Lesotho’s jaw dropping mountain vistas, unique culture and welcoming people make it a beautiful place to visit.
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Cosmos:
These resilient, beautiful wildflowers flourish in tough, hot or dry conditions with little water. They seem to flower best in poor soils with less organic matter, and they are often seen growing along the road side in Lesotho in full sun, with no fertilizer in the soil and surviving on rain and dew. They can even survive in drought. Appropriately, the word Cosmos comes from the Greek word ‘kosmos’ which means ‘beautiful’.
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Sunsets:
There are few things more beautiful than the sun setting over Lesotho’s mountains.
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Sunflowers:
Sunflowers are cousins of the Cosmos flower. The French word for sunflower is “tournesol,” which means “turns with the sun.” In their bud phase, sunflowers will literally seek out and face the sun.
Did you know, sunflowers are not just pretty faces; sunflowers are actually good at absorbing toxins, too? Millions were planted after the devastating tsunami destroyed reactors in the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.
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Mountains
Lesotho, also known as the Mountain Kingdom or Kingdom in the Sky, is situated on a highland plateau entirely within South Africa. The lowest point in the mountainous country is 1,400 meters (4,593 ft) above sea level.
We have yet to find a vantage point in Lesotho where mountains are not in sight. This landscape makes every view breathtaking as you drive through the winding mountain roads (another engineering miracle).
The mountains are the source of Lesotho’s crystal-clear water, which also waters the greenpastures for livestock. When the thunderstorms rage over the Maloti Mountains, even the smallest stream can rapidly become a vigorous torrent. In winter, the melting ice and snow trickle into freezing streams.
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The Basotho People
The beautiful people of Lesotho are warm, friendly and hardworking. They love their families and want the best for their children and grandchildren. They are strong and resilient, despite the hardships they face, just like the cosmos flower.
At Help Lesotho, we work together with the local community, leaders and government to teach youth, adults and grandparents how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, learn about gender equity and develop leadership skills.
Find out more here: https://www.helplesotho.org/