Work and Travel in Lesotho

VOLUNTEER AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN LESOTHO FOR TRAVELLERS

Lesotho is a tiny landlocked country enclosed entirely by South Africa. Many people couldn't name the country or place it on a map, let alone think of travelling there. So if you want to do something the vast majority of people never do, then it’s time to work and travel in Lesotho.

Despite its small size, Lesotho has a lot to offer. The nature is beautiful and the people are much friendlier than the people you might find elsewhere in the region. It’s definitely a little gem for the independent adventurer.

Our travel guide to Lesotho is your introduction to one of the least known countries in the world.

1. Work on a Farm in Lesotho

Lesotho’s economy is naturally stunted by the number of people and the small amount of land the country occupies. The vast majority of young people who can usually leave to go abroad. It leaves a lot of people without the means to fend for themselves.

There are some charities and individuals in the region that offer the chance for interested volunteers to work in Lesotho on farms.

These volunteering opportunities in Lesotho mainly take place on maize farms, in orchards, or on pig farms. You’ll be helping older farmers with their work, so they can continue to bring in the harvest every year.

It’ll give you a chance to connect with locals in an environment most tourists never get to see or experience.

2. Offer Computer Literacy in Lesotho

Lesotho has a huge amount of poverty within it. That’s why charities want to help get the country online so local people can boost their incomes and become more self-sufficient in their activities.

Computer literacy projects are about teaching locals how to use computers and the basic programmes that come with them.

If you know how to use a computer, you can work in Lesotho. All you need to be is computer literate and you’ll spend a few hours per week mentoring people on how to get online.

3. Join the Fight Against AIDS in Lesotho

Lesotho, like much of the region, is a country that suffers from high levels of HIV and AIDS. Join the fight against this devastating disease by aiding organisations as they promote health awareness.

You don’t need to be a doctor to spread awareness about this disease. You’ll be given all the training you need and you’ll be promoting healthy practices. This could involve going into schools with a team or simply helping organisations with their marketing materials.

Anyone who is wiling to learn and work will be more than welcome in a project like this.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR LESOTHO

Lesotho’s visa system is friendly to Westerners. Irish citizens, Japanese citizens, and South Korean citizens are able to enter the country for 90 days. This policy also applies to South Africa and some of the countries around it.

UK citizens, citizens of the European Union (EU), North Americans, other than Mexicans, Australians, and Kiwis are able to travel in Lesotho for 14 days without a visa.

Russians, Mexicans, and the Chinese must apply for a visa prior to their visit.

As you can imagine, most volunteering opportunities in Lesotho require a longer commitment than 14 days. Thankfully, in May 2017, Lesotho released its brand new e-visa system, so you don’t need to worry about visiting an embassy.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN LESOTHO

SPRING WORK

Lesotho is the land of sunshine as it enjoys over 300 days of sun every year. Spring is just after the rainy season, but you should be aware that there’s snowfall in the mountains. For this reason, try to stick to the lowlands from May until September.

You’ll be able to partake in computer literacy projects, spreading health awareness, and working on farms. It’s an especially good time to work on a farm because this is just after the rainy season, so the normal workload on a farm increases.

SUMMER JOBS

The summer season will see continued snowfall in the highlands. For this reason, the seasonal skills don’t change in the summer here.

Refer back to the ‘Spring’ section for further information on some of the things you can do in Lesotho.

AUTUMN

Autumn can be another difficult season because this is the beginning of the rainy season. Travel in Lesotho and you’ll experience 85% of the country’s annual rainfall from October to April. However, it’s nowhere near as bad as it sounds.

Autumn is a great time for conservation projects in the highlands and mountains of the country. The snow has melted and the roads are passable again.

There are a number of types of conservation you can participate in, such as bird conservation and forest conservation.

WINTER

Skiing in Lesotho - does it exist? Are there plenty of opportunities for people to get work in Lesotho in the winter? What kind of skills are needed at this time of year? Please update this section and let fellow travellers know what you have learned if you have worked in Lesotho in the winter or if you are a host and live here and can share your knowledge.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN LESOTHO

Most people know little about travel in Lesotho because the country gains little publicity. However, you will notice a difference between South Africa and Lesotho. People are much friendlier towards foreigners in Lesotho and crime levels are infinitely lower.

Travellers who take up the volunteering opportunities in Lesotho will have a much easier time connecting with the locals without fear of crime. Most people also have a reasonable command of English, since it was a former British colony. However, be aware that the people of Lesotho also possess their own local languages.

Do you want to take a trip to Lesotho this year?