Route. Planner. Contents. Introduction to Swaziland 1. Mountain Meander 2. Valley of Heaven 4. Semi-circular Route 6. Grand Valley Route 8

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2 Route Planner T oursm contnues to be one of the bggest contrbutors to Swazland s economy, wth a dverse range of authentc experences on offer to toursts who vst ths beautful destnaton. For ths reason, the Swazland Toursm Authorty and Southern Afrcan Toursm Update have worked together to produce ths route planner to showcase some of the best product, actvtes and attractons on offer. Themed routes offer vstors the opportunty to experence dfferent aspects of Afrca s last absolute monarchy. Useful nsder nformaton s offered, along wth detals on shoppng opportuntes, recommended servce stops, tourst gudes and bookng nformaton. Off the beaten track optons are also provded for more ntrepd travellers. Contents Introducton to Swazland 1 Mountan Meander 2 Publsher: Davd Marsh Managng Edtor: Natala Thomson Consultng Edtor: Sue Lewtton Deputy Edtor: Kate Els Sub-edtor: Ann Braun Contrbutor: Chana Vljoen Desgn & Layout: Mchael Rorke Valley of Heaven 4 Sem-crcular Route 6 Grand Valley Route 8 Brdng Route 9 Secrets of Swazland 10 Extreme Experence 11 Cultural Encounters 12 Prnted by Juka Prntng (Pty) Ltd Publshed by Now Meda (Pty) Ltd Swazland Conservaton 13

3 Route Planner SWAZILAND Toursm Authorty Swazland Market Analyss Despte beng the smallest country n the Southern hemsphere, Swazland more than makes up for ts lack of sze wth a hugely dverse range of attractons and actvtes. As Afrca s last remanng absolute monarchy, culture and hertage are deeply engraned n all aspects of Swaz lfe, ensurng an unforgettable experence for all who vst... Why vst Swazland? It s known for ts beauty and peaceful envronment Despte ts small sze, t has a dverse range of landscapes, from bushveld to forested ravnes The locals are renowned for ther frendly and welcomng personaltes Ruled by Kng Mswat III, the country has a strong sense of dentty and tradtonal values Wldlfe and brdng experences are a key drawcard The local people are very creatve and Swaz arts and crafts provde the ultmate souvenr Trends Swazland s toursm arrvals are on the rse, wth a recorded growth of 4% n 2009, accordng to the World Toursm Organzaton (UNWTO) Key markets nclude South Afrca, UK, Germany, US and The Netherlands The country gets a mx of busness and lesure travellers Perceved challenges Whle there are many potentally lucratve opportuntes to further develop the toursm offerng n Swazland, there have been some dffcultes n attractng nvestors There s lmted arlft to Swazland wth only two arlnes flyng to the destnaton: Swazland Arlnk and South Afrcan Arways. Swazland s, however, easly accessble by road from both Johannesburg and Durban Swazland has the world s hghest known HIV/AIDs prevalence. Government has worked to ntroduce a number of ntatves to combat the spread of the vrus Feelng lost? The Swaz Plaza Toursm Informaton Offce s based n Mbabane. Toursts can walk n and get nformaton and advce on accommodaton, attractons and actvtes at the offce, located at the Cooper Centre Offce No.2. Alternatvely, call , fax or emal nformaton@toursmauthorty.org.sz. SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE 2010 l 1

4 Route Planner SWAZILAND Toursm Authorty Lon cavern at Old Ngwenya mne 2. Ngwenga Glass 3. Phophonyane beehve Mountan Meander Offerng dfferent scenery around every bend of the wndng route, ths beautful stretch s rch n natural and manmade attractons. Close to the Oshoek and Matsamo borders, ths route stretches from Ngwenya to Pggs Peak. It allows for a jam-packed tnerary that ncludes stops at craft markets, Ngwenya Glass, one of the oldest mnes n the world, two of Swazland s breathtakng nature reserves, rock-pantng stes and the Maguga and Hawane dams. Vstng ths part of Swazland s Hghveld gves nsght nto the Swaz culture and way of lfe as well as exposure to some of the most beautful parts of the country. It has somethng for everyone and varous accommodaton optons. The roads, ncludng those that are drt roads, are n good condton so normal vehcles can be used to reach all the stes on ths route. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour Overnght Star attractons Old Ngwenya Iron Ore Mne: Now part of the Malolotja Nature Reserve, t s the ste of the oldest known mne n the world, Lon Cavern. There s also a vstors centre where safe parkng s avalable. The centre offers educatonal dsplays on the hstory of the mne. The vew from the mne nto the Steynsdorp Valley s breathtakng. The centre and Lon Cavern wll take about an hour and a half to two hours to complete. Hawane Dam: The Hawane Resort s surrounded by some of the best vews n Swazland as well as some of the top actvtes n the country. At the resort vstors can take part n archery, board games, croquet, hkng, horse rdng, kayakng and volleyball. There s also a Bush Spa on ste. Accommodaton at the resort s provded n 23 thatched, luxury en-sute chalets and there s also the Hawane Backpackers Hostel. Malolotja Nature Reserve: Ths reserve s one of Swazland s fnest and s the last unspolt mountan wlderness left n the country. It features stunnng scenery and a wde varety of fauna and flora. Open to day and overnght vstors, the reserve s open from 06h00 and closes at 18h00 n wnter and at 18h30 n summer. Vstors can choose between day hkng trals, between two and three hours long, and overnght trals that are two to three days long. Mountan bkng s also possble at the reserve as well as catch-and-release fshng. Overnght guests can choose to stay n ether the log cabns or book a campng or caravan ste. The reserve extends over hectares and has four vewponts accessble by vehcle. Maguga Dam: Ths beautful part of the Nkomaz Rver s bordered by mountans and s an deal spot for photographs. It s also the locaton for one of Swazland s communty-run projects, the Maguga Craft Outlet and Vewste. Here vstors can buy a unque memento handcrafted by local crafters and enjoy a lght lunch or refreshment. Accommodaton s avalable at the Maguga Lodge or, for somethng a lttle dfferent, a houseboat sleepng four s possble. Nsangwn Rock Art Centre: Not far from the Maguga Dam, the centre s the largest example of San art n Swazland. The ste s managed and mantaned by the Nsangwn communty. All profts