In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Lesotho - any experiences?
A friend of mine just went to Lesotho and he was on a tight budget. He managed to get by on about $35 a day. He stayed in a hostel dorm for around 150 LSL a night. He ate street food for about 30 LSL per meal and walked everywhere. The biggest challenge was finding places to eat that were open late. It's a very easy place to save money if you're willing to live like a local and not use private transportation.
My experience in Lesotho was more of a splurge, so my daily budget was well over $100. I stayed at a place like the Sani Mountain Lodge for over 1,000 LSL a night. I also hired a private driver for a few days to explore the more remote areas, and that costs about 800 LSL per day. The food at the lodges is fantastic, but you'll pay a premium for it. It's a great place for an adventure, and if you have the budget, you can do some amazing things.
I’d say a mid-range budget of about $60 a day is perfect for Lesotho. This allows you to stay in a slightly nicer guesthouse for about 500 LSL per night and enjoy some of the great restaurants. I also had some money left over for activities like a guided hike up the Maletsunyane Falls. The local beer, Maluti, is cheap, and you can get a bottle for about 15 LSL. The scenery is absolutely stunning, and you don’t need to spend a lot to enjoy it.
Lesotho is an incredibly affordable country for travelers, especially if you're a backpacker. I found that a daily budget of $25-$40 is very realistic. I stayed in basic guesthouses for about 200-300 LSL a night and ate at local cafes, where a meal is around 50 LSL. The most common form of transport is shared taxis, which are very cheap. A ride from the capital Maseru to Semonkong Lodge costs about 150 LSL. The biggest expense will be activities like pony trekking, which can be around 400 LSL for a day trip.