Maseru's renovated hotel re-opens its doors

The renovated AVANI hotel in Maseru makes for a great stay for those travelling to Lesotho on business, or for visitors looking to explore the area.

On a recent visit to Maseru, Lesotho, I stayed at the recently renovated Avani Maseru Hotel. Located in downtown Maseru, the hotel makes for a perfect stay for those travelling on business. It’s also a comfortable option for leisure travellers who are also looking to explore Maseru and surrounds. It’s only a 5-minute drive from the Maseru border post, making it a convenient stopover for those keen for a quick stamp on their passports between South African provinces that surround the mountain kingdom.

Things to do in the area include fishing on the Caledon River, off-road motorbiking or 4x4ing across the rocky landscape. You can also visit the Thabo Boseho village where you’ll learn about King Moshoeshoe and locate his grave. The Kome Caves are also worth exploring.

The recently renovated hotel has 95 rooms, 10 of which are premium suites. The rooms have private balconies and are furnished with simple, modern decor.

The government invested R25-million in the form of a loan towards renovations of the hotel, which will be expected to be paid back from profits. As a result, the hotel group is dedicated to increasing the number of people visiting the hotel and the area.

The renovations form part of a larger project that will see the pool area renovated with the addition of family friendly space with a kids area. This is not to say that their current pool is shabby. It’s anything but shabby, their plans only include adding a kids area and opening up a bar area.

Minister of finance (Dr Majoro) has declared tourism a top priority for the Lesotho government. At the launch, he also went on to pronounce that the government plans on using the tourism industry to create jobs and create more investment opportunities for the country. It’s hoped that the renovated hotel will draw more visitors to the area and that Maseru will see a rise in tourism, which will have a ripple effect of job creation.

The hotel currently employs 300 individuals made up of a large group of locals. The hotel group prides itself on equipping their staff with training for further skills advancement. Their efforts are seen through the professionalism and promptness of their staff.

The 50-year-old hotel building was acquired by the AVANI group two years ago, from the Sun International group, and is considered a landmark building in Maseru by locals. The hotel has also renovated their restaurant, the Mohokare Restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with the options of a buffet or a la carte menu.

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