are renvested n the communty. Whle communty members sell cold drnks and bottled water, t s advsable to take along your own pcnc basket as there s a feld where you can st and enjoy refreshments. Comfortable walkng shoes or hkng books are recommended as the 20- to 25-mnute tral to the rock shelter s steep wth many loose rocks. Ngwenya Glass: In operaton for more than 23 years, ths glassblowng factory has become one of the most popular tourst spots n Swazland. On weekdays, vstors have the opportunty to wtness the art of glassblowng frst hand. A showroom, where the glass tems can be purchased, s on the property. All of the tems are made of 100% recycled glass. There s also a craft centre featurng a number of shops that sell locally made products and curos. Bulembu: Ths small town became a ghost town n 2001 when t was abandoned by the mnng ndustry, but t s becomng a revtalsed communty that s self-sustaned. Vstors to the town can wtness and be part of Bulembu s rebrth. Accommodaton s avalable at the Bulembu Country Lodge, whch also offers actvtes lke hkng and mountan bkng (bkes not provded). Explore Swazland s hghest mountan, the Emlembe, and cool off n the waterfalls and rock pools found along the way. 2

5 Onlne resources SWAZILAND NATIONAL TRUST COMMISSION NGWENYA GLASS HAWANE RESORT The old Ngwenya Mne. PHOPHONYANE ECOLODGE & NATURE RESERVE Phophonyane Falls Ecolodge and Nature Reserve: The lodge offers accommodaton n cottages, tents and beehve huts, all wth pleasant vews of the surroundng reserve. There s also a restaurant servng meals throughout the day and a swmmng pool. A varety of hkes are avalable rangng from a 10-mnute walk to the top of the waterfall to a four-hour hke n the reserve. The hkes can be self-guded or a traned gude can be arranged through the lodge. Pggs Peak Casno: The Pggs Peak Hotel and Casno s well known for entertanng guests. The major attracton s the casno, whch offers roulette, blackjack, stud poker and slot machnes. Other facltes nclude two tenns courts, two squash courts and a bowlng green. There s also a swmmng pool and a putt-putt course. The nature reserve and restaurant are open to day vstors, who are requred to pay a conservaton fee. At Ngwenya Glass, glassblowng s only done on weekdays but the complex s open seven days a week. Tours of the Coral Stephens Weavng factory are avalable and can be arranged through the outlet at the Peak Craft Centre. Drve cautously when crossng the Maguga Dam as the young local chldren dance on the sde of the road at ether end of the brdge. At tmes they wll also jump nto the road n an attempt to stop vstors. The stes are all a short drve from the Kruger Natonal Park and make an nterestng tnerary for travellers who are nterested n combnng a vst to the South Afrcan park wth Swazland. Shoppng The Peak Craft Centre comprses varous outlets sellng locally made arts and crafts as well as more nformal retalers sellng wood carvngs and beaded jewellery. Shops at the craft centre nclude Tntsaba, Coral Stephens and Lkhwet. Ngwenya Glass has a number of smaller shops sellng crafts, chocolates, clothng and other locally produced tems. They nclude Arum Llly, Tntsaba, Afrcan Connecton and The Afrcan. Along the man road to Pggs Peak a number of nformal stalls can be found sellng soap stone carvngs. Recommended servce stops Ngwenya Glass has a coffee shop above ts showroom but tour buses are advsed to book ahead. The Phumulan Restaurant and Coffee Shop at the Peak Craft Centre s the perfect place to have a lght meal or refreshment. It offers expansve vews of the surroundng mountan range. The restaurant at Phophonyane Ecolodge s open to day vstors and serves breakfast, lunch and dnner. Ste gudes Most of the attractons don t requre a gude but they are avalable f preferred. The cost of a gude s ncluded n the entrance fee at the Old Ngwenya Iron Ore mne. Bookngs Bookngs for Malalotja and the Ngwenya Mne can be made through the Swazland Natonal Trust Commsson by emalng malolotjares@sntc.org.sz or rohanbenade@yahoo.com. The Hawane Resort can be contacted at nfohawane@realnet.co.sz. Bookngs for Phophonyane can be made through lungle@phophonyane.co.sz. Most of the other attractons don t requre pre-bookng, unless there any specal requests or bg tour groups. Specal needs All the facltes at Ngwenya Glass are wheelchar frendly. The Nsangwn Rock Art Centre s sutable for able-boded vstors. g Phophonyane Falls Ecolodge and Nature Reserve. SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE 2010 l 3

6 Route Planner SWAZILAND Toursm Authorty Mantenga Craft Centre 2. Mantenga Falls 3. Royal Swaz Spa golf course Valley of Heaven Route Take a trp through ths vbrant part of Swazland and dscover some of the top sghts, attractons and actvtes the Kngdom has to offer. Begn the tour just outsde Mbabane, the captal of Swazland. Along the way there are numerous and vared places to stop. The route stretches to the ste of the old nternatonal arport and ncorporates the Ezulwn Valley, whch means heavenly valley. It s home to the Ezulwn Handcraft Market, the Happy Valley Resort and the Royal Swaz Sun, to name a few. Other stops to nclude on the tnerary are the Mvubu Falls, Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary, and Mantenga Falls. Ths route s also perfect for travellers who love to shop. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour Fve to 48 hours Star attractons Royal Swaz Spa Valley: Comprsng three hotels, the Royal Swaz Spa, the Ezulwn Sun and the Lugogo Sun, the Royal Swaz Spa Valley offers outstandng facltes and actvtes. Facltes at the resort nclude a casno, the Royal Swaz Spa, a conventon centre and an 18-hole champonshp golf course. Other actvtes possble at the resort nclude lawn bowls, squash, tenns and horse rdng. Ldwala Lodge: Travellers lookng for hkng trals wll fnd ths backpackers lodge a must on ther tnerares. Ldwala has ts own hkng tral that starts behnd the lodge and leads along a stream. It contnues through an ndgenous forest and up Sheba s Breast mountan to a summt where hkers get a 360-degree vew of the Ezulwn Valley and Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary. The lodge has a convenent locaton and offers comfortable budget accommodaton rangng from campng and dorms to twn rooms. It s only mnutes from most of the actvtes and places of nterest on ths route. Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary: Mllwane, Swazland s frst game park, opened n It s very scenc and s descrbed as an outdoor lover s paradse. The park does not have any dangerous anmals apart from hppo, whch are one of the man attractons, but ths means vstors are free to explore on foot, on mountan bkes or by car. Accommodaton s avalable n en-sute beehves, rest camp huts, self-caterng unts, campng and at Sondzela backpackers. Vstors can stay at Relly s Rock, an old colonal house n the park. The park features a botancal garden and s home to varous brd and anmal speces. The sanctuary s also open to day vstors. Mantenga Falls: The most well known falls n Swazland are located n the Mantenga Nature Reserve. The Falls are Swazland s largest n terms of the volume of water. Vstors can explore the reserve by foot, on mountan bkes or by car. There are publc pcnc areas stuated around the reserve, by the falls and along the rverbed. The Mantenga Nature Reserve s also where the Swaz Cultural Vllage s located. Accommodaton s avalable n the Cultural Vllage n three huts and 20 tents. Campng facltes are also avalable. Guded hkng tours to Sheba s Breast mountan are possble from the reserve. Happy Valley Resort and Casno: The resort has so much to offer vstors, ncludng luxurous yet affordable accommodaton. There are also two gourmet restaurants, a pzzera and other facltes to keep the whole famly entertaned. There s a swmmng pool, games arcade and even an executve cgar lounge. The casno offers games lke blackjack, roulette, vdeo poker and slot machnes. For those who are only nterested n the hke to Sheba s Breast mountan and not the other facltes and actvtes at Mantenga Nature Reserve, t only costs about R10 to start the hke from Ldwala Lodge as opposed to payng the full entrance fee for Mantenga Nature Reserve. Mountan bkers can choose between hrng a bke from Mllwane Nature Reserve and brngng ther own nto the reserve. It could also work out cheaper to hre from an external operator lke Swaz Trals for the full day and rde the bke to the park. Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary s the only park that s open 24 hours a day so guests are free to come and go as they please. Just next door to Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary s Umphakats, whch s a lvng homestead. Here vstors can experence Swaz culture. 4

7 Accommodaton Mountan Inn: Located only four klometres from Mbabane centre, the Mountan Inn offers professonally run, luxurous accommodaton. The hotel s locaton provdes breathtakng surroundngs and stunnng vews of the Ezulwn Valley. Mountan Inn provdes ts guests wth free W-F connectvty. It has mountan bkes, brdng excursons and varous hkng trals. The Mountan Inn. Royal Swaz Spa Valley: The fve-star Royal Swaz Sun offers 149 rooms comprsng standard twns, luxury rooms, famly rooms, sutes and one royal sute. At the Lugogo Sun there are 202 rooms, of whch 199 are twn rooms and three are mn sutes. The Ezulwn Sun Vacaton Club features 10 ground-floor and 10 upper-floor unts, each wth a ktchen, lounge and dnng area and two bedrooms. Mvubu Falls Lodge: Stuated half way between Mbabane and Ezulwn, Mvubu Falls Lodge offers 10 comfortable rooms. The lodge s located next to the Mvubu Rver and guests can embark on the hkng trals provded, ncludng trals to two nearby waterfalls. There s a restaurant and pub on the premses. Shoppng Ezulwn Handcraft Market: Located just off the man road through Ezulwn, ths market offers a wde varety of local crafts ncludng sculptures, jewellery, textles and other tems that are handmade by Swazland s talented locals. The market offers the vstor an nterestng Swazland market experence as well as a wder selecton to choose the rght memento. Lvng n Afrca: Ths art, craft and gft shop s located n the Royal Swaz Sun Hotel. It features a farly comprehensve book collecton as well as Afrcan nspred arts, decor and gfts. Afrcan Queen: Afrcan Queen s located on the pool deck at the Lugogo Sun Hotel. The shop sells a varety of local Swaz crafts along wth selected fashon accessores, jewellery and gfts. Mantenga Craft Centre: Located just at the entrance to Mantenga Nature Reserve, ths craft centre stocks a varety of tradtonal art, clothng, pots, toys and more. Some of the outlets nclude Acan Masuku s wooden carvngs and off-the-wall artwork, Rosecraft s woven mohar products, Afrcan Fantasy s screen-prnted products and a master slversmth who can customse jewellery for vstors. Recommended servce stops The Calabash Restaurant: Ths à la carte restaurant specalses n Austran, German and Swss cusne as well as seafood. The restaurant s open seven days a week and serves lunches and dnners. Prvate dnng rooms are avalable and the restaurant has ts own wne cellar. Quaterman s: Located at The Gables Shoppng Centre, Quaterman s provdes a relaxed envronment where guests can enjoy a delcous meal. The restaurant offers breakfast, pub lunches and dnners and s the only restaurant n Swazland to serve fresh sush every day. Frar Tucks: Ths à la carte restaurant s located at the Mountan Inn restaurant and s well known for ts outstandng cusne. Buffet optons are also avalable and vstors can choose between eatng n the restaurant and dnng alfresco on the pool terrace. The Ezulwn Health and Snack Bar: Located at the Mantenga Craft Centre, the snack bar s a convenent place to grab a bte to eat. Onlne resources MOUNTAIN INN ROYAL SWAZI SPA VALLEY LIDWALA LODGE BIG GAME PARKS Ste gudes Each of the attractons has ts own gudes avalable to vstors but many are self-guded optons. Enqure wth each ste about arrangng gudes. Bookngs Most of the stes don t requre bookngs unless bg groups are vstng or there are specal requests. Bookngs for groups at Quaterman s can be made by callng Off the beaten track Add a lttle adventure to the tnerary by ncludng Sbebe Rock Trals, located just 10km outsde Mbabane on the Pne Valley Road. There are two entrances to the trals but the Mbukul entrance s only sutable for 4x4 vehcles. A vstors recepton area can be found at Mbuluz Gate where parkng facltes, refreshments and maps are avalable. The trals lead vstors to Sbebe Rock, whch s the world s largest exposed grante dome. Hkers can explore caves and cool off under waterfalls or swmmng holes along the way. The brave can tackle the steepest walk n the world on certan routes. g The Mountan Inn A warm and personal welcome awats you at Swazland s most promnent famly owned hotel. Relax n Mountan top splendor wth unbeatable vews of the Ezulwn Valley. Enjoy total comfort and full servces ncludng free wreless nternet nfo@mountannn.sz TU4684 SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE 2010 l 5

