There is a country in Africa that is completely surrounded by another country — and every part of it sits more than 1,000 metres above sea level.
Welcome to Lesotho, one of the continent’s most geographically unusual countries.
The small southern African nation is entirely enclosed by South Africa. But its extraordinary elevation is what has earned Lesotho its famous nickname: the Kingdom in the Sky.
Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa
Lesotho is one of only three independent countries in the world completely surrounded by a single other country.
The other two are Vatican City and San Marino, both surrounded by Italy.
That makes Lesotho the only such country outside Europe.
Despite being surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho is an independent kingdom with its own government, borders and monarchy.
An entire country more than 1,000 metres above sea level
Here’s where Lesotho becomes even more unusual.
Its lowest point is around 1,400 metres above sea level.
That means even the lowest part of Lesotho is higher than the highest point of many countries.
No other independent country has a lowest point this high.
Much of Lesotho is considerably higher, with mountains rising above 3,000 metres.
Why is Lesotho called the Kingdom in the Sky?
The nickname comes from both its mountainous landscape and its status as a kingdom.
Lesotho’s highest point, Thabana Ntlenyana, reaches about 3,482 metres above sea level, making it the highest mountain in southern Africa.
Snow can also fall across Lesotho’s highlands during the southern African winter.
The country’s mountain roads, valleys and high-altitude villages can therefore look very different from the warmer landscapes often associated with southern Africa.
A kingdom inside South Africa
Lesotho covers roughly 30,000 square kilometres and has a population of just over two million people.
Its capital, Maseru, lies close to the country’s western border with South Africa.
The modern state traces its origins to the kingdom established by Moshoeshoe I in the 19th century. Lesotho later became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1966.
Today, it remains a constitutional monarchy.
So while Lesotho may look small on a map, its geography makes it one of the most remarkable countries in Africa.
A kingdom surrounded by another country — with nowhere to go but up.