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Intro

Rich, vibrant and utterly picturesque, the Kingdom of Swaziland is a most diverse tourism destination. It might be among the smallest countries on the continent and one of Africa’s remaining monarchies, but there’s more than novelty value on offer here. As you travel through this African land, you’ll discover its mountains, its savannahs, its populace – a people so warm and welcoming, you may feel you’ve been here a lifetime. This makes the friendly and easy-going little Swaziland a relaxing stopover on the trip between Mozambique and South Africa. And it’s surprising how much there is to do here – the royal ceremonies, excellent wildlife reserves and superb scenery should be more than enough reason to come.

Weather

Swaziland has a mild winter and summer. Rain is most common from October to May with low humidity and lots of sunshine. Lowland areas are closer to Mozambique and conditions can become more tropical. Winter can be quite cold at night but conditions are relatively dry.

Language

The official languages are English and SiSwati, which is a Bantu language spoken in Swaziland and South Africa. About 76,000 people in Swaziland speak Zulu and Tsonga is spoken by about 19,000 people. Afrikaans is also spoken by some residents of Afrikaner descent.

Tourist Attractions

• Watch the annual Reed Dance which takes place in late August or early September. Young maidens from all over the Kingdom appear before the King and the Queen Mother. The King sometimes chooses a new wife from these young women.
• Be part of the Incwala, or first fruits ceremony, in which the King plays a dominant role. It is the most acred of all the Swazi rituals. It is held in December or January on a date chosen by astrologers in conjunction with the phases of the moon and sun.
• Visit the Ezulwini Valley, meaning ‘Place of the Sky’, is home to many of Swaziland’s tourist attractions and is home to the Royal’s Embo State Palace. Colourful and vibrant craft markets dominate the valley. Brightly woven baskets and sisal mats, Swazi cloth, animal carvings and gemstones are found.
• Go Bird Watching, Horse Riding or Hiking in the magnificent mountainous scenery of this little Kingdom
• Mbabane is Swaziland’s capital city of about 70 000 inhabitants. It is often used as a stopover en-route to Kruger Park or KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa or Maputo in Mozambique.
• There are a number of nature reserves in Swaziland which amaze guests with superb scenery, great bird life and wildlife, including
  • Hlane Royal National Park for an eyeful of white rhinos, lions and antelopes – camping options are available for overnight stays
  • Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary is Swaziland’s pioneer conservation area, a beautiful, secluded sanctuary situated in the country’s “Place of the Sky”, the Ezulwini Valley.
  • Mkhaya Game Reserve, in the southeast of Swaziland, is the heart of the lowveld and lies in an unspoilt wilderness – a heaven to endangered species.

For more information, visit welcometoswaziland.com.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaziland#Languages

http://www.welcometoswaziland.com/twpub/pag.cgi?m=home

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/swaziland

http://www.biggameparks.org/index-2.html

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