8 Route Planner SWAZILAND Toursm Authorty Manzn market 2. Sambane Café 3. House on Fre Art Gallery Sem-crcular Route Leave the hustle and bustle of Swazland s man roads and venture to some of the Kngdom s most nterestng spots. Ths route starts on one of the roads less travelled by vstors n the small town of Mhlambanyats. It passes the mpressve Luphohlo Dam and Forresters Arms Hotel and wnds ts way along the Usuthu Rver through the lttle town of Bhunya, the arts and crafts outlets found n Malkerns Valley and ends n the busest hub of Swazland, Manzn. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour Four to 24 hours Star attractons Luphohlo Dam: Luphohlo Dam s often used for water sports and fshng compettons. It acts as a hydrostaton to generate electrcty for Swazland. Travellers wll travel over the dam on the way to the town of Mhlambanyats. Forresters Arms Hotel: Located n the mddle of a forest, the Forresters Arms Lodge not only offers comfortable accommodaton but also has a myrad of actvtes avalable to guests and day vstors. There are 30 bedrooms all tastefully decorated and offerng fantastc vews of the surroundng countrysde. Guests can relax around the pool or n the sauna. For those who are lookng for a more actve experence, there s horse rdng, trout fshng, hkng, mountan bkng and more. The hotel has a tandem bke avalable for couples who would lke to dscover the surrounds together. Guests at the hotel also receve free access to the nearby tenns and squash club. Adjonng the Forresters Arms Hotel s the nne-hole Usuthu Golf Course. Clubs are avalable for hre from Forresters Arms. Swaz culture: The road from Mhlambanyats to the town of Bhunya exposes travellers to rural Swaz lvng. Vstors can arrange wth a gude to vst one of the homesteads n the area to nteract wth communty members and gan nsght nto ther way of lfe. Mhlabubovu Prmary School s also known to welcome guests who would lke to learn more about local schoolng. Nyanza Horse Trals: Trals are avalable every day of the week and are sutable for novces as well as more experenced rders. The horse trals are a great way to explore ths beautful part of Swazland. The trals vary from one hour to a whole day. Tenmnute pony rdes are avalable for chldren. There are also customsed trals ncludng the Malkerns Meander and the Sundowners Tral. Day rdes are approxmately from 09h00 to 15h30. On rdes that are three hours or longer snacks and refreshments are provded. The Nyanza farm has varous accommodaton optons, ncludng cottages, a famly lodge or campng and caravannng. Whle n Manzn look out for the Cathedral and Tral ste. The tral ste s near the Manzn Market and s where Kng Bhunu, the grandfather of the current kng, was tred for orderng the Prme Mnster to be klled. Traders at the Manzn Market are open to negotatng prces of the tems they are sellng so try and bargan wth them rather than acceptng the frst prce gven. Just opposte the Brooksde Lodge s a royal resdence. It s where the kng lved when he was a young boy. Along the road be sure to keep an eye out for sghtngs of rural lfestyle, lke locals workng n ther felds, chldren lookng after cattle, etc. If vstng the Mhlabubovu Prmary School, t s customary to brng a gft for the school such as wall charts, books or sportng equpment. Shoppng Swaz Candles Craft Market: Ths craft market s not only the locaton for Swaz Candles but also features a number of other arts and crafts shops lke Baobab Batk (where wax s used to make patterns on fabrcs used for clothng and other tems), Rosecraft (hand-woven mohar tems are for sale), Kwaz Swaz (varous memorabla and books are for sale) and Amarast and Swaz Creatons where locally produced bags, baskets and pllowcases are sold. There s also an outdoor nformal market where crafters sell curos and gfts. Vstors can watch the crafters n acton n Swaz Candles where paraffn wax s used to mould candles n dfferent shapes and colours. There are also wood carvers at work creatng tradtonal Swaz models and anmals. 6

9 Onlne resources FORRESTERS ARMS SWAZILAND TOURISM AUTHORITY NYANZA HORSE TRAILS SWAZI CANDLES CRAFT CENTRE MALANDELA S Forresters Arms hotel offers a myrad of actvtes. HOUSE ON FIRE Malandela s: Located n the Malkerns Valley, Malandela s offers prme shoppng optons. Here vstors wll fnd Gone Rural, a globally recognsed socally responsble outlet that sells award-wnnng handmade table and homeware products. There s also Baobab Batk and Zogg s as well as the mesmersng House on Fre Art Gallery, whch features an extraordnary collecton of artwork. Manzn Market: Unlke the other craft markets n Swazland, ths s a local market that caters mostly for local shoppers. It not only gves vstors a true Afrcan market experence but also has a secton dedcated to arts, crafts and other tems that would nterest toursts. The market s dvded nto dfferent sectons, each sellng somethng dfferent or provdng a specal servce. There s a sewng secton where one can watch tradtonal clothng beng made as well as a food secton where cheap local food s sold. Recommended servce stops Sambane Café: Ths café/tea garden s located at the Swaz Candles Craft Centre and offers delcous breakfasts and lunches. Vstors are also advsed to ndulge a lttle wth a delectable dessert or at least try the tastest chocolate brownes n Southern Afrca. The café s specalty coffee machne provdes a satsfyng brew. Malandela s Farmhouse Restaurant & Country Pub: Overlookng the stunnng gardens, the restaurant serves delcous farmhouse food whle havng a country pub feel. Here vstors can sp on draught beer whle takng n the fnest sunset vews n Swazland. Frday nghts are pub nghts, whle on Mondays there are curry specals and prawn specals on Thursdays. The House on Fre Performance Arena s also n the Malandela s complex and has been desgned by ncorporatng the artwork of the House on Fre team. Check the webste for an update on specal events beng held at ths eclectc venue. Malandela s Farmhouse Restaurant & Country Pub. Ste gudes Many of the stes have gudes avalable at the venues