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
President Rupiah Banda has described King Mswati III of Swaziland as a unifying factor in Africa.
Farmer Obed Dlamini, like many of his colleagues from Swaziland, finds it difficult to find quality maize seeds each planting season. Not only are the seeds expensive but they are often not available.
The Swaziland government has acquired a ginnery for the processing of cotton for local farmers, who serve both the domestic and export markets. The ginnery is currently operational and needs a financial and technical partner to invest alongside Swazi farmers in the following:
President Kibaki on Monday left the country for a three-day official visit to Swaziland where he will attend the 14th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Summit of the Heads of State and government.
The recent killing of two albino Swazi children within a few days of each other is raising fears that the practice of murdering people with the genetically inherited condition to sell their body parts for "muti" (medicine) is migrating southwards.
Remarks disparaging programmes to reduce HIV infections, made by Swaziland's second top-ranking traditional leader, have sparked disbelief and anger among AIDS activists.
THE banned People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) of Swaziland yesterday railed at Southern African leaders for turning a blind eye to repression and human rights abuses in the kingdom.
Four men are changing the global image of Swaziland, one artwork at a time. Jiggs Thorne, Noah Mdluli, Phuzu Mtshali, and Shadruck Masuku are determined to turn their nation, one of the smallest in Africa, into the most happening place on the continent. MediaGlobal talked to the House on Fire artists' founder and spokesman about sculpture, music, patriotism, and artfully fighting poverty.
Anecdotal evidence that entrenched cultural beliefs among Swazis actively encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS has been confirmed by a joint government and UN report.
Swaziland is to host the biannual Zone VI Games in December this year as per the resolutions by the respective governments to rotate the youth games to a different member state.
A key advisor to the king of Swaziland is under fire for saying the country's Aids epidemic has been exaggerated to benefit pharmaceutical companies. Prince Mangaliso - chair of King Mswati III's advisory council - also questioned the effectiveness of programmes that promote circumcision and condoms as a way of preventing the spread of HIV.
Remarks disparaging programmes to reduce HIV infections, made by Swaziland's second top-ranking traditional leader, have sparked disbelief and anger among AIDS activists.
Increasing strains on a century-old, five-nation southern African customs union is raising questions as to whether the sovereignty of its poorest members - Lesotho and Swaziland - is sustainable, considering their burden of HIV/AIDS and the global economic slowdown, among other factors.
In the poor, drought-stricken community of Kangcamphalala, AIDS orphan Nomvula Dladla* is in tears. The 17-year-old has been told that her aunt, the only surviving relative she could live with, passed away a few hours ago of an HIV-related illness. And if she had been living anywhere else in the country, it would have made Dladla destitute.
While the Swazi nation was still recovering from the royal sex scandal involving the king’s twelfth wife and the minister of Justice Chief Logcogco (also known as Prince Mangaliso), the chairman of the advisory body to the king, is embroiled in a custody battle with a lady young enough to be his granddaughter.
In a country with the highest HIV infection rate in the world and the lowest life expectancy, experts are still at a loss as to why Swazis have resisted all attempts to change the behaviours that put them at risk from the virus.
An alleged sex scandal involving one of the wives of Africa's last absolute monarch, King Mswati III of Swaziland, has made worldwide headlines. Yet, in the southern African mountain kingdom, media coverage has been subdued, shying away from questioning the silence of the monarchy over the reports.
When good rains finally fell, Catherine Mngomezulu was so hopeful that this year she would reap a bumper harvest. Then the rats appeared.
RWANDA finished second in the ICC Africa U19 Division 2 World Cup qualifiers which climaxed yesterday in Swaziland after thrashing Mozambique by 91 runs at Sisekelo cricket oval.
With 149 runs recorded to beat Swaziland in their last match of the ICC Africa Division 2 Cricket World Cup Qualifier going on in Swaziland in their last match of the series, Nigeria yesterday afternoon, gained an extra two points to take their total haul to eight in the table.
RWANDA shook off Tuesday's defeat against Nigeria by trouncing hosts Swaziland yesterday in the ICC Africa U19 Division 2 World Cup qualifiers.