Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is an enclaved country located within South Africa. It is known as the “Kingdom in the Sky” due to its high altitude. Lesotho is a very picturesque country filled with mountains, valleys, and rural villages. The Basotho people have inhabited the region for many years and have a unique culture filled with myths, legends, riddles and more.
In this article, we have gathered 53 riddles from the Basotho oral tradition, related to Lesotho’s culture, geography, fauna and flora. These brainteasers are fun to solve and provide a learning experience into this African mountain kingdom. Scroll down to test your knowledge!
Fun Riddles about Lesotho – Questions and Puzzles
Riddles about Geography
Q: I am a small country, completely surrounded by South Africa. What am I?
A: Lesotho
Q: We are towering mountains that run through Lesotho from east to west. Drakensberg is what we’re collectively called. What mountain range are we?
A: The Maloti Mountains
Q: I am a major river that rises in the highlands of Lesotho and then flows westward across South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. What river am I?
A: The Orange River
Q: I am Lesotho’s largest lake. Located amidst the Maloti mountains near Mount Moffat. Fly fishermen love my trout filled waters. What lake am I?
A: Lake Letsie
Q: We are remote rural villages located high up in Lesotho’s mountains and hilltops. Home to Sotho farmers and shepherds who tend to livestock. What are we called?
A: Mountain strongholds
Riddles about Culture
Q: I am a cone shaped grass hat worn by Basotho shepherds to protect them from the sun and rain. What am I?
A: The mokorotlo hat
Q: I am a traditional cape made of woven wool that is worn by Basotho men and women. Decorated with beautiful patterns and colors. What garment am I?
A: The Basotho blanket
Q: I am a wool wrap worn by Basotho women, usually part of their traditional Seshoeshoe dress. What colorful garment am I?
A: The kobo
Q: We are oral poets who recite praise poems and historical tales in a rhythmic style with a traditional instrument. Beloved by the Basotho. What are we called?
A: Praise singers
Q: I am a form of folk music incorporating chants, rhythmic stomping, and a traditional fiddle called a lekolulo. Popular in the shepherding culture. What genre am I?
A: Mokhibo dance music
Riddles about Cuisine
Q: I am a thick cornmeal porridge, a staple food across Africa. In Sesotho I am called papa. What common dish am I?
A: Pap, or papa, a maize porridge.
Q: We are dumplings made from wheat flour and cooked in a stew made with vegetables or meat. A popular food in Lesotho. What are we called?
A: Campball soup dumplings
Q: I am a fried dough bread made from fermented sorghum or maize meal. A traditional Basotho staple. What am I called?
A: Ting
Q: I am a spicy stew made with tripe and various animal offal. Considered a delicacy in Lesotho cuisine. What dish am I?
A: Selemela or mashila
Q: We are meat skewers that originated from the herding culture in Lesotho. What food are we?
A: Sesotho kebabs
Riddles about Wildlife
Q: I am one of Africa’s large herbivorous mammals with impressive curved horns. I can be found roaming the highland grasslands of Lesotho. What animal am I?
A: The bearded vulture
Q: I am Lesotho’s national animal, an agile antelope adapted to rugged mountain terrain. Identify me.
A: The vaal rhebuck
Q: We are small, long tailed mammals that are prolific across Lesotho’s mountains and valleys. Our name translates to “jumping rock rabbit”. What are we?
A: The Cape hyrax
Q: I am a rare wild dog species that inhabits remote parts of the Maloti mountains. Known for my colorful fur and big ears. What African hunter am I?
A: The Cape hunting dog
Q: I am Lesotho’s national flower. A vibrant orange African daisy that blooms high in the Drakensberg alpine zone. Name me.
A: The spiral aloe
Riddles about Climate
Q: I bring frigid wintry conditions to Lesotho’s highlands with snowfall common when I arrive. What season am I?
A: Winter
Q: We are extreme weather events that can affect Lesotho, bringing heavy rainfall that causes flash flooding in the lowlands. What are we?
A: Tropical cyclones
Q: I am an annual meteorological event that brings strong berg winds and intense storms to Lesotho’s mountains between September and December. What am I called?
A: The Cape Doctor
Q: I am Lesotho’s main rainy season, stretching from October to April when the majority of annual precipitation takes place. What term describes me?
A: The wet season
Q: We are clear skies and sunny weather, typical for Lesotho between May to August when rainfall is scarce. What terms describes these months?
A: The dry season
Riddles about Mountains and Peaks
Q: I am Lesotho’s highest peak, reaching 3,482 meters above sea level amidst the towering Maloti range. Name me.
A: Thabana Ntlenyana
Q: Perched at over 3,000 meters, I am Lesotho’s second highest mountain peak, located not far from Thabana Ntlenyana. Who am I?
A: Khubelu
Q: I am a pyramid shaped mountain that dominates the Thaba Putsoa range. At 3,024 meters altitude my peak is often snow covered in winter. What is my name?
A: Mafadi peak
Q: Located near Sani Pass, I am Lesotho’s ninth highest peak at 3,023 meters elevation. Identify me.
A: The Sentinel
Q: Situated close to iconic Sani Pass, I am a dramatic Lesotho peak that towers to 3,013 meters. Name me.
A: The Devil’s Knuckles
Riddles about Passes
Q: Travel between Lesotho and South Africa requires crossing me, a mountain pass reaching 2,874 meters altitude. What iconic pass am I?