but for background nformaton on Swaz culture and when vstng a homestead t s advsable to have a local gude wth you. Local gudes can be found through the Swazland Toursm Authorty. Each rde at Nyanza Horse Trals s accompaned by a tral leader and back-up rder provded by the farm. The chef gude determnes the speed of the rde. Bookngs Nyanza Horse Trals requres advance bookngs n order to arrange the rdes, especally the longer and customsed trals. Vsts to homesteads need to be pre-arranged wth a gude. Off the beaten track Adventure-seekers can travel about an hour south of Mbabane through the Malkerns Valley to the quant lttle town of Mankayane. Here they wll fnd the Ngwemps Gorge, whch was created by the Ngwemps Rver slcng ts way through the Ntfungulu Hlls. The surroundng communty runs the Ngwemps Hkng Trals, whch comprse 33km of endless vstas of the surroundng woodlands, forest and mountanous terran. Accommodaton s provded n two huts, Khopho and Mhlanben, whch were desgned to blend seamlessly wth the surroundng clffs and forest. Clean drnkng water, beds wth mattresses, flush tolets, hot showers, braa areas and gas and coal stoves are provded. Vstors can choose between horse trals, one- to threeday hkes and short walks to the rver or nto the local communty. The Ngwemps Gorge s only reachable by hgh clearance vehcles. Bookngs: g Swaz Craft markets offer an abundance of locally made tems. SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE 2010 l 7

10 Route Planner SWAZILAND Toursm Authorty Nkonyen Golf Estate 2. Mahamba Church 3. Mahamba Lodge 4. Mahamba Gorge Lodge Grand Valley Route Take one of the most scenc routes between the busy central hub of Manzn and the Mahamba border and dscover the rches of Swazland. Ths s qute possbly one of the most beautful routes n Swazland. It takes travellers through a scenc mountanous area of the country known as The Grand Valley. The road s farly long and wndng but t s n good condton and has some fantastc stops located along the route. Golf fanatcs can get n a round at the Nkonyen Golf Estate, whch also offers other actvtes, accommodaton and a spa. Along the road vstors can also vst the Vneyard, the Nhlangano Hotel and Casno and just before the border they wll fnd the drt road leadng to the communty-run Mahamba Gorge. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour Overnght Star attractons Mahamba Church: Ths s the oldest Chrstan structure n Swazland, offcally opened on July 31, The church has been dentfed as a possble Natonal Monument and s no longer used for servces. A newer church has been bult for the communty next to ths hstorc structure. The Vneyard B&B: Ths famly-run bed and breakfast s located on Swazland s only wne-producng estate overlookng the Great Usuthu Rver and extensve sugarcane felds. A lmted number of bottles of Shraz are produced by the estate and guests can go on a tour of the farm s wne-makng facltes. Vstors can also take a walk to the Great Usuthu Rver. A swmmng pool, small games room and a pool table are avalable. Accommodaton s provded n the man house and garden rondavels. Nhlangano Hotel & Casno: The Nhlangano Hotel & Casno s located n the Makhosn Valley near the town of Nhlangano. Some of the facltes nclude an outdoor swmmng pool, bars and restaurants, a cnema and access to stunnng nature trals. Guests also have access to the casno, whch features two roulette wheels, 38 slot machnes and blackjack tables. Accommodaton s provded n arcondtoned chalets and rooms. Nkonyen Golf Estate: Surrounded by mountans and overlookng the Great Usuthu Rver, ths golf estate s the locaton of one of Swazland s premer 18-hole champonshp golf courses. As well as beng an attracton for golfers, the estate has other actvtes avalable. Vstors can go quad bkng, clay pgeon shootng or enjoy a safar n the prvate game reserve, all avalable at the Nkonyen Adventure Centre. There s also a spa, gym, squash court, tenns court and drvng range. Accommodaton ncludes luxury chalets, a pool vlla and homeowner rental rooms. Ths route works well wth vstors who ntend travellng through Swazland to the Battlefelds. Once through the border at Mahamba, t s a short drve to Pet Retef. Accommodaton Phumula Guest House: The guest house offers accommodaton n a quet, pcturesque garden settng near Nhlangano. There are 11 spacous double and sngle en-sute rooms. The dnng room s adjacent to the man house and there s also a lapa/braa area. Mahamba Gorge Lodge: Located 5,5km down a drt road that takes vstors through rural communtes, the lodge perches on the edge of the gorge above the Mkhondvo Rver. It s run by members of the communty and comprses three stone chalets, each wth two prvate unts. The unts have fully equpped ktchens, hot showers, flush tolets and secluded deck areas. Campng s also possble. Vstors to the lodge can go hkng, brdng, fshng, pcnckng, mountan bkng (brng your own bke) and learn more about the communty wth a cultural tour. Recommended servce stop The three-storey clubhouse at Nkonyen Golf Estate features a restaurant that serves a varety of meals and refreshments throughout the day. Ste gudes At the Mahamba Gorge Lodge the communty members runnng the lodge can gude vstors on the trals n the area. Gudes are provded by each ste f necessary. Bookngs To make a bookng for the Mahamba Gorge Lodge call or emal mahambagorge@yahoo.com. g Onlne resources NHLANGANO HOTEL & CASINO NKONYENI GOLF CLUB PHUMULA GUEST HOUSE 8

