Insider tips on what to see in Swaziland

Swaziland is an unusual place for a holiday for many, but well worth looking into if you are tired of conventional beach holidays.   Swaziland is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, it has a border with Mozambique to the East and the rest of the country is totally surrounded by South Africa.  This article provides information on a range of tourist attractions to visit in Swaziland. There is a large selection of tourist options available.

Birdwatching Tours

Birdwatching or simply “birding” is a popular activity in Swaziland due to the wide variety of birds available and the number of birds that only live in Swaziland. Early morning is probably the best time to view birds, as they are hungry and looking for food.

Birders will either need to have a good knowledge of how to find birds themselves or hire a tour guide/go on an organised tour. Popular destinations for birdwatching in Swaziland include all of the following reserves: Hawane, Maloltja, Mbuluzi, Mkhaya, Mlawula, Mlilwane and Phophonyane.

The Blue Crane shown above is a popular attracion for birdwatchers in Swaziland.

Image Source: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6629625859_2697c8672c_m.jpg
Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnardpaul/6629625859/

Crafts and Markets

The tourism industry of Swaziland heavily relies upon the purchase of traditional arts and crafts. There are a large variety of crafts available including baskets, beadwork, candles, clothes (Swaziland style), jewellery, pottery, sculptures, weaving (blankets, cushion covers, rugs, throws, etc).  Try visiting the Manzini market, which is open on Thursdays for a wide selection of traditional crafts.

Helicopter Flights

Chartering a helicopter is a popular activity for tourists. Helicopters can quickly travel to any part of the country. Custom tours can be created to view wildlife and rivers, mountains, etc.

Horse Riding

Organised horse riding tours are popular in Swaziland. It’s important for tourists to stay on designated routes to avoid encounters with wildlife (lions, etc). Horse riding is a natural way for tourists to connect with Swaziland and see things they would otherwise miss.  Tours normally take from between 30 minutes to a day. Specific tours include the Chubeka trail, Ezulwini Hotel trail, Foresters Arms Hotel trail and Nyanza stables.

Incwala Ceremony

The Incwala ceremony is the most sacred of all ceremonies in Swaziland. The ceremony lasts four days and takes place in either December/January. The date is carefully selected by Astrologers as the position of the sun and moon are important.  The ceremony gives thanks for the first fruits of the season, which are eaten by the king. Tourists need to have a permit to be able to take photos at this ceremony.

Safari’s/Wildlife Tours

A trip to Swaziland would not be complete without seeing some of the wildlife in their native habitat. As you would expect for Southern Africa many of the big game species are available to see, including Antelope, Crocodile, Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Impala, Leopard, Lion, Rhino, Wildebeest and Zebra to name just a few.

There are a number of reserves for visitors; each offers its own distinctive flavour of Swaziland wildlife so more research will be required to personalise which is the most suitable for you. Recommended reserves include Hawane, Mbuluzi, Mkhaya, Mlilwane and Nisela.

A variety of tour options are available including the popular Landrover tours, self guided tours, canoe trips and minibuses. For those inclined custom options can be included such as angling trips, jogging and mountain biking.

The photo above shows a view of the Mlilwane wildlife sanctuary and reserve in Swaziland.

Image Source: http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1221/1319939722_7cad4963b8_m.jpg
Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinh00d/1319939722/

Umhlanga / Reed Dance Ceremony

The Umhlanga ceremony takes place in either late August or early September each year. Approximately 20,000 young girls (mainly teenagers) from all over Swaziland pay tribute to the Queen Mother through the reed dance.  The ceremony is lead by the royal princesses who guide the 20,000+ girls to perform in front of the King and Queen Mother. The occasion is very colorful, the girls wear very short skirts, bracelets, anklets and lots of jewelry.  Most of the young girls are topless, which is natural in Swaziland. Visitors need to be careful when taking photos and travel videos that they have the right permits to record this ceremony.

Conclusion

So why not give Swaziland a try, there is a rich variety of attractions available. Due to the large selection, a stay of 7-10 days is recommended. Don’t forget to pack your digital camera and camcorder to take some photos and a travel video for your memoirs.

Swaziland Area Information

Swaziland Tours