A rough, manufacturing-based border town opposite the South African town of Ficksburg, MAPUTSOE is not a good place to stay long, if you can avoid it. Fortunately, the border is open 24 hours a day, and there is plenty of public transport to Maseru and Hlotse and the north.

 

The town's main streets are filled with migrant workers commuting between Lesotho and South Africa, amongst them an uncomfortable number of hustlers who can spot strangers in town a mile off. Many seem to congregate at Maputsoe's only accommodation , the Sekekete Hotel (tel 43 0621; R100-150), near the border, usually filled with heavy drinkers and gamblers stuffing money into the slot machines. The hotel's plain but functional rooms are around the back, a short distance from the general commotion. The main street also has plenty of takeaways, of which the Captain Dorego's is probably the best. There's a 50kph speed limit leaving town and plenty of police about, so take care if you're driving.