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You see the 'jewel of wild, tribal Africa'. The smallest of African countries, mountainous, landlocked, and packed with variety...
Encircled by South Africa and Mozambique, Swaziland has high mountains to the east and west, steep grassy hills shrouded in mist, and wild savannah lowlands teeming with animals. There is plenty of water: from crystal mountain streams to grey-green sub-tropical rivers 'all set about with fever trees' - not to mention crocodiles. Within short distances, landscapes change from rock, tough green and papery bark of the acacia bush, to orange orchards, canefields, meadows and even pine plantations.
In places it is so green that Swaziland has been dubbed the Emerald of Africa.
One of the last ruling monarchies on the continent, Swaziland is still intensely tribal and traditional. Open markets and simple villages co-exist with some modern luxury hotels, casino and shopping malls. And it offers unique experiences of African wildlife! You can get close to animals on foot, on mountainbike, on horseback. What's more the Big game has come back... Meet some conservationists who have dedicated themselves to reinstating the king of the beasts...
Southern African itinerary
A suggestion. Combine a visit to the Kruger Park or one of the private game reserves in South Africa, with little Swaziland, warm and temperate, green and tranquil - and yet wild. Drive through the beautiful mountains into this African kingdom, experience its special wilderness areas, wander its traditional markets with beadwork and basketwork, and then continue down into KwaZulu Natal. Or you could continue from Swaziland to Mozambique, a 'sizzler' of tropical colour, with palms, coral and white beaches, at last re-establishing itself as a tourist destination.
Swaziland Wildlife
On Safari in Africa -- usually this conjures up images of the Serengeti plains of East Africa, the Kruger National Park of South Africa , the Okavango Swamps of Botswana...
But far less known to the world, and in many ways far more exciting, are the wildlife havens of the tiny kingdom of Swaziland -- Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in the mountains to the west, the Mkhaya Refuge for Endangered Species in the broadleaf bush of the midlands, and Hlane Royal National Park in spectacular parkland savannah lying on the eastern border adjoining Mozambique.
 Swaziland is the smallest country in the southern hemisphere, and one of the last ruling monarchies in Africa. Luckily for that country, and the world, His Majesty King Mswati 111, known as the Lion of Swaziland, is a champion of conservation, as was his father before him. The British colonial government was totally indifferent to the African heritage, and under its rule many animals were hunted to extinction. With the consent of the administration waterholes were poisoned, herds were machinegunned, extermination licences were easily obtained... Previously a wildlife paradise with an overwhelming magnitude of fauna, British rule in Swaziland saw an end to lions, elephant, giraffe, rhinoceros, buffalo, several species of antelope such as roan and tssessebe, and many other game animals.
Only the ceaseless efforts during recent decades of conservationist Ted Reilly, backed by the monarchy, have led to the reintroduction of all these animals into Swaziland. Without Ted Reilly's determination, backed by the king, the Big Game Parks of Swaziland would today be commercial forests, catttle ranches and sugar cane plantations.
Swaziland is a landlocked country, surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. With high mountains to the east and west, many rivers and an abundant and diverse flora, it is often called the Emerald of Africa.
Only now is the international tourist industry waking up to the potential of this "jewel of wild, tribal Africa" |
