Swaziland, locally known as eSwatini, is located in Southern africa, it has been divided into four regions: Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni. Its capital and largest city is Mbabane, its is small in area, Its busiest city is Manzini City. The official languages in Swaziland are Siswati and English. Swaziland is surrounded by land and its neighbouring countries are South Africa (North, South and west) and Mozambique.
Swaziland's international airport is located in the town of Manzini. The Royal and legislative capital is Lobamba situated half way between Mbabane and Manzini.
Swaziland tourism attraction is its scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage. The area of swaziland is 17,364 square kilometers. Swaziland offers a variety of landscapes, such as the mountains along the Mozambique border, savannas in the east and rain forests in the Northwest.
The culture and tradition in Swaziland is very unique, one can witness the Reed Dance performance, an annual event that attracts thousands of tourists. It is done by thousands of Swazi maidens in their traditional dress. These girls come from all over the country for the ceremony, the ceremony lasts for approximately 8 days. Only childless, unmarried girls can take part in the event. The aim of the Reed Dance Ceremony is to preserve the girls' virginity, the tradition is aimed at encouraging young Swazi women to abstain from sexual activities and to preserve their virginity until they are matured enough to get married. The aim is to also provide tribute labour for the Queen mother, the reeds that the girls cut are taken to the main royal household where they are used as wind breakers for the Queen mother. The aim is to also to promote a spirit of oneness and solidarity amoung the girls by working together. As well as watch parts of the sacred Ncwala ceremony where the King actively participates and there are also the energetic Sibhaca dancers. Handcraft is done by Swazilands talented men and women and this is very popular with the visitors.
The Nature Reserves in Swaziland protect vast variety of animal such as the Big Five, warthogs, antelope and reptiles as well as bird and flora. Some Game Parks/Reserves available in Swaziland's are Malolotja, Mantenga and Mlawula they provide many activities for tourists such as picnics, walk trails, hiking trails, bird watching, fishing and many more. Swaziland's most popular activities include bird watching with almost 500 species of birds found all over the country and hiking.
Tour options include self-drive sometimes with a compulsory guide, tours in the reserves own 4x4 vehicles, guided horses and walking trails.
Swaziland has many beautiful sceneries such as mountain scenary with rivers, waterfalls and gorges, it has unique ancient rock formations, fertile valleys and typical african bush.
Bird watching - Bird watching in Swaziland is one of the quieter and more relaxing outdoor activites. The best time for bird watching is early morning as this is when birding is at its busiest since many birds are at their hungriest, while they search actively for food they are easier to observe.
Game Viewing - For big Five game viewing Swaziland's game reserves and nature reserves are highly recommended. Visitors at Swaziland's game resereves and nature reserves have access to game viewing vehicles and are free to follow the marked guided or self guided trails.
Accommodation that is available in Swaziland is bush camps and traditional huts in the nature reserves as well as bed and breakfasts, hotels, lodges and back packing.
Climate in Swaziland varies according to altitude, with the higher areas being generally cloudy and cooler than the rest of Swaziland. The climate in the mountains along the Mozambique border is humid and wet, tourists are mostly attracted to this part of Swaziland. The rainy season is generally between October and May and is also humid and wet . And the cooler, drier conditions are generally between Junt and September.
Swaziland Latest News
[IRIN] Mbabane - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has withdrawn its advisory team from Swaziland, saying it is unable to support the government's proposed financial reform programme.
[Swazi Media] News that one of Swaziland King Mswati III's 13 wives is staying at a luxury South African hotel running up a bill of R500,000 (US$60,000) in a month has caused anger in the poverty stricken kingdom.
[Swazi Media] Swaziland prodemocracy campaigners are to picket the Swazi High Commission in London on Saturday (19 May 2012) when King Mswati III is due to hold a dinner.
[Swazi Media] The Swaziland Government has been accused of trying to close down the press with the publication of a new Bill to bar public servants from disclosing any information about their work that relates to 'public policy'.
[Swazi Media] A formal complaint has been lodged against Swaziland's Times Sunday and its writer Qalakaliboli Dlamini after the newspaper published an article encouraging hatred of gays.
[Biz-Community] Sugar producer Tongaat Hulett (TON) says its headline earnings per share for the year ended March 2012 are expected to be 839 cents per share - a 10% increase on last year's 761 cents.
