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EXPLORER 4 OR HIGHER YOU CAN HEAR
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF
SWAZILAND IN THE BACKGROUND. OTHERWISE CLICK HERE
SWAZILAND IS MOSTLY
SURROUNDED BY SOUTH AFRICA . MOZAMBIQUE IS
SITUATED TO THE NORTH EASTERN SIDE OF THE COUNTRY,
MAPUTO BEING ONLY 45 MINUTES FROM THE LOMAHHASHA
BORDER, OR NAMAACHA AS IT IS KNOWN ON THE "OTHER"
SIDE.
THE LUSH EZULWINI VALLEY IS CAPTIVATING IN IT
BEAUTY AND NATURE. THE UNOFFICIAL SEAT OF
SWAZILAND'S MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. THAT
INCLUDES THE COUNTRY'S FAMOUS CASINO, THE
INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ROYAL SWAZI GOLF COURSE
AND THE HOT MINERAL SPRING. THE REJUVENATING POOL
IS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN BY LOCALS AND GUESTS AS
THE 'CUDDLE PUDDLE'.
SWAZILAND HAS A NUMBER OF PROTECTED NATURE
RESERVES AND GAME PARKS WHICH ARE OPEN FOR
VISITORS. GREAT EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO BRING
WILDLIFE BACK TO THE COUNTRY, AND TO EDUCATE
THOSE THAT HAVE NOT YET LEARNT ABOUT THE
TREASURES THAT SWAZILANDS ECOLOGY HOLDS.
THE INDUSTRIAL CENTER OF MATSAPHA LIES EAST
ACROSS THE VALLEY, A GOOD HALF-HOUR'S DRIVE FROM
MBABANE AND ONLY SIX KILOMETERS TO THE HUB;
MANZINI. THE SMALL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS
SITUATED IN MATSAPHA TOO, IT HAS REGULAR FLIGHTS
, JOHANNESBURG, DURBAN AND MAPUTO, AMONGST OTHERS.
A FUN WAY TO GET TO MET THE LOCALS, IS BY
STOPPING OFF AT THE ROAD SIDE. THERE ARE FRUITS
LIKE PINEAPPLES, MANGOES, GUAVAS, AND ABUNDANT
CHEAP AVOCADOS DEPENDING ON THE SEASON. IN AUTUMN,
WHEN THE MARULA TREE IS IN SEASON, A LOCAL BREW,
CALLED MAGANU, MADE FROM ITS FRUIT GETS SWAZIS
INTO GOOD SPIRITS. FOOD STALLS IN THE LOCAL
MARKETS SELL TRADITIONAL SWAZI MEAT STEW AND
MAIZE MEAL OR STAMPED MEALIES AND ROASTED CORN ON
THE COB (IN SEASON). MIELIE BREAD FRESH FROM THE
FIRE IS ANOTHER FAVORITE.
THERE ARE SOME WESTERN-STYLE NIGHTCLUBS IN THE
MAIN TOURIST CENTERS OF MBABANE AND EZULWINI
VALLEY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, A NUMBER OF
TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS, DANCES AND RITUALS ARE
CELEBRATED. SUCH AS THE INCWALA AND THE REED
DANCE.
A LOT OF TRADITIONAL AND
CONTEMPORAY ART CAN BE VIEWED IN VARIOUS SMALL
CRAFT AND ART SHOPS AROUND THE COUNTRY,
NOTEWORTHY IS ENDLOTANE STUDIOS WERE
INTERNATIONAL RENOWENED ARTIST ALBERT CHRISTOPH RECK
HAS HIS STUDIO, WORKSHOP AND GALLERY.
THE GAME PARKS IN SWAZILAND
ARE TEAMING WITH ALL TYPES OF EXOTIC ANIMALS AND
ARE IDEAL FOR OPEN JEEP TYPE SAFARIS. IN MOST OF
THE NATURE RESERVES ONE IS ABLE TO GO FOR LONG
WALKS AMONG THE ANIMALS AND THROUGH SOME OF THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE. THE TRAILS ARE MARKED
OUT AND RANGE FROM EASY WALKS TO VERY STRENEOUS
TYPE WALKS. MOST OF THE NATURE RESERVES AND GAME
PARKS HAVE EITHER CABIN TYPE ACCOMONTADION OR SET
OUT CAMPING AREAS. YOU WILL ALSO FIND A LARGE AND
VARIED CHOICE OF ACCOMONDATION IN SWAZILAND
OUTSIDE THE NATURE RESERVES OR GAME PARKS, THERE
ARE NUMEROUS BACKPACKER ACCOMONDATION AND GUEST
HOUSES PLUS LUXURY HOTELS SITUATED ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY. SWAZILAND IS UNIQUE IN AFRICA, IT HAS A
TRUE AFRICAN CULTURE WHICH IS VERY MUCH ALIVE.
IN SHORT IF YOU ARE LOOKING
FOR ADVENTURE, AN UNFORGETTABLE AND UNIQUE
AFRICAN EXPERIENCE YOU WILL FIND THAT SWAZILAND,
WITH ITS UNSPOILED NATURE, ITS FRIENDLY PEOPLE
AND THE EXTENSIVE NATURE RESERVES AND GAME PARKS
IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU.
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