Find places in Eswatini

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mbabane Market (Msunduza Street)
  Fresh produce, grass baskets, soapstone carvings and emahiya cloth sold by the people who make them.

Fun for Everyone

• The Mall Mbabane (Mbabane town)
  The city's central mall for banks, SIM cards, groceries and a coffee break.
• Swazi Plaza (Mbabane town)
  A busy shopping centre with supermarkets, pharmacies and everyday shops.

Must-Haves

• Sibebe Rock (Pine Valley)
  A vast granite dome with guided community trails and sweeping views over the hills.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pine Valley (Pine Valley)
  A quiet river valley of farms and forest for walking and cycling just minutes from the city.
• Mhlambanyatsi forests (Mhlambanyatsi)
  Pine and eucalyptus plantations with quiet trails southwest of the capital.

Must-Haves

• Mountain Inn (Mbabane)
  A long-running family hotel with gardens and views down into the Ezulwini Valley.

Off the Beaten Path

• Foresters Arms (Mhlambanyatsi)
  A cosy country inn among pine forests, loved for Sunday lunch and misty walks.

Great for Date Night

• Brackenhill Lodge (Mbabane)
  A peaceful hillside lodge with walking trails and wide views over the hills.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lidwala Backpacker Lodge (Between Mbabane and Ezulwini)
  A friendly hostel with gardens and a pool, handy for both the city and the valley.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mbuluzi River walks (Pine Valley)
  Gentle riverside walks through farmland on the edge of the capital.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bulembu heritage village (Bulembu)
  A former mining town reborn as a community project, with old buildings and cool mountain air.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mbabane Market food stalls (Mbabane Market)
  Hearty plates of sishwala, stew and grilled meat with the city's workers.

Must-Haves

• Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (Ezulwini Valley)
  Walk, cycle or ride among zebra, wildebeest and antelope in the kingdom's first sanctuary.
• Mantenga Falls (Mantenga Nature Reserve)
  A short forest walk to a waterfall tumbling over granite into a lush gorge.

Off the Beaten Path

• Execution Rock on Nyonyane (Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary)
  A steep hike up the sanctuary's rocky peak for the best view in the valley.
• Sheba's Breast (Ezulwini Valley)
  The distinctive peak above the valley, a landmark and a challenging climb.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mlilwane Rest Camp (Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary)
  Sleep in a traditional beehive hut with warthogs wandering past your door.
• Sondzela Backpackers (Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary)
  A much loved hostel inside the sanctuary with a pool, campfire and wildlife on the lawn.

Great for Date Night

• Reilly's Rock Hilltop Lodge (Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary)
  A colonial era house in botanical gardens with valley views and a calm, romantic feel.
• Royal Swazi Spa (Ezulwini)
  A classic resort with a golf course, pools, spa and casino in the heart of the valley.

Fun for Everyone

• Mantenga Lodge (Mantenga)
  Comfortable rooms in the forest a short walk from the falls and cultural village.

Fun for Everyone

• Hippo Haunt Restaurant (Mlilwane Rest Camp)
  Eat beside the dam while hippos and crocodiles go about their business.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mantenga Lodge restaurant (Mantenga)
  A deck in the forest for a simple lunch after the falls.

Must-Haves

• Mantenga Cultural Village (Mantenga Nature Reserve)
  A recreated 1850s homestead and a thrilling sibhaca dance show.
• National Museum of Eswatini (Lobamba)
  The story of the Swazi nation told through dress, weapons, photographs and homesteads.
• King Sobhuza II Memorial Park (Lobamba)
  A memorial to the king who led Eswatini to independence, with a small museum.

Fun for Everyone

• Eswatini Parliament (Lobamba)
  The striking parliament building at the centre of the royal capital.

Fun for Everyone

• Royal Swazi Casino (Ezulwini)
  The valley's evening hotspot for a flutter, a drink and live entertainment.
• Hippo Haunt bar (Mlilwane Rest Camp)
  Sundowners by the hippo pool with a crackling fire on cool evenings.

Fun for Everyone

• Royal Swazi golf course (Ezulwini)
  A scenic course under the mountains, open to visiting golfers.
• Great Usutu River rafting (Bulungu Gorge)
  Whitewater rafting through a gorge on the kingdom's biggest river.
• Mlilwane horse trails (Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary)
  Guided rides among zebra and antelope, suitable for beginners.

Must-Haves

• Swazi Trails (Mantenga)
  The established adventure operator for rafting, caving and cultural tours.

Off the Beaten Path

• Gilbert Reynolds Memorial Cave (Gobholo, near Mbabane)
  Squeeze and crawl through a granite cave system on a guided caving trip.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Ezulwini Craft Market (Ezulwini Valley main road)
  Rows of stalls selling baskets, carvings, beadwork and cloth, with friendly bargaining.

Fun for Everyone

• The Gables Shopping Centre (Ezulwini)
  Supermarket, cafés and banks, the valley's everyday stop for supplies.

Must-Haves

• Umhlanga Reed Dance (Ludzidzini, Lobamba)
  The great late winter ceremony of song, dance and reeds, one of Africa's most spectacular gatherings.
• Incwala ceremony (Ludzidzini, Lobamba)
  The sacred kingship ceremony around the summer solstice, with public days of dancing.

Fun for Everyone

• Independence Day celebrations (Somhlolo National Stadium, Lobamba)
  Celebrations each 6 September with parades, music and dance.

Must-Haves

• House on Fire (Malandela's)
  A sculptural arts venue hosting concerts, theatre and film through the year.

Fun for Everyone

• House on Fire mosaics and sculpture (Malandela's)
  Wander the venue's mosaics, carvings and gardens even when no show is on.

