Tourism in Lesotho Tourism in Lesotho Tourism in Lesotho is a growing industry in the country. In 2013, travel and tourism contributed about 5.5% to the GDP of Lesotho, with this proportion expected to increase to 6.1% of GDP by 2024. The sector employed 25,000 people in 2013, 4.6% of total national employment. Residents of South Africa, which completely surrounds Lesotho, make up over 90% of the visitors to the country. Many trips are to visit friends and family. Various outdoor pursuits form the most popular leisure activities for tourists in the country. The mountainous terrain draws tourists for hiking, pony trekking and
Geology of Lesotho yield and frequent springs. Steep terrain, rain and snow melt mean that Lesotho has a high risk of landslides. Lesotho has extensive diamond deposits in both kimberlites and alluvial gravel. The country has the highest concentration of kimberlite bodies in the world—a total of more than 400, including 343 dikes, 39 pipes and 23 blows. Northern Lesotho has an average of one kimberlite body for every 10 square kilometers. In spite of the large deposits, very few sites are mined and research is ongoing into alluvial deposits. The Karoo Supergroup hosts low-grade uranium and likely coal and coal-bed methane, although