The short answer is Yes! End of article…
The tiny kingdom of Swaziland is often overlooked. When you see a map of South Africa (see below) you may wonder why there are two chunks missing from their map. The hole in the middle of the SA map is Lesotho, but that small bite out of the East side of the SA map is Swaziland!
Kenya, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique are all on the radar of adventurers, and for good reason. But, I say “stop ignoring" Swaziland. Perhaps you just didn’t know it existed, or you know little to nothing about it. Well Its time to get acquainted.
Swaziland is ruled by a king. There is a measure of calm and crime is well below what you will find in neighboring South Africa. You will find Swazis to be friendly and welcoming. English is one of the two official languages, along with SiSwati, so you will have few problems communicating. Road signs and menus are in English as well. The airport is small, but clean and modern, with a couple flights to and from Johannesburg daily. The main roads are in decent condition, aside from a few potholes and an abundance of speed-bumps, so traveling by car is fairly simple. Just keep your eyes open, Swazis won’t hesitate to overtake other cars regardless of speed, corners or hills.
There is a variety of beautiful landscapes. You could spend time in the Lowveld and experience the classic African bush, or climb the mountains for green forests and beautiful views, plus everything in between. Did you know that this tiny kingdom has the largest exposed granite dome and second largest monolith in the world? After only Ayers rock in Australia, Swaziland is the proud home of Sibebe! Sibebe is easy to access from the capital city of Mbabane and it’s worth the hike.
Still, my favorite hike is Execution Rock. Ancient stories indicate that this is where many criminals met their end, forced to walk off of the top peak at spear point. This would have made for a beautiful last hike if you were convicted. The views at the peak makes the hike worth every step. Gaze over the Ezulwini Valley (Valley of Heaven) and long into the distant mountains.
While Swaziland doesn’t boast the level and variety of big game viewing as South Africa, you can definitely enjoy a quality safari. If rhinos are on your list, Hlane Royal National Park is an ideal destination. Out of all the times we visited Hlane, we have never left without a quality rhino sighting. Try booking a guided walk, there is nothing like being on foot in the African bush near rhinos! Hlane has nice accommodations and a great restaurant looking out at an active watering hole full of hippos.
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is still our favorite park in Swaziland. You won’t encounter big cats and predators, but you will find a little piece of Eden here. This wildlife paradise was created in the name of conservation and they have pioneered a true love for animals in Swaziland. The animals feel happy and safe here and it’s clear to see. Just watch the warthogs casually walk their young through the main camp, unaffected by the humans clamoring for a photo, just to warm up by the central fire pit. Without Lions and Elephants you are free to hike and bike safely throughout Mlilwane. Mountain biking alongside zebras is a unique experience. There are some thrills as Mlilwane’s main lake is home to Crocodile and hippo, don’t stand too close to the edge of the water.
This is just an intro piece into Swaziland tourism. I still haven’t covered food, craft shopping and the many lodges and activities here. Stay connected for future posts on Swazipond.
Ngiyabonga! (Thank you)
Scott
(official tourism video)
Comments