Looking for the best tourist attractions in Eswatini? The Kingdom of Eswatini is a land-locked country in Southern Africa. In the southeast, it shares a border with Mozambique. It is now called Eswatini, but it used to be called Swaziland the “Little Switzerland of Africa” because its English name sounds like Switzerland.
This small country includes animal sanctuaries with lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros. Eswatini also has beautiful natural terrain, so if you prefer hiking and being near nature, this would be a fantastic option, with its lush mountains, canyons, rivers, and waterfalls.
Swaziland has kept its traditions, customs, and celebrations. You can see some of these in Incwala. The most special ceremonies, however, are the three-week kingship ceremonies in December and January, Umhlanga in the last or first week of August, and the vibrant reed dance ritual, which requires extensive planning. Make the most of your trip to Swaziland with our list of the best tourist attractions in Eswatini.
Things to do in Swaziland
1. Lobamba
Lobamba is the most important building in Swaziland. It is in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley. You can also find the Parliament House, the National Museum, and other government buildings like the Royal Kraal of the Royal Village of Lobamba.
The Parliament House is accessible to the public, but the National Palace and the huge Embo National Palace are not. The National Palace was built in 1978 and is mostly used for ceremonies.
If you like to be active, you can visit the Somhlolo Stadium in Lobamba. This is where essential cultural and sports events, national celebrations, music events, dance performances, and public speaking by the King take place. If you are fortunate to catch one, it will be an experience you will never forget.
2. Hlane National Royal Park
The Hlane Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the few places where people can see lions, elephants, and rhinos. It is a place for the majority of the country’s wildlife. The lions live in a separate area and can only be seen on a guided tour. This reserve is also a great place for birdwatchers because it houses a wide range of species, including Africa’s largest breeding population of white-backed vultures.
Some things you can do are guided mountain biking, based on cultural visits to nearby Swazi villages, bird watching overnight, fully enclosed bush walks, and watching wildlife. Also, you can have a wonderful time without electricity at the camp or in a traditional lodge with lanterns. You can enjoy the second category with modern amenities in a self-catered stone lodge.
3. Swazi Market, Mbabane
Swaziland’s climate capital, Mbabane, is residence to the Swaziland Market, which is a must-see for tourists looking to buy souvenirs. The town’s main shopping street is at the southern end of Allister Miller Street. The stalls contain fresh food, pottery, hand-woven baskets, masks, traditional clothing, soapstone carvings, and beadwork. The Traditional Medicine Center is fascinating because it has great healing lotions and potions.
ALSO READ: Natural Wonders of Africa
Tintsaba Crafts, just before the Piggs Peak Hotel, has more Swazi handicrafts like baskets, jewelry, and textiles. It’s an incredible place to shop for people who want to look classy. North of Mbabane is the beautiful Pine Valley, a good last place to visit. They consequently lead to the Wombeluze River and go by several waterfalls. It’s a wonderful place to walk and ride a bike, and the weather is nice all year.
4. Mlilwane Wildlife Reserve
The Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Swaziland’s oldest and most popular game reserves. It is in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley, one of the best tourist attractions in Eswatini. It was set up by Ted and Elizabeth Reill, who turned one’s farm in Mlilwane into a wildlife sanctuary with the help of King Sobhuza II.
Initially, animals and plants had to be carried in from far away. Mlilwane Reserve is home to more than 400 birds and many animals, such as zebras and colobus, monkeys, crocodiles, warthogs, caracals, hippos, and antelopes.
You can go on game drives, nature walks, mountain bike rides, and horseback rides, learn about the culture of a village, or swim in the pool at the rest camp. If you’re watching for a place to stay, you can choose between ego chalets, traditional Swazi beehive-style huts, and high-end hilltop lodges.
Check availability and book the best of eSwatini Tour.
5. The Mlawula Nature Reserve
The Mlawula Nature Reserve is beautiful and has a lot of various kinds of plants and animals because it is between the lowlands and the Lebombo Mountains. Because the landscape is so different, so is the wildlife. There are 60 species of small and large animals, like Bushmills, impala, hornbills, and tortoises, as well as 350 species of birds, numerous insects, and a wide range of plants.
At first, animals and plants had to be brought in from far away. However, the nature reserve now contains over 400 species of birds and numerous animals, such as zebras, colobus monkeys, crocodiles, warthogs, caracals, hippos, and antelopes.
You can do many things in the reserve, like game drives, nature walks, mountain biking, horseback riding, learning about the culture of a village, or swimming in the pool at the rest camp. There are self-contained chalets, traditional Swazi beehive-style huts, and high-end hilltop lodges for people to stay in.
5. Mkhaya Game Reserve
They made Mkhaya Wildlife Sanctuary to protect the animals that were going extinct, like the white and black rhinoceros. The park is also safe for buffalo, giraffes, hippos, and birds. During the day, you can make reservations for guided safaris here, and if you choose to stay, you can spend a memorable night in the Mkhaya Game Reserve’s Stone Camp’s lighted stone lodge.
6. Eswatini National Museum
The small National Museum in Lobamba is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has lots of exciting displays about Swazi history, culture, and nature. Visitors can learn about the area’s history by looking at traditional clothing and hearing about each piece’s meaning. There are also lectures on native wildlife and views from different angles of typical low and high-mountain habitats. Outside the museum, there is a replica of a Swazi kraal village to thatched huts where you can learn about the culture and history of the area.
We hope this list of the top tourist attractions in eSwatini will help you to plan your next trip to eSwatini. You can contact our team on info@tourismguideafrica.com