A: Sani Pass
Q: I am a remote pass traversing the Maloti mountains, reaching 2,805 meters elevation at my highest point. What am I called?
A: Ketane Pass
Q: Located in southern Lesotho, I am a rugged pass that climbs up to 2,700 meters altitude through the Maloti range. Identify me.
A: Moteng Pass
Q: In eastern Lesotho near Qacha’s Nek, I am a dramatic twisty pass that reaches 2,600 meters elevation. Name me.
A: Ongeluksnek Pass
Q: Travellers brave steep slopes and hairpin turns driving through me, a pass connecting Butha-Buthe to South Africa. What am I?
A: Moteng / Mafika Lisiu Pass
Riddles about Historical Figures
Q: I was the founder of the Basotho nation in 1822, uniting various clans and founding the Kingdom of Lesotho. Who am I?
A: King Moshoeshoe I
Q: I was Moshoeshoe I’s trusted advisor and childhood friend. Later becoming a respected elder statesman. What is my name?
A: Chief Mohlomi
Q: I was a famous 19th century diplomat and warrior from Lesotho who fought in the Gun War against the Orange Free State. Who am I?
A: Chief Mopeli
Q: I am remembered as the courageous wife of Chief Mopeli, supporting him in battles against Boer forces. What female warrior am I?
A: Mmanthatisi
Q: I was Moshoeshoe I’s trusted paramount chief who helped secure modern Lesotho’s borders after wars against the Boers. Name me.
A: Chief Masopha
Riddles about Historical Events
Q: We were a series of armed conflicts in the 19th century between Basotho forces and their Boer neighbors. What were these clashes known as?
A: The Free State-Basotho Wars
Q: I was a notorious conflict in 1858 which got its name from Basotho warriors stealing Boer firearms. What war was I?
A: The Gun War / Seqiti War
Q: I was a brutal assault launched by Boer forces on Thaba Bosiu in 1865, Moshoeshoe I’s mountain stronghold. They set our capital alight. What battle was I?
A: The Fire of Thaba Bosiu
Q: We were a series of voluntary and forced migrations of various African tribes across southern Africa in the early 1800s. What major historical events were we?
A: The Difaqane / Mfecane wars
Q: I was the important 1869 agreement that guaranteed Lesotho’s independence, mediated by the British after Basotho appeals. What treaty was I?
A: The Aliwal North Treaty
Riddles about Rivers
Q: Sourced from the high Maloti mountains, I am Lesotho’s main river that then flows into South Africa towards the Atlantic Ocean. Name me.
A: The Senqu River (also called the Orange River)
Q: I am a major right hand tributary of the Senqu / Orange River with headwaters in Lesotho’s Ribaneng Falls. What river am I?
A: The Malibamatso River
Q: Draining the highlands around Thaba Putsoa, I am a tributary of the Senqu / Orange River, joining it at Aliwal North. What am I called?
A: The Kraai River
Q: Originating from peaks near Mokhotlong, I am a 100 kilometer river forming part of the Mohokare river system. Name me.
A: The Makhaleng River
Q: Sourced not far from Thaba Putsoa mountain, I am a river that merges with the Kraai and Senqu / Orange rivers. Identify me.
A: The Moolmanshoek River
Riddles about Waterfalls
Q: Cascading some 190 meters in a single drop, I am Lesotho’s most famous waterfall, a natural heritage site. Name me.
A: Maletsunyane Falls
Q: Plunging 122 meters into a stunning gorge, I am Lesotho’s second highest waterfall, situated in Bokong Nature Reserve. What am I called?
A: Ketane Falls
Q: Dropping over an escarpment ledge, I am a spectacular 96 meter waterfall within the hills of Mokhotlong district. Identify me.
A: Ribaneng Falls
Q: Situated near Oxbow village, I am an impressive waterfall plunging 90 meters down sandstone cliffs. What is my name?
A: Moriti Falls
Q: Cascading 50 meters near Ts’ehlanyane National Park, I am a scenic curtain waterfall surrounded by Maloti peaks. Name me.
A: Liphofung Falls
Riddles about Caves and Rock Shelters
Q: We are a network of shallow sandstone caves that were historically inhabited by the San hunter gatherers. Located in Mokhotlong district. What rock shelters are we?
A: Liphofung rock shelters
Q: Perched 2,195 meters up in the Maloti mountains, I am a deep natural cave featuring ancient San rock paintings. Identify me.
A: Sehonghong Cave
Q: I am an archaeological site featuring over 600 San bushman rock paintings inside my remote high altitude cave. Name me.
A: Lekhubu Cave
Q: Hundreds of years ago I provided shelter for Sotho and San people amidst Lesotho’s peaks. Today hikers can view rock art inside me. What natural refuge am I?
A: Pirene’s Cave
Q: Located in south eastern Lesotho, I am a dramatically situated sandstone cave featuring unique rock engravings and fertility symbols. What am I known as?
A: Liphofung Cave
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this eclectic collection of riddles related to the Kingdom of Lesotho! This unique African nation has a rich cultural heritage and dramatic alpine scenery unlike anywhere else on the continent. These brainteasers provide some insight into the storied history, geography and people that make the region so fascinating. Let us know in the comments if you managed to solve all 53 puzzles on your first try! From the soaring Maloti mountains, to chiefdoms battling against the Boers, to delicious papa and ting cuisine, Lesotho certainly offers lots of material for clever word games. Feel free to use any of these riddles to test friends and family too.
