Lesotho is a small, landlocked country surrounded entirely by South Africa and at more than 1000 metres above sea level it is fittingly known as the ‘Kingdom of the Sky’. The mountainous, rugged landscape makes this one of the most beautiful and austere kingdoms on the African continent. The capital, Maseru, has expanded rapidly over the past twenty years to offer a modest array of restaurants, shops and craft markets. For birding enthusiasts Lesotho is renowned for its large raptor population, including the Cape Vulture, the rare Bearded Vulture, the Steppe Buzzard and the Black Eagle but the main activity of the kingdom is walking. There are good walking trails in Maseru to explore this natural wonder, which remains little changed by man. See the rich culture of the friendly Basotho mountain people who often live in isolated villages and to appreciate the untamed panoramas of rocky crags, deep valleys and fields of alpine flowers.