What to Know Before Visiting Swaziland?

Country Facts:
 In 2006, the European Union banned six airlines in Swaziland in addition to 90
other airlines throughout the world in an effort to improve air safety.
 Swaziland is the smallest country in Africa.
 Swaziland is currently the only country in Africa not practicing multiparty
democracy and is one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies. The
Swazi king rules by decree.
 Road conditions in Swaziland are so hazardous that two of the last four of its
Ministers of Transport have died in road accidents.
 Once a year, Swaziland holds a fertility festival and reed dance called umhlanga.
 The mountains in Swaziland's Malolotja Native Reserve are among the oldest in
the world at 3.6 billion years.
 Swaziland is almost completely surrounded by the larger country of South Africa,
only sharing its eastern border with Mozambique.
 The red feathers of the lourie bird are a sign of belonging to the royal family of
Swaziland and can only be worn by members of the royal family.
 Seven in ten people in Swaziland live in abject poverty, and the country suffers
from widespread malnutrition.
 Swaziland tradition has unmarried girls remain bare-chested until marriage, at
which time the breasts are associated with child-bearing and are covered
 Swaziland has two capital cities. Mbabne is the administrative, officially
recognized capital, while Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital.
Source: https://www.factretriever.com/swaziland-facts

Country Flag:
Capital: Mbabane and Lobamba are the two capitals of Swaziland. Verify it
Government: According to the Swazi law and custom, the monarch holds supreme
executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The Ngwenyama (lion) is a hereditary leader,
rules the country, with the assistance of a council of ministers and a national legislature.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Eswatini
Prime Minister: Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, si the prime minister of Swaziland since
29 October 2018.
Economy: The economy of Swaziland is fairly diversified, with agriculture, forestry and
mining accounting for about 13 percent of GDP, manufacturing (textiles and sugar-
related processing) representing 37 percent of GDP and services - with government
services in the lead - constituting 50 percent of GDP. For the 2018 estimate, GDP per
capita in Swaziland will be $10932 in PPP per capita and $4267 in nominal per capita.
Population: The population of Swaziland was estimated to be 1.136 million in 2018.
Religion by Percentage:  Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and
indigenous ancestral worship - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other 30% - includes
Anglican, Methodist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes
Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous religionist, Jewish) (2015 est.)
Source: https://www.indexmundi.com/swaziland/religions.html
Top Swaziland Foods: The cuisine of Eswatini is largely determined by the seasons
and the geographical region. Staple foods in Eswatini include sorghum and maize, often
served with goat meat, a very popular livestock there. The farming industry mainly
depends on sugar cane, tobacco, rice, corn, peanuts, and the exportation of goat meat
and beef. Many Swazis are subsistence farmers who supplement their diet with food
bought from markets.

 Shish wala: Sishwala is a traditional porridge originating from Swaziland. It is

made with a combination of dried maize, salt, water, and dried beans. The beans
should be soaked overnight, then drained, covered with water, and seasoned
with salt. The combination is cooked until tender, and maize is added near the
end of cooking. The whole thing is mixed well before serving. This porridge is
typically served alongside meat or vegetables.

 Slaai: Slaai is a traditional salad originating from Swaziland. Although there is no

fixed recipe, it is usually made with a combination of diced avocados, crushed
peanuts, lemon juice, and grated ginger. All ingredients except crushed peanuts
are mixed together, seasoned with salt, and the combination is then left to
marinate for about 20 minutes before sprinkling the salad with crushed peanuts
and serving it.

