Malkerns Valley: crafts, music and farm country

Why visit the Malkerns Valley

Malkerns is where Eswatini's reputation for beautiful handmade crafts comes alive. Many of the country's best known brands began here as small workshops and now sell around the world, often employing hundreds of rural women. Visiting lets you see the making, buy directly and support the people behind the work. Add good food, gentle countryside and live music, and it is easy to spend more time here than you planned.

Craft studios to visit

**Swazi Candles** is the best known stop, a craft centre where you can watch artisans layer coloured wax into animal shapes and patterned candles. The same centre has other shops selling textiles, jewellery and gifts, plus a café for lunch.

**Gone Rural** works with women across rural Eswatini who weave lutindzi grass into baskets, bowls, placemats and homeware. Its shop at Malandela's farm shows the full range, and buying here directly supports the weavers and their community programmes.

Also look for **Baobab Batik**, known for hand dyed wall hangings and cushion covers, and smaller studios selling mohair, ceramics and recycled glass along the valley roads. Most are open daily, but check hours on Sundays and public holidays.

House on Fire and MTN Bushfire

At Malandela's, **House on Fire** is an extraordinary performance venue built in a sculptural, African inspired style, with mosaics, carvings and an open air amphitheatre. It hosts concerts, theatre and film through the year. Each year, usually in late May, it becomes the home of **MTN Bushfire**, a festival of music, arts and spoken word drawing performers and visitors from across Africa and beyond. Tickets and accommodation sell out, so book months ahead if you want to go.

Where to eat

**Malandela's Restaurant** is the valley's classic, with a garden setting, wood fired dishes and a pub next door. The cafés at the craft centres are good for lunch, and farm stalls sell fresh pineapple, litchis and avocados in season. Try a Swazi braai, grilled meat with pap, at a roadside spot with locals at the weekend.

Things to do nearby

The valley sits next to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, so it is easy to combine a morning of cycling among zebra with an afternoon of craft shopping. The roads through the farmlands are pleasant for gentle cycling. South of the valley, the road climbs towards Mankayane and the Ngwempisi gorge, quiet country for walkers who like to get off the usual route.

Where to stay

Malandela's has a small bed and breakfast beside the restaurant and House on Fire. Self catering cottages and farm guesthouses are scattered through the valley, often with pools, gardens and mountain views. Many people stay in Ezulwini and visit Malkerns for the day, as it is only around twenty minutes away.

Getting around

The valley is spread out, so you need a car, a taxi or a tour. Roads are paved and generally good, though watch for cattle and pedestrians, especially at dusk. Kombis run between Malkerns, Manzini and Ezulwini for budget travellers, but they are busy and do not stop at every craft studio.

Tips for shoppers

Prices in the craft studios are fixed and fair, so there is no need to bargain. Roadside markets are a little different, where polite bargaining is expected. Larger pieces can often be packed for travel, and some studios can arrange shipping, so ask before you buy if you are worried about luggage space.