Lesotho

The Kingdom of Lesotho is a landlocked country in southern Africa, completely surrounded by South Africa. It is often called the “Kingdom in the Sky” because of its high mountains and clear mountain streams.

Fauna and Flora

Lesotho’s rugged terrain lies entirely above 1,000 metres, with most of the country made up of the Maloti and Drakensberg Mountains. The high altitude shapes its environment and limits which species can survive.

Most natural vegetation is montane and subalpine grassland with hardy herbs and small shrubs. Forests are rare, and plants must cope with cold winters and strong winds.

Birdlife includes the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis) and Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), both threatened species that nest on the cliffs of the Maloti range. Small mammals include the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) and the ice rat (Myotomys sloggetti), which lives in grasslands above 2,600 metres.

The Maluti redfin, also known as the Maluti minnow, is Lesotho’s only endemic freshwater fish and is found in the cold streams of Sehlabathebe National Park. Other wildlife includes the grey rhebok (Pelea capreolus) and a few antelope adapted to high ground.

Protea shrubs grow in parts of the wider Drakensberg region, and Lesotho’s national flower, the Spiral Aloe (Aloe polyphylla), is an eye-catching succulent found only in the Maloti Mountains.

National Flora and Fauna

The South-western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis occidentalis) is often cited as national animal.
The Spiral Aloe (Aloe polyphylla) is often listed as national flower.
The traditional Basotho hat, called the Mokorotlo, is made from local grasses and has become a national symbol, appearing on Lesotho’s flag and coins.

Note: Some of the stamps shown below are inscribed Basutoland. This was the country’s name before it became independent from the United Kingdom on 4th October 1966, when it became the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Issued 1933: Basutoland, King George V Definitive Series - ½ penny, Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).

Issued 1933: Basutoland, King George V Definitive Series - 1 penny, Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).

Issued 1938: Basutoland, King George VI Definitive Series - 3 penny, Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).

Issued 1954: Basutoland, Queen Elizabeth II Definitive Series - 10 shillings, Shearing angora goats (Capra aegagrus hircus). Mohair is still an important industry.

Issued 1967: Definitive Series - 5 cents, King Moshoeshoe II and Basotho Pony (Equus ferus caballus).

Issued 1971: Definitive Series - 1 cent, Cattle (Bos primigenius taurus).

Issued 1981: Bird Definitive Series - 1 sente, Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides).

Issued 1984: Butterfly Definitive Series - 3 sente, Common Orange Tip (Colotis evenina).

Issued 1984: Butterfly Definitive Series - 5 sente, Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta cebrene).

Issued 1984: Butterfly Definitive Series - 6 sente, African Migrant (Catopsillia florella).

Issued 1984: Butterfly Definitive Series - 20 sente, Lemon Traveller (Colotis subfasciatus).

Issued 1991: Butterfly Definitive Series - 2 sente, Alpine Grayling (Satyrus aello).

Issued 1991: Butterfly Definitive Series - 20 sente, Small Heath (HCoenonympha pamphilus).

Issued 1991: Butterfly Definitive Series - 30 sente, Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius).

Issued 1991: Butterfly Definitive Series - 1 (ma)loti, Southern Dogface (Colias caesonia).

Issued 1994: Philakorea "94" International Stamp Exhibition Seoul, Frogs & Toad Series - 1 (ma)loti, Guttural Toad (Buto gutturalis).