11 Onlne resources BIG GAME PARKS SWAZILAND NATIONAL TRUST COMMISSION Brdng Route PHOPHONYANE FALLS ECOLODGE & NATURE RESERVE Swazland s becomng ncreasngly popular wth avtoursts because of the dverse brdlfe found n varous parts of the country. The dfferent parts of Swazland are often spoken about as three geographc regons, the Hghveld, Mddleveld and Lowveld. Each of these regons s home to totally dfferent speces of brds. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour Two to three days Star attractons Phophonyane Falls Ecolodge and Nature Reserve: The reserve s rch natural vegetaton and year-round water attract brds and small mammals. Narna trogon, Purple-Crested turaco, Wood owl and an mpressve 230 other speces of brds provde an orchestra of nature s fnest muscans to complement the sound of the falls. The well-marked hkng trals lead vstors nto the reserve but t s also possble to take along a well-traned gude. Malolotja Nature Reserve: Recognsed as one of southern Afrca s mportant brd areas, the reserve supports a sgnfcant number of globally threatened, or near-threatened speces. More than 280 speces of brds have been recorded and the reserve s partcularly mportant for breedng groups of endangered speces, ncludng the Blue swallow, Blue crane, Bald bs and Stanley s bustard. Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary: Mllwane offers fantastc brdng walks. A varety of brdlfe can be enjoyed, ncludng the Black, Crowned and Fsh eagles as well as the Purple-crested loure and at least three speces of robn. There are many aquatc brds to be spotted here ncludng the fnfoot, Whte-fronted bee-eater and around sx speces of kngfsher. Hlane Royal Natonal Park: Around 250 dfferent brd speces can be found n Hlane Royal Natonal Park, especally woodland and bushveld brds. The park has the hghest densty of Whte-backed vultures n Afrca as well as the most southerly nestng colony of Marabou stork. Mlawula Nature Reserve: The reserve s known for ts dversty of brdlfe. About 350 speces have been recorded n the area. Mlawula has a number of threatened and endangered speces, ncludng the Cape vulture, Saddleblled stork, Secretary brd, Tawny eagle and Afrcan Hawk eagle. A total of about 500 speces have been recorded n the whole of Swazland. Brdlfe s not restrcted to the reserves and a number of other stes n Swazland, ncludng Mantenga Falls and Hawane Dam, are also good brdng areas. Accommodaton Each of the parks and nature reserves offers a varety of accommodaton optons for travellers. Recommended servce stops At the Ndlovu Camp at Hlane Royal Natonal Park there s a 100-seater restaurant overlookng a waterhole whch s often frequented by rhno, hppo and crocodle. The restaurant s open to day vstors. The Hppo Haunt Restaurant at Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary overlooks the hppo pool and serves delcous meals. It has a cosy nsde area wth a freplace and comfortable couches as well as two outsde wooden deck areas where vstors can enjoy meals and drnks from the bar. Ste gudes Each of the parks and nature reserves has traned and experenced gudes that vstors can rely on for a complete brdng experence. Self-guded optons are also avalable. Bookngs Bookngs for Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary and Hlane Royal Natonal Park can be made through Bg Game Parks. The Swazland Natonal Trust Commsson handles bookngs for Malolotja Nature Reserve and Mlawula Nature Reserve. g Central Reservatons: Tel: (+268) /4 E-mal: reservatons@bggameparks.org Webste: TU4683 SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE 2010 l 9

12 Route Planner SWAZILAND Toursm Authorty , 2 & 4. Hlane game reserve 2. Swaz Secrets Secrets of Swazland Route Stay on the man hghway that cuts through Swazland but escape the hustle and bustle of the ctes to dscover some of the country s best kept secrets. Travellers can make ther frst stop at Myxo s Backpackng for a taste of real Swaz culture. A small communty-run craft market can be seen from the road and s a great stop for buyng unque Swaz crafts and curos. The Swaz Secrets factory provdes an opportunty to watch the nternatonally recognsed beauty products beng produced from scratch. The town of Smunye s small but worth vstng even f just for a quck nne holes at the Smunye Country Club. A must s the Hlane Royal Natonal Park. The route contnues past the Sand Rver towards the Mananga border post. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour 12 to 48 hours Star attractons Swaz Secrets: Many hotels use the Swaz Secrets products, whch s a range of natural ols and assocated cosmetcs produced by Swaz Indgenous Products, a communtyowned, not-for-proft company. Vstors are able to vst the Swaz Secrets factory to wtness how the ngredents are extracted from marula seeds. The products, such as soap, har products, shower gel, lp balm and body loton, are on sale here. Myxo s Backpackng: Myxo s s a Swazowned and run backpackers hostel but also offers Swaz cultural tours and tradtonal accommodaton n the rural vllage of Kaphunga. The man focus of Myxo s Tours s to ntroduce vstors to the real people of Swazland. Day trps as well as overnght trps are avalable. On the day trp, whch starts at 07h30, travellers vst the Manzn market for some craft and vegetable shoppng as well as checkng the tradtonal medcne stall for local cures before vstng a local homestead. Some of the addtonal actvtes ncluded n the overnght trp are vstng the local school, cattle dppng and hkng. Hlane Royal Natonal Park: Home to four of the Bg Fve, the Hlane Royal Natonal Park offers a range of actvtes for vstors. The park s open to day vstors but also has accommodaton n self-caterng unts, cottages and the Bhubes Camp. Vstors to the park can take part n whte rhno trackng offered at Hlane. There are also sunrse, sunset and day walks as well as game drves avalable, each of whch s about two and a half hours long. Self-drve game vewng s also possble. The park offers mountan bkng trals, one of whch s a sun-up cycle whle the newer overnght opton s the Ehlatsn Bush Trals. Hlane s the only park n Swazland wth lons. Smunye Country Club: Located at the foot of the Lebombo Mountan Range, the country club offers accommodaton, restaurant, bars and sports facltes, ncludng a nne-hole golf course. Accommodaton s avalable n selfcaterng unts, sngle rooms and famly rooms. The route can be used by vstors travellng to or from the Kruger Natonal Park n South Afrca to combne the two destnatons. Travellers can contnue wth the road and cross the Mananga border or go further to the border at Matsamo. Shoppng Just before the turn-off to Stek there s a small communty-run craft market called Lohlupheko along the sde of the road. Here travellers can purchase varous handcrafts created by local Swazs. Recommended servce stops Rustc Tavern: Just before Hhelehhele travellers wll be able to spot the Rustc Tavern steakhouse from the road. Swaz Secrets: A lmted selecton of refreshments are avalable as well as clean tolets. Smunye Country Club: A la carte dnners are avalable from Tuesday to Saturday whle buffet lunches and dnners are avalable Sunday to Frday. There s also a carvery on Sundays and a braa on Frday evenngs. Ste gudes Each of the stes has ts own gudes avalable to vstors. Bookngs Bookngs aren t necessary for Swaz Secrets and Hlane Royal Natonal Park f self-drvng and only vstng for the day. Bookngs for actvtes and accommodaton at Hlane can be made through Bg Game Parks. To book wth Myxo s, vstors can call or g Onlne resources BIG GAME PARKS MYXO S BACKPACKING SWAZI SECRETS

