Looking at a map of Africa, you might easily miss Eswatini. Tucked away between South Africa and Mozambique - it's the smallest landlocked nation on the continent but a real pocket-rocket of a country. Discover what it's like to visit Africa's last absolute monarchy and find out why Eswatini is such a unique travel destination.
Why you should visit Eswatini
Compared to it's gigantic neighbour South Africa, Eswatini is a tiny, snack-sized country.
The best thing about snack-sized countries is that they can be the most relaxing holiday destinations.
Since it only takes under 3 hours to drive from the East to West and under 4 hours to drive from North to South, visitors to Eswatini won't have to deal with any of the FOMO that comes from visiting bigger countries. They'll be no stress in having to whizz around trying to tick off all the must sees and must do's, as even one week will give visitors enough time to make themselves at home in this small, laid-back nation.
With its rolling green hills, vast open plains and strong cultural traditions - Eswatini is an incredible off-the-beaten-track destination. At your own pace, roam, cruise and explore the nation from top to bottom, learning about Swazi history and traditions.
What is there to do in Eswatini?
Despite its size (17,364 km² making it smaller than Wales or the island of Sardinia) there are loads of things to do in Eswatini. Here are our top picks:
Best Places to visit in Eswatini
- Mkhaya Game Reserve — home to a significant population of wild black and white rhinos, Eswatini has an excellent reputation for rhino conservation. Mkhaya is the place to head for rhino spotting and the reserve is known for its "bushwalks" - aka walking safaris in wild rhino habitats 👀 .
- Ngwenya Glass Village — visiting a glass factory might not sound like everyone's idea of fun, but the Ngwenya Glass is famed for fashioning all sorts of impressive creations out of recycled glass - be it glorious giraffe jugs or hippo napkin holders. Go on a tour of the factor and learn more about the process while watching the glassblowers at work.
- Malkerns - this small town, set in the Malkerns Valley, is surrounded by pineapple farms and sugarcane fields. It's a mini hub for all things Swazi arts and crafts and worth visiting to browse the craft markets.
- Nsangwini Rock Art — this site is home to rock paintings made by the hunter-gatherer San people over 4,000 years ago. We suggest going with a guide to get the most out of your visit.
- Malolotja National Park — with waterfalls, forests, mountains and more, make sure you visit this national park in order to experience some of the best views in Eswatini. Wild camping here for a couple of days would be dreamy (only zebras, impala and other small game live in the park).
Best Things to Do in Eswatini
- BushFire Festival — Every year in March, the MNT Bush Fire Festival descends upon the Malkerns Valley with international African music artists journeying to Eswatini to perform.
- House on Fire — described as an "Afro-Shakespearean Globe theatre", it's worth keeping an eye on the events schedule of this venue since House on Fire hosts theatre performances, DJ-sets, parties and festivals throughout the year.
- eDladleni Restaurant — head to this spot to enjoy a traditional Swazi meal.
- Umhlanga Reed Dance — Umhlanga is arguably the biggest event in Eswatini's cultural calendar. Every year at the end of August or beginning of September, tens of thousands of unmarried women from around the country take part in an eight day ceremony, dancing for the Queen Mother in traditional dress. Lots more information about Umhlanga can be found here.
- Hiking in eSwatini — with landscapes that sometimes resemble an African Tuscany, the beautiful hills and valleys of Eswatini are best explored on foot. Don your hiking boots and visit the likes of Gobolondlo and Emlembe Mountain.
- Swazi Trails — these guys run exhilarating white water rafting trips along Eswatini's Great Usutu River.
Where to Stay
No need to worry too much about where you are based in Eswatini as the best spots to visit are only going to be a short drive from wherever you stay.
Aloe Camp, nestled on the side of a mountain, takes our fancy. It's located in a spectacular spot and a great base for relaxing into Swazi life.
What's life like in Africa's Last Kingdom?
Technically, there are 3 kingdoms in Africa: Eswatini, Morocco and Lesotho.
Eswatini is a bit different since it's the only nation that is an absolute monarchy. This means that King Mswati III (who has ruled since 1986) is the nation's sole, executive authority.
While exploring Eswatini, visitors are likely to be enamoured with the unique cultural traditions rooted in the country's status as a monarchy, but there's definitely a darker side to the way the country is ruled.
Since 1973, political parties in Eswatini are not legally recognised and banned from taking part in elections. In recent times, there has been growing discontent and calls for reforms to how Eswatini is governed. June and July of 2021 saw a number of violent pro-democracy, anti-monarchy protests, as in a country where 60% of the population live below the national poverty line (Eswatini has a population of just over 1 million), the King has been criticised for living an opulent and extravagant lifestyle that's a far cry from the high-unemployment rates and poverty of its people.
Eswatini or Swaziland?
The Kingdom of Eswatini officially became "eSwatini" in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. Before that, you might have known it as "Swaziland" although "eSwatini" has always been the country's traditional name (meaning land of the Swazis).
Starting from Skratch? Here Are a Few Tips to Get Started:
https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/swaziland/travel-guide/best-time-to-visit-swaziland
https://www.skratch.world/post/the-least-visited-countries-in-africa-why-you-should-go
