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Money & duty free for Lesotho

Currency information: 

Loti (LSL) = 100 lisente. Notes are in denominations of LSL200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lisente. The plural of 'loti' is 'maloti' and the singular of 'lisente' is 'sente'. The South African Rand is accepted as legal currency on a par with the Loti (Rand R1 = 100 cents).

Credit cards: 

There is limited acceptance of credit cards.

ATM: 

There are ATMs in the main towns but their faclity for accepting international cards is unreliable. Standard Lesotho Bank, Nedbank and First National Bank do offer exchange services in their Maseru branches.

Travellers cheques: 

These are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Banking hours: 

Mon-Fri 0830-1530; Sat 0830-1230.

Currency restriction: 

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency.

Lesotho duty free

The following goods to a total value not exceeding M500 may be imported into Lesotho without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes, 20 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
• 1L spirits and 2L wine.
• 50mL of perfume.

Note: (a) Goods with serial numbers must be declared. (b) No alcohol may be imported by visitors from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. (c) Any excess is charged import duty at a flat rate of 20%.

Banned imports: 

Counterfeit coins or notes, weapons, blasphemous material, indecent or obscene works or articles of an inflammatory nature such as certain pamphlets or posters.

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