13 1. Whte water raftng 2. Rap jumpng 3. Quad bkng 4. Horse trals Extreme Experence Route Swazland has what t takes to get ts vstors hearts racng and adrenaln pumpng. Swazland s mountans, valleys, rvers and other natural wonders make t the deal choce for adrenaln junkes who dare to ntensfy ther tour wth some of the best extreme actvtes. Ths country defntely has more than just pretty scenery to catch the attenton of ts vstors. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour: One to three days Star attractons Malolotja Canopy Tours: Swazland s frst offcal canopy tour, located n the Malolotja Nature Reserve, conssts of 11 elevated forest platforms, 10 sldes and a 50-metre long suspenson brdge that crosses the Majolomba Rver. The tour typcally lasts two and a half hours. Quad bkng: There are two quad-bkng optons avalable. Sdududu Tours s located at the Hawane Resort and offers varous routes rangng from an easy one-hour rde to the more complcated half-day excurson. Swaz Trals offers the Devl s Cauldron Quad Tral near the Royal Swaz Sun n the Ezulwn Valley. The tral comprses 8km of quad track and s sutable for begnners and experenced enthusasts. One- and two-hour optons are avalable between 08h00 and 17h00 daly. Adventure cavng: Swaz Trals offers amateur explorers the chance to go underground for an experence that combnes headlamps, battery packs, muddy passages, bats and lots of total blackness. The cavng s truly for the adventurous and s a four- to fve-hour excurson, of whch at least two hours are spent underground. The tour departs from Mantenga Craft Centre at 09h00 and 16h30. The evenng trp ncludes dnner and a dp n the hot sprng. Whte-water raftng: Also operated by Swaz Trals, whte-water raftng s offered as a half- or full-day excurson on The Great Usutu Rver. The rver offers a varety of Grade II to Grade IV whte water. The trps are undertaken n two-man, nflatable croc rafts. The locaton of Swaz Trals operaton s scenc wth tall mountans and forested rverbanks. Trps leave from the Swaz Trals offce at Mantenga Craft Centre. When the condtons allow t, abselng s undertaken durng the afternoon on half-day trps. Clff jumpng and rap jumpng optons can also be ncluded. Horse Trals: Chubeka Trals, based at Mllwane Wldlfe Sanctuary, offers varous trals ncludng the three- to four-hour Rock of Executon Tral over the hstorc Nyonyane Mountan, the overnght Cave Tral where rders spend the nght n a Bushman cave and the Klpsprnger Tral, whch allows adventurers to explore the mountan of Mllwane and Mllwane North. Mountan Bkng: The mountan bke tours offered by Swaz Trals provde a great way to dscover Swazland. Two half-day (threehour) excursons are provded but can be combned nto a full day f tme allows. The MTB Safar focuses on wldlfe vewng by bcycle, whle the MTB Cultural Tral s an nteractve exploraton of Swaz culture and hstory. Mountan bkng s also offered by Chubeka Trals and other accommodaton establshments n Swazland. It s not advsable to do the whte-water raftng and adventure cavng on the same day as they are both physcally strenuous actvtes. Between the rany months from November to May, full-day raftng s possble, whle from June to the end of October a full day wll normally nclude other actvtes lke abselng and tubng. Accommodaton Legends Backpacker Lodge n Ezulwn s descrbed as the place for actve-mnded travellers. The hostel s patron sant s Len the Legend, an ancestral sprt who s the sprt of adventure. It s staffed by local Swazs and travellng volunteers.the lodge has four-, sx-, eght- and 10-sleeper bedrooms as well as a campng area. The smaller rooms can be booked for prvate use. Recommended servce stops Some of the actvtes do nclude snacks and refreshments but many take place n or around Ezulwn where there are varous restaurants and cafés as well as The Gables shoppng centre. Ste gudes All of the actvtes are conducted by traned and experenced gudes. Bookngs All the actvtes requre pre-bookng, whch can be made through the operators. g Onlne resources SWAZI TRAILS MALOLOTJA CANOPY TOURS CHUBEKA TRAILS SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE 2010 l 11

14 Route Planner SWAZILAND Toursm Authorty Swazland Natonal Museum 2,3. The Reed Dance 4. Kng Sobhuza Museum Cultural Encounters Route Dscover Swazland s cultural hertage and get up close to tradtonal ceremones and customs. Swazland s tradtonal ceremones take place every year wth thousands of spectators attendng from all over. Whle some parts of ths route are only open to the publc durng these celebratory events, there are other stes that wll gve nsght nto the country s fascnatng hstory. These nclude the Kng Sobhuza II Memoral Park, the Natonal Museum and the Mantenga Cultural Vllage. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour Four to seven hours Star attractons Kng Sobhuza II Memoral Park: The park was establshed as a trbute to Kng Sobhuza II who led Swazland to ndependence from Brtsh rule n The park s located n Lobamba and s adjacent to the Houses of Parlament. The Memoral Park features a three-metre bronze statue of the late kng. There s also a museum wth pctures and nformaton about Kng Sobhuza II s lfe. The mausoleum s the most sacred part of the park. It stands on the spot where hs body lay durng the state funeral. Swazland Natonal Museum: Developed n 1974 wth the am of preservng past tradtons and culture for future generatons, the Swazland Natonal Museum features natural and man-made objects that reflect the natural and cultural hertage of Swaz and Southern Afrcan people. The museum has an exhbton area, showroom and natural hstory room. There s also a lbrary on ste wth a collecton of Swaz hstorcal books and a photography secton wth a darkroom for processng flms of varous aspects of tradtonal lfe, ceremones and natural hertage. Photographs of prehstorc materal are also preserved here. Mantenga Cultural Vllage: The vllage, located n the Mantenga Nature Reserve, offers vstors a vbrant and energetc learnng experence. It s a lvng museum of old tradtons and represents a classcal