Eswatini
Africa · Mbabane · SZ
Eswatini is the small kingdom of southern Africa that the world long knew as the Swaziland, the sovereign monarchy of the mountains and the valleys that sits between the great republic of the south and the nation of the Mozambique. The country, which is governed by the Ngwenyama, the lion king, in the ancient system of the monarchical tradition, is famous around the world for its spectacular royal ceremonies, above all the great reed dance of the maidens and the sacred ritual of the first fruits, which draw the whole nation together. The kingdom holds the royal valley of the Ezulwini with its wildlife and its craft, the parks of the Hlane with their elephants and their rhinos, and the granite peaks and the waterfalls of the highlands. Small, warm and deeply rooted in its traditions, Eswatini offers the visitor an intact, living African kingdom.
Overview
Eswatini is a country in Africa. Its capital is Mbabane and the international dialling code is +268. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English and Swazi. Local currency is the Lilangeni (SZL). We also list 1 city in Eswatini: Mbabane.
The Valley of the Ezulwini and the Royal Heart of the Country
The valley of the Ezulwini, the green bowl of the royal heartland that lies between the capital and the majestic peaks of the western highlands, is the ceremonial and the tourism centre of the kingdom, the home of the royal residences, the craft markets and the king's own wildlife sanctuary. The valley, whose name means the valley of the heavens, holds the popular stops of the royal route, from the crafts of the villages and the glass-blowing studios of the artists to the crocodile farms and the sable antelope of the royal reserves. The mountains that rim the valley, the passes of the west and the forested summits, look down over the farms and the royal villages, and the night markets and the lodges of the Ezulwini complete the picture of the green heart of the kingdom.
The Reed Dance of the Maidens and the Festivals of the King
The great reed dance of the kingdom, the famous umhlanga ceremony of the young women that the king hosts every year in the royal enclosure of the Ludzidzini, is one of the great cultural spectaculars of the continent, bringing the thousands of the maidens from every corner of the country to the palace. The dancers, adorned with the beads, the cow-hide skirts and the broad knives, perform the songs and dances of the week-long festival in the great cattle enclosure, before the king and the royal family, and the ceremony serves the great bond of the nation to its monarchy. The sacred ritual of the first fruits, when the king eats the first of the harvest and revives the sacred power of the kingdom, completes the cycle of the national festivals.
The Rhinos of the Hlane and the Parks of the Kingdom
The royal national park of the Hlane, the lowland reserve of the east of the kingdom where the royal family once hunted and now protects the wildlife of the plains, is the great wildlife experience of the country, holding the elephants, the white rhinos, the lions and the enormous array of the antelopes of the savanna. The game drives and the guided walks of the park, founded on the ancient rules of the royal conservation, offer the visitor the rhino and the elephant viewing of the classic shona experience, with the fantastic night drives to see the rare predators and the nocturnal game of the lowveld. The neighbouring parks and the reserves of the kingdom, the granite kopjes of the national park of the highlands and the game reserves of the rivers, complete the picture of the protected wild of this small country.
The Peaks of the Bulembu and the Falls of the Malolotja
The highlands of the kingdom, the green mountain country that rises along the western border of the country, hold the alpine landscapes of the kingdom, with the grassy plateaus, the craggy peaks and the deep river gorges of the escarpment. The peaks of the Bulembu, the forested mountain region of the abandoned small mining town and the pine plantations of the heights, offer the hiking and the mountain biking through the grasslands and the indigenous forest of the high veld, with the long views over the kingdom and the neighbouring country. The falls of the Malolotja, in the national park of the same name, drop the youthful river of the region over the escarpment in one of the highest cascades of the country, and the walks of the park to the gorge, with their proteas and their antelopes, complete the extraordinary mountain escapade of the west.
The Crafts of the Villages and the Arts of the Ngwenya Glass
The crafts of the kingdom, from the woven baskets and the grass mats of the rural villages to the wood carving and the beadwork of the country, hold the living traditions of the people and the workshops and the cooperatives of the craft centres display and sell the best of the production. The famous glassworks of the Ngwenya, the recycling studio on the crocodile river where the master artisans turn the discarded bottles into the delicate vases, the animals and the ornaments of the world-famous glassware, welcome the visitor to watch the blowing of the molten glass at the furnace. The galleries of the country, the batik painters of the arts township and the curio shops of the whole tourist route, together with the fairs of the crafts of the kingdom, give the small, beautiful and collectable face of the creative heart of the nation.
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- Capital
- Mbabane
- Currency
- Lilangeni (SZL)
- Languages
- English, Swazi
- Calling code
- +268
- Internet TLD
- sz
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Eswatini.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Eswatini?
Mbabane is the capital of Eswatini, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Eswatini?
You pay with Lilangeni (SZL) in Eswatini. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Eswatini?
The languages we list for Eswatini are English and Swazi. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Eswatini?
The dialling code for Eswatini is +268 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Eswatini do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Eswatini: Mbabane (capital).