Best Time to Visit Maseru

Summer: warm, green and wet

From November to March, Maseru is warm and green. December is the wettest month at 109 mm, with January close behind at 105 mm. Rain usually comes as afternoon thunderstorms, so mornings are often your best window. Days reach 29°C in December and January, but nights stay mild.

This is a good time for the Basotho countryside. Drive out toward Thaba Bosiu, the flat-topped mountain where King Moshoeshoe I built his stronghold, and the hills look their best. Dirt roads get slick after storms, though, so go easy if you're driving yourself. Many Basotho families travel at Christmas and New Year, so expect busier minibus taxis.

Winter: dry, sunny and cold at night

June and July are the coldest months, with highs of 16°C and nights near 2°C. Days are dry and bright, and July gets the most sun at 8.7 hours a day. Maseru sits at 1,552 m, so the mornings bite. Houses here often have no central heating, so ask your guesthouse about heaters.

If you want clear skies for craft shopping or a day trip to Ha Kome cave houses, this works well. Winter is also low season for visitors. You'll have the Basotho Hat on the hill and the craft stalls near the city centre mostly to yourself. Higher up in the mountains, snow can close roads, so check before heading for Afriski.

Best months for most trips

Our comfort score favours April and May, then August to October. April is mild, with 9 rainy days and highs of 22°C. May turns crisp and dry, with just 22 mm of rain. Both suit walking and sightseeing.

August and September are the driest stretch, with the lowest humidity, at 40% in September. They're good for pony treks and hikes in the hills outside town. Spring also brings the Moshoeshoe Day celebrations on 11 March, which fall at the end of summer, so plan for warm weather and possible showers. Independence Day, 4 October, falls in the early spring rains, which are still light at 57 mm.

If you hate crowds, pick May or September. If you want a cold, clear escape, go in July. Travelling with kids? April gives gentle days and little rain.