Swaziland% POP 1.3 MILLION / 268
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©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Swaziland% POP 1.3 MILLION / 268 Includes ¨ Why Go? Mbabane .................... 957 In short: big things come in small packages. The intrigu- Ezulwini Valley ...........959 ing kingdom of Swaziland is diminutive but boasts a huge Lobamba ....................960 checklist for any visitor. Rewarding wildlife-watching? Tick. Mlilwane Wildlife Adrenaline-boosting activities such as rafting and mountain Sanctuary .................. 961 biking? Tick. Lively and colourful local culture, with cele- brations and ceremonies still common practice? Tick. Plus Manzini .......................962 there are superb walking trails, stunning mountain and flat- Malolotja land scenery, varied accommodation options and excellent, Nature Reserve ..........962 high-quality handicrafts. Hlane Royal Unlike South Africa, Swaziland has managed to hold on to National Park .............963 that slow-down-this-is-Africa feeling, and that’s why it’s gain- Understand ing in popularity. Everything remains small and personable. Swaziland ...................965 Instead of making a flying visit here on your way to Kru- Survival Guide ............966 ger National Park, KwaZulu-Natal or Mozambique, consider staying at least a week to do the country justice. If you plan a visit during the winter months, try to make it coincide with the Umhlanga festival, one of Africa’s biggest cultural events. Best Places to Eat ¨ eDladleni (p957) ¨ Lihawu Restaurant (p960) When to Go ¨ Ramblas Restaurant Mbabane (p957) °C/°F Te mp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 12/300 30/86 Best Places to 8/200 20/68 Sleep 4/100 ¨ Stone Camp (p965) 10/50 ¨ Sondzela Backpackers 0/32 0 (p961) J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨ Brackenhill Lodge (p957) Dec–Apr Full Feb–Mar Buganu May–Sep Wonder- ¨ Lidwala Backpacker Lodge rivers and lush season – enjoy ful wildlife viewing (p959) vegetation. home-brewed in the lowveld. Incwala festival marula beer in Don’t miss the ¨ Phophonyane Falls takes place in rural Swaziland. Umhlanga festival. Ecolodge & Nature Reserve Lobamba. (p964) 956 Jeppe's Reef a Matsamo E Barberton iver U R 0 30 km ti Ngonini 0 15 miles akonjwa BIQ m M lu MR1 M M Herefords A MPUMALANGA Phophonyane Falls Maputo (SOUTH AFRICA) Bulembu (50km) Sihhoya Mananga MOZ Mgwayiza Piggs 2 Range Peak Sand Tshaneni Namaacha Maguga River Lomahasha Dam M13 Dam Malolotja Komati Mhlume Nature Reserve River Bholekane Phinduvuke N Mnjoli 17 Enkhaba Dam Forbes Reef Tambankulu Maphiveni Ngwenya Hawane NR Mlawula NR River Simunye Oshoek Hawane Dam Mliba Lusush Motjane Sibebe Mbuluzi Goba Rock River w MR5 Hlane Royal a MBABANE Mhlumeni Waverley na National Park Lundzi River MR3 Luve King Mswati III Mbuluzi GR Ezulwini Luphohlo International Airport MR7 L E B O M B O Mantenga Ezulwini Mpisi Mbuluzane Dam Valley NR Mpaka Lonhlupheko Mhlambanyatsi Mafutseni MR3 Lobamba Mlilwane Manzini Siteki Mahlanya Hhelehhele Wildlife Sanctuary butini Bhunya Tim Usutu River Sandlane MR18 Matsapha SWAZILAND SWAZILAND MR8 Mkhaya Luyengo Game Nerston MR19 U Nyetane M sutu Malkerns Reserve MR16 Dam O MR4 Valley Bulunga R U Sidvokodvo Gorge iver Sifunga Mankayane pisi River N Ngwem r Lusutfu Siphofaneni Dam ive T R River Ngwempisi Gorge vo Phuzumoya A S d S Hendick N I W kon Mgazini M van Eck Dam AZ Valley SWAZILAND MR9 Big Bend Sicunusa Mahlangatsha il Houtkop Ndol Lusutfu A za ne Grand Sihlutse River nd River MR26 H Bothashoop River Gege ighligh Hlathikulu Piet Retief Lubuli Mhlathuze Maloma MR9 Nsoko i Mahamba n Ngw T e avu h ma S R Nhlangano s iver N lo 2 MR8 Mh Mhlosheni Sihultse LEGEND River GR Game Reserve MR11 NP National Park Sitilo NR Nature Reserve Salitje Lavumisa WS Wildlife Sanctuary Onverwacht Golela KWAZULU-NATAL Phongolo Swaziland Highlights 1 Mkhaya Game Reserve over whitewater rapids on a 6 Sibebe Rock (p957) (p964) Watching wildlife, day-long adventure. Climbing this massive granite including rare black rhinos, at 4 Ezulwini Valley (p959) dome just outside the capital this excellent reserve. Browsing the valley’s craft and soaking up the lovely views. 2 Malolotja Nature shops. 7 Hlane Royal National Reserve (p962) Walking or 5 Mlilwane Wildlife Park (p963) Coming hiking in this enchanting Sanctuary (p961) Exploring face-to-face with a pride wilderness area. on foot, horseback or by of lions or watching white 3 Great Usutu River bike and relaxing in the rhinos congregate at at the (Lusutfu River; p965) Shooting comfortable lodges. accessible watering hole..