The Kingdom of Swaziland is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, bordering to the north, west and south with South Africa, and to the eastern side with Mozambique. The terrain is mostly mountainous with sloping plains.
The country contains four main geographical regions, determined by altitude: The Highveld runs along the western border of the country and is very scenic, with rivers, waterfalls, and gorges between the mountains. The capital, Mbabane, is situated in the Highveld area. The Middleveld is the most populated area, with Manzini being the main commercial city, and it also has less rainfall. The Lowveld consists of mostly African bush terrain and is less populated.
The country is diverse with varying landscapes and terrains, from the mountainous areas by the Mozambique border to rainforest areas and rivers to the NW. The capital is
Mbabane and other sizeable towns include Siteki, Manzini and Lobamba.
The inhabitants are mostly Swazi (about 97 percent) with the remainder divided between Zulu, Europeans and refugees from Mozambique. The main religion is Christianity with Roman Catholic, Anglican, as well as Muslim and Jewish communities, and other religions. English is the official language used for business, with Swati the official country language. Independence was granted by the British in 1968. There are good roads connecting Swaziland with Johannesburg.
Most visitors to Swaziland enjoy visiting the game parks and nature reserves to view the wide array of animals which include: zebra, giraffe, crocodile, hippo, monkeys and baboons, to name just a few. Private cars are available or open tours in landrovers. The best time to visit for viewing the big game is during their winter season.
There is so much for nature lovers and bird watchers, with an incredible array of flora and fauna throughout the country. Birdwatchers are recommended to visit during the country’s summer months due to migratory patterns of some species.
There is a great selection shopping with arts and crafts to be found for souvenirs, including: wood carvings, tapestries, potteries, fabrics, glass and candles.
Visitors to Swaziland go there mostly to experience its rich culture and century-old traditions and rituals. Activities for the adventurous include: Fishing, white water rafting, fishing, golfing, horse riding, and hiking. There are also natural thermal springs, spas, casinos, and good restaurants offering all kinds of international cuisine.
The majority of the population is ethnic Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulus and non-Africans. Traditionally Swazis have been subsistence farmers and herders, but some now work in the growing urban formal economy and in government. Some Swazis work in the mines in South Africa. Christianity in Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices. Most Swazis ascribe a special spiritual role to the monarch.
The country's official languages are Siswati (a language related to Zulu) and English. Government and commercial business is conducted mainly in English.
Swaziland enjoys well-developed road links with South Africa. It also has railroads running east to west and north to south. The older east-west link, called the Goba line, makes it possible to export bulk goods from Swaziland through the Port of Maputo in
Mozambique. Until recently, most of Swaziland's imports were shipped through this port. Conflict in Mozambique in the 1980s diverted many Swazi exports to ports in
South Africa. A north-south rail link, completed in 1986, provides a connection between the Eastern Transvaal rail network and the South African ports of Richard's Bay and Durban.
The sugar industry, based solely on irrigated cane, is Swaziland's leading export earner and private-sector employer. Soft drink concentrate (a U.S. investment) is the country's largest export earner, followed by wood pulp and lumber from cultivated pine forests. Pineapple, citrus fruit, and cotton are other important agricultural exports.
Swaziland mines coal and diamonds for export. There also is a quarry industry for domestic consumption. Mining contributes about 1.8% of Swaziland's GDP each year but has been declining in importance in recent years.
Recently, a number of industrial firms have located at the industrial estate at Matsapha near Manzini. Tourism also is important, attracting more than 424,000 visitors annually, mostly from Europe and South Africa. The lush Ezuwini Valley is a miracle of nature and the seat of Swaziland’s major tourist attractions, including the country’s famous casino, the magnificent Royal Swazi golf course and the hot mineral spring known as the ‘Cuddle Puddle’.
Swaziland has a number of protected nature reserves and game parks, Hlane has wide open spaces supporting big herds of game where the visitor can see the old traditional scenes of Africa. Both Hlane and Malolotsha, which is situated on top of a mountain range and surrounded by steep canyons and waterfalls, are easily reached by road and different types of accommodation and tours are available.
