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Kingdom of Swaziland is a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa
(one of the smallest on the continent), situated on the eastern slope of
the Drakensberg mountains, embedded between South Africa in the west and
Mozambique in the east. The country is named after the Swazi, a Bantu tribe.
Largely as a result of having the world's highest rate of HIV infection,
Swaziland has the lowest life expectancy on the planet: just 32.62 years.
History
Human
remains and artifacts from more than 100,000 years ago have been found
in Swaziland. The earliest inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers.
They
were largely replaced by the Bantu tribes during Bantu migrations. Evidence
of agriculture and iron use dates from about the 4th century, and people
speaking languages ancestral to current Sotho and Nguni languages began
settling no later than the 11th century.
The
ruling Dlamini lineage had chiefships in the region in the 18th century.
An enlarged Swazi kingdom was established by King Sobhuza I in the early
19th century. Soon thereafter the first whites started to settle in the
area. In the 1890s the South African Republic in the Transvaal claimed
sovereignty over Swaziland but never fully established power. After the
South African War of 1899–1902, Swaziland became a British protectorate.
The country was eventually granted independence on September 6, 1968. Since
then, Swaziland has seen a struggle between pro-democracy activists and
the monarchy.
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Africa
Swaziland - culture and traditions flourish alongside some modern luxury
by Gerald Crawford
Swaziland
is a tiny mountainous Kingdom, sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique,
has been dubbed the 'Switzerland of Africa'. African culture and traditions
flourish here alongside some modern luxury hotels and excellent wildlife
reserves. Swaziland is the smallest country in the southern hemisphere,
but it has a big heart despite its depressed economy. The capital, Mbabane,
lies at the northern end of the lush Ezulwini Valley: a small, unpretentious
town that caters well for tourists. Among the country's main attractions
are Mlilwane, a well-established game sanctuary; the magnificent Mantenga
Falls; the casino resort of Piggs Peak; and the annual ceremony of the
reed dances at the Royal Kraal in Lebombo on the country's eastern border.
Swaziland is also known for its exquisite arts and crafts and its breathtaking
scenery, especially in the western highlands, which rise to more than 6,000
feet (1,829m), riven with abundant rivers, waterfalls and forested gorges.
The
landlocked Kingdom of Swaziland is surrounded on the north and south by
provinces of South Africa, and on the east is bordered by Mozambique. The
Kingdom provides travellers the ideal gateway between Kwazulu-Natal and
the Kruger National Park, as well as Johannesburg and Maputo - no better
route is available with added advantage of discovering a whole new country
filled with bygone African traditions and culture.
With
an area of just over 17,000 square kilometres, Swaziland is the smallest
country in the southern hemisphere (comparable to the size of Wales in
the United Kingdom, and the stae of New Jersey in America). Swaziland covers
an area of approximately 193 kilometres from north to south, and 145 kilometres
from east to west.
Small
as it may be, Swaziland is an exciting tourist destination with its art
and craft outlets and traditional markets and wildlife reserves. At Mlilwane
Game Reserve tame birds and animals are free to come and go and wander
through the camp grounds. Mkhaya Game Reserve offers visitors the opportunity
of game viewing by open Landrover with guides.
A major
attraction for the visit to Swaziland is the casinos. These are located
at the Royal Swazi Sun Hotel complex, in the heart of the Ezulwini Valley,
between Mbabane and Manzini, at the Nhlangano Sun in the South, and at
the Protea Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino in the North.
Swaziland
offers many scenic drives. North of Mbabane, the road to Luve is known
as Pine Valley with a series of waterfalls on the Black Umbeluzi River
and the granite heights of "Bald Rock". The drive to Piggs Peak, in the
north is one of the most scenic in the country. The Malolotja Nature Reserve
lies to the west of the road and here, after a stiff walk, you can view
the Malolotja Falls, the highest in Swaziland.
Swaziland
also hosts a large number of internationally renowned hotels and a number
of thermal springs where visitors can relax and unwind, like the Spa at
the Royal Swazi Sun.
Conditions
in Swaziland vary according to altitude, with the higher areas being generally
cloudy, misty and several degrees cooler than the rest of the country.
The mountainous region in the west, where most tourists spend their time,
is humid and wet, the rain falling in occasional violent storms. In the
middle and lowland regions conditions are drier, the climate ranging from
sub-tropical to tropical as one moves east. The rainy season is generally
between October and May and is warm and wet, while cooler and drier conditions
prevail from June to September.
Come
for a visit.
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