Lesotho is the landlocked country entirely surrounded by South Africa.
Lesotho is an independent kingdom in Southern Africa and one of only three sovereign enclaves in the world. The other two are Vatican City and San Marino, both surrounded by Italy. Lesotho’s position makes it unusual: it has no coastline and shares its entire international boundary—about 909 kilometres—with a single country.
The country is often called the “Mountain Kingdom” or the “Kingdom in the Sky.” Its terrain is dominated by the Maloti Mountains, and its lowest point is about 1,400 metres above sea level—the highest lowest point of any country. The capital, Maseru, sits near the western border with South Africa.
Lesotho was formerly known as Basutoland and was shaped politically by King Moshoeshoe I, who founded the Basotho nation in the 19th century. It became a British protectorate in 1868 and gained independence in 1966. Botswana and Eswatini are also Southern African neighbours, but neither is completely enclosed by South Africa; Malawi lies farther northeast.