Matsamo Horo 07h00-18h00 Barberton Ngonini MPUMALANGA Mlumati MPUMALANGA Ntfonjeni Buhleni Mhlangatane Mananga Herefords 08h00-18h00 Pigg’s Peak Thunzini Lomahasha Bulembu HHOHHO 07h00-20h00 08h00-16h00 Havelock Mine Sand Tshaneni River SOUTH Endzingeni Dam Maguga Mhlume Dam AFRICA Malolotja Nsangwini Rock Art Bhalekane Shewula Mountain Camp Maguga Dam Komati Tambankulu Nature Viewsight & Crafts Madlangamphisi Reserve Nkhaba Maphiveni Hawane Ngomane Mbuluzi Dam Hlane Croydon Simunye Ngwenya SWAZILAND Mlawula Goba 07h00-22h00 Motshane Mliba Mbuluzi Mhlumeni Luve Kuphuka MOZAMBIQUE Sibebe Rock Trails Lusushwana Mbabane Lundzi Mbuluzane 08h00-16h00 Ezulwini Luphohlo Mpisi Lonhlupheko Crafts Dam Mpaka Lobamba Mhlambanyatsi Mlilwane Mafutseni Siteki Manzini Hhelehhele Mahlanya Bhunya Lusutfu Malkerns Matsapha Palata Luyengo MANZINI Vikisijula Sandlane Edwaleni Mkhaya Sidvokodvo 08h00-18h00 LUBOMBO Tikhuba Ngwempisi Hiking Trails Mankayane Lusutfu Khelekhele Horse Trails Siphofaneni Ngwempisi Sigceni Tambuti Mambane Big Bend Mkhondvo Van Eck Dam Sicunusa Khubuta 08h00-18h00 Sitobela Matata Gege 08h00-16h00 Nisela Hlathikhulu Maloma SOUTH Piet Retief Nsoko Mahamba Gorge Lodge Mbulungwane AFRICA Nhlangano Mahamba Ngwavuma 07h00-22h00 SHISELWENI MOZAMBIQUE ZIMBABWE Mhlosheni Hluti BOTSWANA Kruger NP NAMIBIA Mpumalanga Maputo Lavumisa Johannesburg Salitje Mbabane SWAZILAND 08h00-16h00 07h00-22h00 SOUTH KwaZulu- AFRICA Natal Pongola LESOTHO Durban KWAZULU-NATAL SCALE 1:800 000 0 10 20 30 40 Cape Town Kilometres L SWAZ EA IILA R N EE D H TT Welcome to Explore The Kingdom of Swaziland is a land off ering a unique taste of Contents Africa. Its four distinct geographic regions and fragile eco-habitats represent the continent of Africa in microcosm and its friendly, gentle people are eager to share this bounty with you. Maguga Craft Outlet and Viewsite page two While the Kingdom’s highly sophisticated entertainment and Nsangwini Rock Art Centre page three accommodation venues – and superb infrastructure – make a Sibebe Rock Trails page four visit to this tiny royal enclave attractive to both international and Shewula Mountain Camp page six regional visitors, it is its warm community and age-old traditional lifestyle, its deep sense of respect for royalty, and its “off the beaten Lonhlupekho Craft Market page seven track” hideaways, that promise to draw visitors to feel the rhythm Khelekhele Horse Trails page eight of its soul. Ngwempisi Hiking Trails page ten Experience the Real Swaziland, a Swaziland that displays the culture, the skills and the true face of the people. Visit the community Mahamba Gorge Lodge page twelve projects featured in these pages to enjoy experiences that will Travellers’ information inside back cover touch your soul as the people of Swaziland open their hearts and their homes to share their heritage. All the community projects featured, while the product of seed funds from the European Commission and Swaziland Government, are maintained by community members. The people are empowered, through the development process, to assume responsibility for sustainability. The Kingdom stands proud in its spectacular niche between neighbouring South Africa’s provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Acknowledgements Mpumalanga, and Mozambique. In addition to providing a magnifi cent destination in its own right, it provides a northern Compiled and produced for the Swaziland Tourism Authority by Artworks Communications, Durban, South Africa. gateway to the world-renowned Kruger National Park and, in Thanks to Sipho Simelane, Swaziland Tourism Authority, for information the north-east, to Mozambique and the east coast of the Indian and assistance, various publications commissioned by the Authority and the Ocean. Automobile Association’s “Motoring in the Kingdom of Swaziland” map brochure. The following websites also provided much useful information and are valuable Treat yourself to pure freedom as you drive, hike or horse-ride tools for anyone planning a visit to Swaziland: http://www.gov.sz/ through countryside that off ers panoramic vistas of granite http://www.sntc.org.sz/ domes, created as the ancient rocks laid down at the beginning http://www.welcometoswaziland.com/ of time endured the geological turmoils of millennia. Marvel at the http://www.shewulacamp.com/ http://www.naturalhistorysociety.org.sz/ massive gorges the mighty rivers have carved, rivers whose names http://www.ecs.co.sz/magugadam/maguga_dam.htm roll off the African tongue – the Komati, the Usuthu, the Mbukuzi, http://www.up.ac.za/academic/geog/reports.html the Ngwempisi and the Mkhondvo, among a myriad tributaries Editor: Kathy Waddington – all criss-crossing the mountainscapes that have given rise to Cover design: Dave Hadlow Swaziland’s European name, the Switzerland of Africa. Follow a trail Layout: Shakila Chetty Photography: Bob Forrester (on behalf of Swaziland Tourism Authority), through bushveld and forest to the Nsangwini