What is the capital of Lesotho?

The capital of Lesotho is Maseru. It is Lesotho’s largest city and sits on the western border of the country, directly beside South Africa.

Maseru began as a police camp and administrative station after the Basotho leader Moshoeshoe I negotiated an alliance with the British in the nineteenth century. The settlement became the capital of Basutoland, the British protectorate that later became the independent Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966. Its position near the Caledon River made it an important administrative and trading center.

Maseru is located in Lesotho’s lowland region, while much of the rest of the country rises into rugged highlands. The city contains the national government, royal institutions, businesses, and major transport links. Towns such as Teyateyaneng, Maputsoe, and Butha-Buthe are significant Lesotho settlements, but none is the national capital. Maseru’s border location also makes South Africa central to its economy and daily connections.