Classroom lesson · Kingdom in the Sky · 🇱🇸 Lesotho

Kingdom in the Sky

Every single part of Lesotho is more than 1,000 metres above sea level

Photo · Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

Lesotho is a small country completely surrounded by South Africa — and every single part of it sits more than 1,000 metres above sea level. That makes it one of the highest countries in the entire world. People call it the Kingdom in the Sky because it feels like you are living on top of the clouds.

Tell me more

Imagine climbing a very tall hill, then looking around and realising there are more hills everywhere — in every direction, as far as you can see. That is what Lesotho looks like. The lowest point of the country is still higher than most mountain peaks in Britain or Australia. Even the capital city, Maseru, sits on high ground.

Because Lesotho is so high, the weather is quite different from the flat land around it. In winter, snow falls on the mountains and the air is crisp and cold. In summer, thunderstorms roll across the green highlands and fill the rivers. The height of the land makes the seasons dramatic and beautiful.

The people of Lesotho are called Basotho. They are very proud of their mountain home. Herders called 'herdboys' look after sheep and cattle on the steep slopes, often living in small stone shelters while the animals graze. It takes a lot of skill and bravery to guide animals across such rugged countryside.

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

  1. 01If you lived in a country where everything was on a steep mountain, what everyday things would be different — like getting to school, growing food, or travelling?
  2. 02Lesotho is surrounded entirely by South Africa. What might it feel like to live in a country where your only neighbour is one country?
  3. 03Why do you think people might be proud of living somewhere very high up, even if the weather is cold and the ground is steep?
  4. 04Can you think of any other places in the world that are famous for being very high up?
Try this

Classroom activity

Draw a side-on diagram showing a mountain with a line at 1,000 metres. Label where Lesotho's lowest point sits, and where its highest peak (Thabana Ntlenyana at 3,482 m) sits. Find a mountain near your school or in your country and add it to the diagram to compare heights.