SWAZILAND
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It shares borders with Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, and south. Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa and is run by an absolute monarchy, ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. Every five years, elections are held to determine the House of Assembly and the Senate majority.
MAIN CITIES
Manzini
Mbabane
Big Bend
RELIGIONS
Christians 90%
Muslims 2%
Others 8%
POPULATION
1,160,452
LANGUAGES
English (official)
Swazi (national)
Zulu
Others
ETHNIC GROUPS
Africans 97%
Europeans 3%
CURRENCY
Swazi lilangeni
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN SWAZILAND
HLANE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
Hlane Royal National Park is a national park in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), located around 67 km (41 mi) northeast of Manzini. It used to be a private royal hunting ground before its conversion to a public park. It is Eswatini’s largest protected park and hosts a population of lions, elephants, giraffes, white rhinos, wildebeests, zebras and impalas. It also has an important population of birds and raptors.
MALOLOTJA NATURE RESERVE
Malolotja National Park is a park covering 18,000 ha of mountain wilderness on Eswatini‘s northwestern border with South Africa. The park comprises a multitude of Mountains, including Eswatini’s second highest mountain (1,829 m), and Malolotja Falls which is the highest in Eswatini with an height of 89 m (292 ft). It is home to several species of mammals like zebra, wildebeest, reedbuck, leopard, serval, frogs etc… and also various number of birds.
SIBEBE
Sibebe, also called Bald Rock is a granite mountain located in Swaziland (Eswatini), specifically 10 km (6.2 mi) from Mbabane, the capital city. It is the second-largest monolith in the world and the largest exposed granite pluton, rising 350m (1148 ft) above the valley of the Mbuluzi River.
PHOPHONYANE FALLS NATURE RESERVE
The Phophonyane Falls Nature Reserve is a spectacular nature reserve and a popular tourist attraction near Piggs Peak, Eswatini. There is a walkway through the Gobolondlo forest leading to the Phophonyane Falls which is the main attraction of the reserve. The area contains the oldest rock outcrops in the world, dating back to 3.55 billion years.
LEBOMBO MOUNTAINS
The Lebombo Mountains are an 800 km (500 mi) long range of mountains in South Africa but parts of the mountain range are also present in Mozambique and Swaziland (Eswatini). It is composed of a sequence of Jurassic age volcanic rock, both basaltic lavas and rhyolitic flows and tuffs. The range is relatively low and the highest peak is Mount Mananga rising up to 776 m (2,546 ft).
MBULUZI GAME RESERVE
Mbuluzi Game Reserve is a privately owned reserve in Swaziland (Eswatini). There are some amazing lodges and a campsite inside the reserve where you can stay. Wildlife includes giraffes, nyalas, warthogs and more. There are also multiple species of birds. It is an awesome place for a great adventure. Highly recommended.
PIGGS PEAK
Piggs Peak is a town in northwestern Eswatini which was founded around gold prospecting in 1884, but its main industry is now forestry. It is located not far from the Phophonyane Falls and is a very nice town with an impressive landscape.
SWAZI MARKET, MBABANE
Mbabane Market is a very cool market where you can get food, vegetables, fruits and also handmade local crafts. A great place to shop souvenirs and get familiar with locals. There is also a nearby arts and crafts market that you can visit.
SWAZILAND NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Swaziland National Museum can be found in the city of Lobamba, Eswatini. It is a small museum featuring the history of the Swazi people. The main gallery displays cultural items, historical tools etc. In the courtyard of the museum there are samples of beautiful swasi traditional homes.
MANTENGA FALLS
Mantenga Falls are located in the Swazi village of Mantenga, Swaziland. It is a beautiful double waterfalls pouring into a basin and the largest waterfall by volume in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). It is the major tourist attraction in Mantenga but you can also have a guided tour of the village and learn about the swazi culture and life style. It is a nice place worth visiting.