flag after independence. It is believed that the shape of the hat was inspired by Lesotho’s Mount Qiloane which has a conical shape. The hat is also known as ‘molianyeoe’ meaning, `he who executes judgment in court’ in Sesotho. Adopted in the early 20th century, tribal chiefs began to wear the hat and sing a song called ‘mokorotlo’ at certain ceremonies. It was originally exclusively worn by males to gatherings. In 1950, new designs were made for women as well. At Kingsway, Maseru, you will see a building shaped as a Basotho Hat. It offers a wide range of handicrafts like baskets and weavings produced in Lesotho. A very worthwhile stop in Lesotho to stock up on gifts and souvenirs. Free on-street parking is available in the area. Please subscribe and turn on the notification bell to be notified of future videos. Contact info: 1) Email: [email protected] 2) Facebook: Africa Revealed 3) Instagram: africarevealed.tv 4) Tiktok: @africarevealed