Swaz lfestyle durng the 1850s. It comprses 16 huts, kraals and byres for cattle and goats, reed fences and other structures. Toursts are encouraged to nteract wth the people n the vllage and can do so by grndng maze, platng mountan grass or jonng n the Swaz song and dance. The Cultural Vllage s open to vstors every day from 08h00 to 17h00. Ludzdzn Royal Vllage: Ludzdzn s the Queen Mother s royal resdence. It s not open to the publc except durng the Umhlanga or Reed Dance. The reed dance s an eght-day ceremony that nvolves chldless, unmarred grls cuttng reeds and presentng them to the Queen Mother, after whch they dance. The Kng s present on the last day of dancng. The Incwala can be translated as frst fruts ceremony because part of the ceremony s that the Kng tastes the new harvest. But ths s only one aspect of the ceremony. Every Swaz can take part n the publc parts of the Incwala, although many parts are sacred and only nvolve the key fgures. The hghlght s the fourth day of the Bg Incwala. Tradtonal dances at Mantenga Cultural Vllage are held at 11h15 and 15h15 every day. Photography at the mausoleum at the Memoral Park s forbdden out of respect. Umhlanga normally takes place n August or early September whle Incwala happens on the fourth day after the full moon nearest to the longest day, December 21. Shoppng There s a craft centre at the Mantenga Nature Reserve where varous local products and curos are sold. Recommended servce stop The Guava Gallery s located n Mantenga Valley n the same road as the Mantenga Cultural Vllage. It features a lunchtme restaurant wth a beautful vew and delcous homemade food. There s also a small art gallery and jewellery dsplay. Ste gudes At Mantenga Cultural Vllage a gude wll meet vstors at the entrance and talk them through how the huts and tradtonal tems were made as well as teachng them Sswat words. A gude wll also walk vstors to the Kng Sobhuza II Memoral Park and explan all the dfferent aspects of the park. Bookngs Bookngs for the Memoral Park and Cultural Vllage can be made through the Swazland Natonal Trust Commsson. g Onlne resource SWAZILAND NATIONAL TRUST COMMISSION

15 1,3. Shewula Mountan Camp 2,4. Mkhaya Game Reserve Swazland Conservaton Route Choose between travellng further nto Swazland or headng towards Mozambque but the road from the Lavumsa border offers a number of nterestng stops along the way. There are a number of places of nterest makng ths a worthwhle route to do. Dependng on whether toursts are headng to or from St Luca, the route ether begns or ends at the Lavumsa border. A short dstance from the border s the Nsela Game Reserve, whch can serve as an overnght stop or just a rest stop. The Mkhaya Game Reserve s just a short drve from Bg Bend and then the route contnues to the town of Stek, and near the Mozambcan border travellers wll reach the Mlawula Nature Reserve and Shewula Mountan Camp. Vtal Informaton Estmated duraton of tour Two to three days Star attractons Nsela Game Reserve: Ths reserve offers a number of actvtes and facltes makng t a great pont to stop en route. Game drves, guded and unguded walks, bcycle hre and self-drves are avalable durng regular operatng hours. The reserve also offers huntng and brd watchng s possble from specfc vewponts. The reserve offers accommodaton n a guest house, rondavels and cabns and n the grass beehve-style huts of ts Swaz Vllage. Campng and caravannng s also possble. Mkhaya Game Reserve: The reserve s home to four of the Bg Fve. It s the only reserve n Swazland wth buffalo and black rhno and offers vstors a prvate game park experence. Day tours are possble for guests arrvng at 10h00 and departng at 16h00 and nclude lunch. Twelve-hour or 24-hour overnght stays are possble, agan arranged around the tmes of 10h00 and 16h00. An overnght stay can be extended for more than one nght. The park offers game drves and possble game walks. There are only 12 accommodaton unts avalable and they have no walls or wndows as well as no electrcty. Mlawula Nature Reserve: Coverng an area of about ha, the reserve has the mpressve Lubombo Mountans runnng along ts boundary. There s a dverse varety of fauna and flora lvng n the reserve. Accommodaton n the reserve ncludes luxury en-sute tents, a cottage and a campste. Pcnckng n Mlawula s allowed at specfc stes and there are 54km of road open to vstors for game vewng. There are also 10 walkng trals rangng from 1,5km to a full-day hke. Other actvtes nclude fshng and guded walks. Mbuluz Game Reserve: Ths prvate game reserve development s bordered by the Mbuluz Rver and the Lubombo mountan range. It forms part of the ha Lubombo Conservancy and offers walkng trals, game vewng, brd watchng, cyclng and fshng. Accommodaton s avalable n four lodges and a campste. Shewula Mountan Camp: Ths was the frstever communty toursm project n Swazland. The camp offers vstors accommodaton n seven rondavels that are ether sutes or dormtores. There are abluton blocks for the rondavels wthout bathrooms as well as a communal ktchen. A number of actvtes are avalable ncludng sharng stores and watchng cultural dancng around the fre, hkng, mountan bkng, a vllage vst, games wth the local communty, vstng projects lke the orphanage programme n the communty and donkey cart rdes. Guests can also vst a tradtonal healer (sangoma). Travellers can use ths route as a way to combne St Luca n South Afrca wth parts of Swazland and then head towards ether the Mhlumen border or Namaacha border to enter Mozambque. Accommodaton Mabuda Farm: Located n the Lubombo mountans, Mabuda offers accommodaton n luxury rondavels, standard chalets, backpackers dormtory and campng. Varous actvtes are avalable on the farm. Stek Hotel: Located n the Lubombo regon n the small town of Stek, ths hotel offers luxurous ar-condtoned accommodaton. It also has a restaurant, swmmng pool and gym. Recommended servce stop There s a restaurant at Nsela Game Reserve that provdes a decent meal and a place to rest. Ste gudes Gudes are provded by the varous stes but self-guded optons are avalable at Nsela, Mlawula and Mbuluz. Bookngs Pre-bookng s requred for Mkhaya. It s also necessary at the other stes f vstors are stayng overnght and takng part n guded actvtes. g Onlne resources BIG GAME PARKS SWAZILAND NATURAL TRUST COMMISSION SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE 2010 l 13