Rules for overlanding in Lesotho

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 23 February 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An International Driving Permit (1968 Vienna or 1949 Geneva model) is compulsory to drive a hire vehicle. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance — Third-party liability cover is compulsory.
Temporary import — A Carnet de Passage en Douane is required for a vehicle brought in temporarily.
Which side — Drive on the left.
Roads and 4x4 — The road network is very poor, with few surfaced roads, and routes wind through harsh, isolated mountain terrain. Driving standards are not good, so the ministry recommends using off-road vehicles.
Plan route, carry fuel — Plan your itineraries carefully, avoid travelling at night, and carry enough fuel with you.
Public transport — Avoid it. Safety and efficiency standards are poor.
Getting in — To reach Lesotho you have to transit through South Africa.

What catches travellers out

Drugs — Use, possession and trafficking of narcotics, soft drugs included, are criminal offences and carry harsh penalties.
Carry a copy — Carry a photocopy of your passport and leave the original somewhere secure.
Passport and visa — A valid passport is required. No visa is needed for tourism of up to 90 days, and there are no customs or currency formalities.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 23 February 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Lesotho before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 23 February 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.