> Which country is completely surrounded by South Africa?And the answer: Lesotho.Lesotho highlighted in red. Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.Comparable in sizeto Belgium, Lesotho is one of only three independent states in the world that'scompletely surrounded by another country, making it dependent on South Africafor access to the rest of the world. The other two independent states in thesame situation are Vatican City and San Marino, both surrounded by Italy.Home to around 2.5 million people, Lesotho is a bubble of culture located smackdab in the middle of much larger South Africa. As a kingdom, Lesotho remainsunique from The Republic of South Africa, yet its geography sets it apart aswell. The kingdom is home to a geography unlike much of the remainder of theSub-Saharan continent. In fact, it is the only independent state in the worldthat lies entirely above 1,000 meters in elevation. As a result, Lesotho offerscolder weather (sometimes dipping as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter),mountains, and even Sub-Saharan Africa's only ski resort. A Lesotho mountain village. Photo courtesy: Public Domain.Lesotho is also knownfor their textiles, most famously their warm blankets called Mohair blankets,named for the goat fur from which they are made. The blankets are oftencolorful, distinctive, and very popular throughout the region. In addition, thepeople of Lesotho enjoy wear other warm gear such as the Mokorotlo, a pointedstyle that is often replicated in traditional home structures as well. The national dish of Lesotho is a stew called Motoho, a porridge made of Sorghumthat is usually accompanied with salty collared greens, beetroot and carrot. Thepopular grain of cassava is another cultural staple and can be prepared manyways, either baked or used for its leaf to create stew. Check out this recipe[https://www.africanbites.com/cassava-leaf-soup/] to try your hand at a Lesothostaple.