Introduction of a Tourism Levy when Visiting Lesotho

I recall rumours of a tourism levy being charged when entering Lesotho at the top of Sani Pass and finally it has been implemented.

As of the 1 April 2024, private visitors entering in Lesotho will have to pay a R100 tourism levy at the border post. If a visitor goes up up with a tour operator, then the cost is just R50 per visitor; I’m told that this will change, it’s just a temporary measure and eventually tour operators will be paying the R100 per person like everyone else.

Visit my Sani Pass Day Tour from Durban page for more info on this tour.

At this point it’s unclear if visitors can pay with debit/credit cards (unlikely) so it’s best to keep some Rands on you when making the trip incase.

New Tourism Levy for Lesotho

A tourism levy is not a bad things at all, according to the press release, “The Lesotho Tourism Levy is a tax paid by tourists for specific travel and tourism services offered in Lesotho and its 50 percent will be used for the development and maintenance of tourism.”

Anyone who has ever travelled into Lesotho will happily testify that the country is poor and in need in serious infrastructure upgrades and, provided the government does what it says it’ll do, the levy will go a long way in making the people of Lesotho that much more prosperous. I’m all for it.