Things to do in Eswatini

25 things to do in Eswatini

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Game drive among lions in Hlane Royal National Park

  Search for lions, white rhinos, and elephants on a self-drive or guided safari through this vast lowveld reserve, home to Eswatini’s largest big-game herds.

  near Simunye

• Walk freely with zebra and antelope in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

  Explore open grasslands on foot or by bike among wildebeest, nyala, and hippos in the family‑friendly sanctuary that pioneered low‑impact tourism in Eswatini.

  Ezulwini Valley

• Immerse yourself in Swazi traditions at Mantenga Cultural Village

  Watch high‑kicking sibhaca dance, visit a beehive hut, and learn everyday 19th‑century customs in a recreated Swazi homestead with a backdrop of Mantenga Falls.

  Ezulwini Valley

• Watch artisans mould molten glass at Ngwenya Glass

  See recycled glass transformed into baobab‑shaped sculptures and tableware in a sunlit workshop, then browse the gallery beside the original water‑mill building.

  Ngwenya, near Mbabane

• Shop for hand‑shaped wax creations at Swazi Candles Craft Centre

  Watch craftspeople layer brightly coloured wax to form rhinos, giraffes and geckos, then pick your own at this cheerful workshop in the Malkerns Valley.

  Malkerns

• Summit Execution Rock (Nyonyane) for endless views

  Hike the granite peak rising above Mlilwane’s plains to a sheer cliff once used for punishment; the 360‑degree panorama takes in the Ezulwini and Malkerns valleys.

  Ezulwini Valley

• Spend a night in a community‑run eco‑camp at Shewula Mountain Camp

  Sleep in a simple rondavel on the Lubombo escarpment and wake to panoramic views into Mozambique, with local guides leading walks to waterfalls and rural homesteads.

  near Siteki, Lubombo

• Trek across the giant granite whaleback of Sibebe Rock

  Climb the world’s second‑largest exposed granite dome, passing balancing boulders and endemic flora, and cool off with a dip in a natural rock pool on the way down.

  near Mbabane

• Stroll among giraffe flocks in Mbuluzi Game Reserve

  Roam unguided trails along the Mbuluzi River spotting giraffe, kudu and nyala, then paddle in the clear river waters at one of the day‑visitor picnic sites.

  near Siteki

• Follow the Malolotja Falls Trail through ancient highveld

  Trek through rolling grasslands dotted with protea to the top of the highest waterfall in Eswatini, plunging 95 metres into a forested gorge.

  Malolotja Nature Reserve

• Chase mist‑draped cascades at Phophonyane Falls

  Walk through indigenous forest and fern‑lined streams to a tiered waterfall, then relax by the plunge pool or overnight in secluded eco‑lodges tucked into the hillside.

  near Piggs Peak

• Catch live Afro‑folk and reggae at House on Fire

  Enter the whimsical mosaic‑covered venue in Malkerns for an evening of local bands, poetry, and theatre; even when there’s no show, the vibrant bar hums with travellers.

  Malkerns

• Dance at the MTN Bushfire Festival under the mountains

  Join one of Africa’s top music and arts festivals each May, when international and local acts play across three stages, and the whole Malkerns field becomes a dance‑floor.

  Malkerns

• Track endangered rhinos on foot at Mkhaya Game Reserve

  Set out with an expert ranger into dense bush in search of black and white rhinos, then pause for a bush lunch in a hide overlooking a waterhole.

  near Siphofaneni

• Decipher San rock art at Nsangwini Shelter

  Hike to a painted overhang above the Komati River where ochre images of antelope and trance figures tell stories of the hunter‑gatherers who lived here 4,000 years ago.

  near Maguga Dam

• Reflect at the King Sobhuza II Memorial Park

  Visit the mausoleum and museum honouring the much‑loved king who led Eswatini to independence, set in a quiet garden in the royal heart of Lobamba.

  Lobamba

• Explore the National Museum of Eswatini

  Examine Swati regalia, traditional weapons, and a life‑sized model of a lusango royal enclosure, then wander the adjacent outdoor sibaya cattle‑byre and village replica.

  Lobamba

• Swim in the turquoise pools beneath Mantenga Falls

  Take a short rainforest trail from the cultural village to the secluded basin at the base of the 95‑metre waterfall, perfect for a refreshing dip surrounded by ferns.

  Ezulwini Valley

• Soar over the ‘Valley of Heaven’ in a hot air balloon

  Float at sunrise above the granite domes and patchwork fields of the Ezulwini Valley, with a champagne breakfast waiting after a gentle landing.

  Ezulwini Valley

• Meet the weavers at Gone Rural and Baobab Batik

  Tour a women’s cooperative turning lutindzi grass into baskets and mats, then visit the neighbouring textile studio where artisans hand‑paint vivid wax‑resist fabrics.

  Malkerns

• Step into the world’s oldest mine at Ngwenya

  Walk into the lion‑cavern opencast pit where the San mined red hematite and specularite 43,000 years ago, and visit the visitor centre explaining the region’s geological wealth.

  Ngwenya, near Mbabane

• Soak up views of Maguga Dam from the escarpment

  Pull over at the roadside viewpoint high above the Komati River reservoir, where the curved dam wall frames water against the hills of Hhohho region.

  near Piggs Peak

• Witness a vulture feeding frenzy at Hlane’s dead‑tree roost

  Arrive at the rhino‑boma clearing in the afternoon to watch white‑backed, lappet‑faced and hooded vultures descend on a carcass, a vital conservation spectacle.

  near Simunye

• Canter through the grass on a horseback safari in Mlilwane

  Saddle up at the stables to ride western‑style through zebra and blesbok herds, getting close‑up wildlife encounters without the roar of an engine.

  Ezulwini Valley

• Tip‑toe across the Malolotja canopy walkway

  Cross a 50‑metre suspension bridge suspended in the forest canopy above the Mbuluzi River, a quick thrill with bird’s‑eye views of the gorge.

  Malolotja Nature Reserve