 Karoo Roast Ostrich Steal: Karoo roast ostrich steak is the national dish of
Swaziland, a country whose cuisine is influenced by French cooking methods
such as meat marinades and the use of various cream-based sauces. The
ingredients needed for the dish include thinly sliced ostrich steaks, sliced onions,
white wine, heavy cream, peppercorns, juniper berries, maize, red wine, and
pumpkin. The onions are sautéed with peppercorns, white wine, and heavy
cream, while the meat is marinated in red wine and juniper berries with salt and
pepper. The meat is then fried in butter and served with pumpkin mash, made by
combining mashed pumpkin and ground maize. The creamy sauce is drizzled
over the dish before serving.
 Emasi: “Emasi” – or sour milk – is a delicacy in eSwatini. It’s made from raw
cow’s milk, which is fermented and then strained to remove the whey. This is
also used to make two popular dishes: ‘emasi etinkhobe temmbila’ (ground
mealies mixed with sour milk) and ‘emasi emabele’ (ground sorghum mixed with
sour milk).

 Umncweba and umkhunsu: For those who know of South African biltong,
umncweba will seem familiar. This is dried, uncooked meat (made with various
types of meat) that’s often marinated in vinegar and spices and eaten as a snack.
Umkhunsu is similar to umncweba, but the meat has been cooked before being
dried.

 Porridge: Many of eSwatini’s traditional dishes are based upon a hearty porridge
often made from mealie meal (maize flour). ‘Sishwala’ is a thick porridge made
from sugar beans and maize meal. While the porridge itself is somewhat bland,
it’s normally served with meat stew or vegetables. There are many different
variations: ‘Incwancwa’ is a sour porridge made of fermented mealie meal,
‘siphuphe setindlubu’ is a thick porridge made from mashed groundnuts,
‘siphuphe semabhontjisi’ is a thick porridge made of mashed beans and
‘sidvudvu’ is porridge made of pumpkin mixed with mealie meal.

 Tjwala: Traditional home-brewed beer made from maize meal (umcombotsi) is

called ‘Tjwala’ in the siSwati language. It is usually easier to find in more rural
areas (you won’t find it in bars), and it packs quite a punch – expect to feel tipsy
after just one glass. If that’s too adventurous, try a bottle of the country’s local
lager, Sibebe. Named after eSwatini’s famous mountain, ‘Execution Rock’ or
‘Sibebe Rock’, it is brewed in Matsapha.

 Umbidvo Wetntsanga: This dish is made from cooked pumpkin leaves mixed
with peanuts. Because of their prickly texture, pumpkin tops can require a fair
amount of preparation before cooking but the result – a mild but tasty leafy stew
– is definitely worth the effort.

 Black mamba chilli: Black Mamba Chilli sauce is one of eSwatini’s many artisan
food producers. The company is run by a married couple – Joe, from eSwatini,
and Claudia, from Colombia. The combination of hot Swati chillis with a touch of
Latino flavour has made these spicy sauces a runaway success and, when they
first launched, all 400 bottles sold out straight away. Since then, they’ve gone
from employing one local woman to 60 men and women who benefit from a
sustainable income. The sauce is popular with local restaurants and tourists
alike.

 Bulembu Honey: Established in 2007, this is the country’s largest honey

producer and is sold exclusively in eSwatini. It has sites in Bulembu, Ngonini and
Peak Timbers, and has approximately 600 active hives. The company supports
 beekeepers in rural areas by providing training and technical support as well as
purchasing their honey at fair market rates.

Language: In addition to the official languages of Swaziland, residents also speak a

number of other minority languages, including Afrikaans, Tsonga, and Zulu. Afrikaans is
spoken by approximately 13,000 people in Swaziland. This language belongs to the
Indo-European language family and is part of the Dutch subgroup. It developed from the
language of Dutch settlers in South Africa and is often considered a creole language,
having borrowed words from several languages, including German, Malay, Portuguese,
and Khoisan.

Dress for Men and Women: For women, wearing a skirt that covers the knees always
acceptable. If attending an event where the King is present or a festival such as the
Incwala or the Reed Dance, a skirt is a must. Generally sleeves should cover the
elbows for both men and women in the workplace or other formal gatherings. Pants or
shorts are acceptable for women in tourist places, such as game parks or cultural
centers.