enclosure and allow Chris Waddington, Kathy Waddington. the story-telling ability of a trained guide to transport you to a time Map work: Dave Hadlow, Thabani Gumede based on maps prepared by when San (Bushman) mythology was etched into the ancient rocks ALL OUT Projects: www.all-out.org of the western highveld of Swaziland. While every eff ort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at the time of going to print, the Swaziland Tourism Take time to explore the Real Swaziland, the peoples and customs Authority does not accept any liability arising from the reliance by any person on of the bushveld and savannah. Wonder at the great rock buttresses the information contained herein. You are advised to verify all information with the service providers, or the Swaziland Tourism Authority. of the Sibebe and the Lubombo Mountains. Sit for a moment and PO Box A1030, Swazi Plaza, H101, Swaziland ponder the exquisite waterfalls and rushing rivers. Telephone: +268 404 9693/404 9675 Fax: +268 404 9683 • Email: [email protected] Treat yourself to the soul of Africa: Swaziland. L SWAZ EA IILA R N EE D H TT Experience the REAL Swaziland page ONE L SWA EAL ZIIL R AN EE D H TT Maguga Craft Outlet and Viewsite The road from Mbabane to Pigg’s Peak in the north-west an opportunity for the talented crafters of the area to market their region of Swaziland is a scenic diversion of note that provides wares is nearing completion. Here you will be able to buy a unique, spectacular mountain, waterfall and gorge views. Here you will crafted memento to fuel your Swazi memories, then relax on a deck cross the Maguga Dam – both a marvel of engineering and a overlooking the dam while enjoying a light lunch or refreshments. sterling example of the benefi ts of cross-border partnerships. Here in the highlands the mountain tops are often swathed in mist. Part of the Komati River Basin Development Project, the Maguga Be ready to capture the visual magic when the sun bursts through Dam stores 332 million cubic metres of water. Its wall height of to dance on the waters below. 115 metres makes it one of the highest dams in southern Africa. It is a joint project of the Swaziland and South African governments The dam itself will soon provide an adventure destination in its own opened by His Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland and the-then right, with entrepreneurs gearing up for watersports and leisure Deputy President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, in April 2002. developments on the banks in full swing. It falls within the region of Hhohho, which covers the western sector of Swaziland, and the dam is close to the Malolotja Game Reserve, which at 18 000 hectares is Swaziland’s largest conservation area. This area is also regarded as one of the fi nest hiking regions in Contact southern Africa, with more than 280 species of both highveld and middleveld birds being recorded. Swaziland Tourism Authority Tel: +268 404 9693/404 9675 A community-initiated panoramic viewsite has been established Email: [email protected] that overlooks the vast expanse of water. A craft outlet that provides Sunset at Maguga Dam. L SWA EAL ZIIL R AN EE D H TT Nsangwini Rock Art Centre The Nsangwini Rock Art Centre, a basket to enjoy refreshments after your hike – there is a pleasant popular site for school tours as well as fi eld in which to sit and enjoy the view across the valley through international tourists, sits high above which the Komati River runs. While community members sell cool the Komati River. Here Swazi kings of old would pass drinks and bottled water from a cooler box, keeping quantities of by and, traditionally, smoke the herb that used to drinks cold presents a problem as there is no electricity in the area. grow prolifi cally among the thorn trees and scrub bush, hence the name “Nsangwini”. But further back Nsangwini is clearly signposted from the main Mbabane-Pigg’s Peak in the mists of time, estimated at being up to 4 000 road and from the Maguga Dam loop road. There is 7,5 kms of dirt years ago, the small San people used Swaziland’s road from the tar, but the road is suitable for all vehicles. There is western highveld granite areas, including Nsangwini, cellphone reception at the site. for spiritual rituals and recording iconic moments in their lives through etchings on the ancient rocks. Here you can step back to a time when wild creatures roamed a land unfettered by power lines, roads, dams Contact and the trappings of modern living; a land where people competed with nature to survive. And here they recorded Advance bookings their experiences, their dreams and their visions in art Tel: +268 637 3767, or ring the bell at reception. on the granite walls of caves and overhangs. Swaziland Tourism Authority Tel: +268 404 9693/404 9675 The Nsangwini Rock Shelter is the largest example Email: [email protected] of San art in the country and is said to provide the most comprehensive display in Swaziland.