Is it safe to withdraw cash in Lesotho or not?
Used a machine inside a grocery store just before it closed. It worked and felt safe because of the staff nearby. Once the store shut, though, the area emptied out. Best to withdraw before sunset if you’re moving around on foot.
The guesthouse I stayed at in Roma had no nearby ATM. I walked 15 minutes to a petrol station with one ATM that wasn’t working. It was already dark, and honestly, it didn’t feel great walking back with no streetlights.
I tried to use an FNB ATM in a smaller town, but it was closed by the time I got there. Locals told me ATMs outside Maseru often don’t function after dark. Power issues and lack of security are common reasons.
In Maseru, I withdrew cash from a Standard Lesotho Bank ATM next to a small shopping center around 8 PM. There were still people around, and the ATM worked fine. Withdrawing money at night in Lesotho is okay in busy zones, but rural areas are a different story.