Holidays: There are several national holidays in Swaziland such as:

 New Year's Day
 Good Friday
 Easter Monday
 King's Birthday
 National Flag Day
 International Workers' Day
 Ascension Day
 King Father's Birthday
 Reed Dance
 Somhlolo Day
 Christmas Day
 Boxing Day
Travel Tips:

 Most public transport bus services arrive in Mbabane or Manzini. Smaller bus
lines, or minibuses generally provide service to Johannesburg, Durban or Cape
Town in South Africa as well as Maputo in Mozambique.
 Depending on season, the border crossings from South Africa to Swaziland can
be crowded.
 Most travel in Eswatini is by either car or minibus. Navigation can be challenging
due to lack of common street address use or street signage.
 A major attraction for the visit to Swaziland is the casinos located at the Royal
Swazi Spa complex, in the heart of the Ezulwini Valley, between Mbabane and
Manzini.
  Swaziland also hosts a large number of internationally renowned hotels and a
number of thermal springs where visitors can relax and unwind. Most are located
at Ezulwini.
 Eswatini is a small country and it is easy to go anywhere in the country during
one day.
 Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world; nearly 1 in 3
adults are infected. Never have unprotected sexual intercourse.
 eSwatini is, by-and-large, a safe country in which to travel. It does not have
South Africa's alarming crime rate, and tourists are seldom targeted. ... Armed
robberies of wealthier urban residences are not uncommon, and inevitably street
crime such as pick-pocketing occurs in busy parts of town.
 The only international airport of Swaziland is the new King Mswati III International
Airport in Manzini. Return flights from Johannesburg to Manzini is around
US$350 per person. The most popular way to travel into Swaziland from South
Africa is overland via border crossings.
 some vaccines are recommended or required for Swaziland. The National Travel
Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for
Swaziland: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies and
tetanus.
 U.S. citizens do not need a visa for tourist or business travel to this country. A
valid U.S. Passport is required.

Top 10 Attractions and places to visit:

1. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

2. Hlane National Park
3. Mkhaya Game Reserve
4. Lebombo Mountains
5. Ezulwini Valley
6. Malolotja National Park
7. Mbuluzi Game Reserve
8. Mlawula Nature Reserve
9. Mantenga Nature Reserve
10. Swazi Market
Swaziland Boys Name:
 James
 Kelvin
 Ndumiso Mahliosane
 Sambulo
 Tri
 Allen
 Thandwa
Top Universities in Swaziland:
1. University of Eswatini.
2. Limkokwing University
3. University of Botswana
Top 10 Websites: not available on alexa
1. Google.com
2. Facebook.com
3. Youtube.com
4. Twitter.com
5. Xnxx.com
6. Xvideos.com
7. Observer.org.sz
8. Bit.ly
9. Times.co.sz
10. Pornhub.com
Top 3 Search engines used:
1. Google
2. Bing
3. Yahoo
Top exports:
 Perfumes
 Cosmetics
 Sugar
 Chemical goods
 Organic chemicals
Top 5 Cars:
Top cars in Swaziland includes:
1. Honda fit
2. Kia Sportage
3. Kia sorento
4. Kia morning
5. Hyundai santa
Natural Disasters:
Many types of natural disasters occur in Swaziland such as:
 Incessant Lightening
 Hail storms
 Strong winds
  Cholera
 Cyclone
 Periodic earth tremors
 Torrential rains
 Floods
Home Designs / Architecture:
The traditional Swazi architectural style is a structure referred to ... Clay Mud Dome
Geodesic Dome Greenhouse, Geodesic Dome Homes, Watling is a way to build walls
by weaving long flexible sticks in and out of upright posts. ... Beyond ––– Each original
CHEERIUP Thicket is made-to-order and custom.
Deaths and Mortality:
Eswatini death rate was at level of 9.1 per 1,000 people in 2019, down from 9.4 per
1,000 people previous year, this is a change of 3.38%.
Source: https://knoema.com/atlas/Swaziland/Death-rate