Must-Haves

• MTN Bushfire (House on Fire)
  One of Africa's best loved music and arts festivals, usually in late May.

Fun for Everyone

• House on Fire concerts (Malandela's)
  Regular live music and theatre nights in the open air amphitheatre.

Great for Date Night

• Malandela's Restaurant (Malkerns)
  The valley's classic garden restaurant, with a pub and craft shops next door.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Malkerns farm stalls (Malkerns Valley)
  Fresh pineapple, litchis and avocados straight from local farms.

Fun for Everyone

• Malandela's B&B (Malkerns)
  Simple, colourful rooms steps from House on Fire and the restaurant.

Must-Haves

• Gone Rural (Malandela's)
  Grass baskets and homeware woven by rural women, bought straight from the source.

Fun for Everyone

• Swazi Candles Craft Centre (Malkerns)
  Watch artisans make the famous animal candles, then browse the craft shops.
• Malandela's craft shops (Malandela's)
  A cluster of craft and gift shops beside the restaurant.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Baobab Batik (Malkerns)
  Hand dyed batik wall hangings and textiles from a long-standing studio.
• Mahlanya Market (Mahlanya)
  A busy roadside market for fresh produce and crafts at local prices.

Great for Date Night

• Malandela's Pub (Malkerns)
  A friendly pub for a drink before a show at House on Fire.

Fun for Everyone

• Malkerns farm cycling (Malkerns Valley)
  Gentle cycling through pineapple and citrus farmland.

Must-Haves

• Manzini Market (Manzini town)
  The kingdom's biggest market, with crafts upstairs and fresh produce and spices below.

Fun for Everyone

• Bhunu Mall (Manzini town)
  A central mall for shopping, banks and food courts.

Must-Haves

• George Hotel (Manzini town)
  A well known central hotel with a pool and restaurants.

Off the Beaten Path

• Summerfield Botanical Garden and Resort (Matsapha)
  Lush botanical gardens around a lake, with a resort and restaurant.

Fun for Everyone

• Eswatini International Trade Fair (Mavuso Trade Centre)
  A big annual show of local business, food, crafts and music, usually around late August.

Fun for Everyone

• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Manzini town)
  Manzini's Catholic cathedral, a landmark in the commercial capital.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Manzini Market food stalls (Manzini Market)
  Cheap, filling local meals and fresh fruit amid the bustle.

Fun for Everyone

• Manzini Wanderers football (Manzini)
  Catch a lively local football match and feel the crowd's passion.

Must-Haves

• Malolotja Nature Reserve (Hhohho)
  Wild highveld hiking among zebra, eland and waterfalls in the kingdom's great wilderness.
• Malolotja Falls (Malolotja Nature Reserve)
  The highest waterfall in Eswatini, reached on a steep full day hike.

Off the Beaten Path

• Malolotja multi day trails (Malolotja Nature Reserve)
  Remote trail camps and long routes for experienced hikers.

Fun for Everyone

• Malolotja birding (Malolotja Nature Reserve)
  Look for blue swallows and southern bald ibis on the high grasslands.

Must-Haves

• Malolotja Canopy Tour (Malolotja Nature Reserve)
  Glide across a forested gorge on cables and platforms with expert guides.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Malolotja log cabins (Malolotja Nature Reserve)
  Self catering cabins with mist, quiet and grassland views.

Fun for Everyone

• Hawane Resort (Hawane)
  Chalets and a restaurant close to Malolotja and Ngwenya.

Must-Haves

• Ngwenya Glass (Ngwenya)
  Watch glassblowers turn recycled bottles into animals and tableware, then shop.

Fun for Everyone

• Ngwenya Glass Craft Village (Ngwenya)
  A cluster of craft shops beside the glass factory.

Fun for Everyone

• Ngwenya Glass coffee shop (Ngwenya)
  A sunny café overlooking the hills after a visit to the furnaces.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine (Malolotja Nature Reserve)
  One of the oldest known mines on earth, with an ancient ochre working at Lion Cavern.

Must-Haves

• Hlane Royal National Park (Lubombo)
  White rhino, elephant and lion in the kingdom's largest park.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mlawula Nature Reserve (Lubombo mountains)
  Gorges, river walks and rare plants in the Lubombo mountains.

Fun for Everyone

• Mbuluzi Game Reserve (Mlawula)
  A private reserve where you can walk and cycle among giraffe and zebra.
• Hlane vulture colony (Hlane Royal National Park)
  One of the densest nesting colonies of white-backed vultures in the region.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Ndlovu Camp (Hlane Royal National Park)
  Lamp lit cottages beside a waterhole where rhino come to drink.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bhubesi Camp (Hlane Royal National Park)
  Quiet stone chalets by the river in a remote corner of the park.
• Shewula Mountain Camp (Shewula)
  A community run camp with village walks and huge views towards Mozambique.

Must-Haves

• Hlane lion drive (Hlane Royal National Park)
  A guided drive into the lion section, best at dawn or dusk.

Fun for Everyone

• Hlane rhino walk (Hlane Royal National Park)
  Walk with rangers to see white rhino on foot.
• Hlane mountain biking (Hlane Royal National Park)
  Guided cycling in the safe section of the park.

Fun for Everyone

• Ndlovu Camp restaurant (Hlane Royal National Park)
  Dinner overlooking the waterhole as elephants come to drink.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marula Festival (Lubombo region)
  The buganu season celebration, when communities share marula brew in late summer.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Siteki town (Siteki)
  A small hilltop town on the Lubombo ridge with markets and views over the lowveld.