[Swazi Media] The way the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) presents itself as the 'legitimate voice' of the prodemocracy movement has been rejected by political and labour groups in the kingdom, according to an analysis just published.
[Swazi Media] Photos are beginning to come through from the picket in London to protest that King Mswati III of Swaziland has been invited to take part in the Jubilee celebrations of the UK's Queen Elizabeth.
[Swazi Media] The Times Sunday, an independent newspaper in Swaziland, angered its readers after allowing one of its regular columnists to write hate speech against homosexuals.
[Swazi Media] Statement from Swaziland Vigil
[Swazi Media] One of the most significant human rights organisations in Swaziland has called on the Times Sunday to take action against its columnist who wrote hate speech against homosexuals in the newspaper.
[Swazi Media] Swaziland's Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini, the man King Mswati III illegally-appointed in 2008, is 70 years old today.
[State Department] Washington - To mark Mother's Day, celebrated in the United States on the second Sunday in May, Peace Corps volunteers worldwide are engaging in projects to improve maternal health, educate new mothers and support women and children.
[Swazi Media] Yesterday (11 May 2012), I wrote, 'SSN (Swaziland Solidarity Network) supporters want the monarchy abolished and replaced by a Communist-led state.' It is true that many supporters do want this, as they are themselves members of a communist party.
[Swazi Media] The fallout between factions in the Swaziland pro-democracy movement has thrown into relief the disagreements over their objectives for the future of the kingdom.
[OSISA] The African Commission of Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) has issued a stinging rebuke to the Swazi government - and called on it to respect human rights and take all necessary measures to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2013.
[Swazi Media] A rift has opened between the major opposition party in Swaziland and the most vocal of the prodemocracy movement's organisations.
[Swazi Media] A schoolteacher in Swaziland who was waiting for a bus was detained by police because he was carrying a bag with an inscription of a trade union federation on it.
[SSN] Johannesburg - The National Executive Committee of PUDEMO met over the weekend to discuss progress towards its coming National Policy Conference, assess the state of the Swazi revolution and the extent to which progress has been made in relation to the tasks set out by Congress and previous NEC meetings, as well as deal with current national issues and critical matters of discipline and unity within the organisation.
[Swazi Media] The Times of Swaziland, the kingdom's only independent daily newspaper, has for the second day running censored itself in its reporting of King Mswati III.
[Swazi Media] The row between the major opposition party in Swaziland and the most vocal of the prodemocracy movement's organisations is largely irrelevant to the campaign for democracy in the kingdom.
[CAF] Mbabane Swallows were crowned Swaziland champions at the Somhlolo National Stadium after collected the win they needed to beat Royal Leopard to the title. On the last day of matches the "Beautiful Birds" summoned all their quality and determination to overcome bitter rival, Manzini Wanderers 1- 0 and finish on 47 points two more than second place Leopard. The only goal of the match was scored by Sabelo Ndzinisa. Mbabane Swallows produced the top goal scorers in the last three of the four seasons and in Sab
[Swazi Media] The Times of Swaziland, the kingdom's only independent daily newspaper, has censored itself over a poll showing disapproval of King Mswati III.
[Swazi Media] The Swaziland Government has maintained an eerie silence about how it is going to save the kingdom's ailing economy in the weeks since the International Monetary Fund withdrew its support for its financial rescue plan.
[Swazi Media] The assertion by Princess Sikhanyiso, the King of Swaziland's eldest child, that 'almost everyone' in her father's kingdom is on Facebook caused ripples of mirth because it showed just how out of touch with the real world she is.
[Swazi Media] Swaziland is at position 168 among 197 nations in the world for media freedom in a survey just published by Freedom House.
[AIM] Maputo - One of the effects of the murder of Mozambican businessman Momed Khalid Ayoob is to bring to an abrupt end a court case in Swaziland, where Ayoob faced charges of trying to smuggle an undeclared sum of over two million US dollars out of the country.
[Swazi Media] Police and army forces in Swaziland have been preventing people from photographing the jet recently gifted to King Mswati III.
[Swazi Media] The Swaziland Government has denied that the jet plane gifted to King Mswati III came from Kuwait.
[Swazi Media] Two trade unionists in Swaziland were arrested and beaten by police at a May Day rally.





