Ezulwini Valley

Perched just outside Mbabane, following the MR103 highway, the Ezulwini Valley extends down as far as Kwuluseni. It is also known as Royal Valley, for the King, many royalty and indeed myself are based here –first at Legends and now in Lidwala which has wifi which often works.

The valley is under threat from over development with casinos, commerce and residential growth that have impacted on the local environment. Pool Pal and Canadian traveler Steve was his three years ago and he says much of the valley is unrecognizable.

the price of local development are not always pretty

Hot Springs can be found at the Cuddle Puddle and is open until 11pm. Set in attractive woodland grounds there is also a full spar with massage service too. The entrance costs E10.

Cuddle Puddle

Next door is a nine hole golf course, but it looked too expensive and exclusive to enquire about prices.

The Ezulwini Handicrafts Centre is a joint Swazi – Taiwanese project. It has a wide selection of local crafts including sculptures, jewelry, textiles and other objects d’art. All items are priced but are not fixed.

local masks at the handicraft market

a beader at the Handicraft Stalls

The restaurant Woodlands offers some excellent food at fairly reasonable prices. I particularly enjoyed the On The Run Breakfast – juice, filter coffee, steak, onion, 2 fried eggs, fries, toast, butter and jam. (I had to turn down the mushrooms– I don’t do them for E55. Good job I wasn’t on the run though, it took ages to come but was far too vast to complete. Also on the menu is baked brie, chicken and seafood dishes, both local and international.

Further down the valley is The Gables shopping centre. There are 2 ATMs, an expensive Internet café, a Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Quartermain’s Pub and Restaurant which boasts a pay as you go wifi. The espresso is good, but expensive (E20) at Linda’s Coffee Shop. A morning bottomless filter coffee is a bargain at E12. They also serve a variety of savory and sweet snacks. Another restaurant boast Portuguese and international cuisine.

Lombarda is home to the National Museum (currently closed for refurbishment, The Late King Sobhuza II Memorial Park and Mausoleum and the Parliament building. Entry to the park is E10 for international students and contains a larger than life statue and a photographic exhibition of the late king and. A guarded glass building marks the spot where he was laid in state and a ever-burning light. You are requested not to take photos of this building and the guard is armed. There are some great quotes and obituaries. The Parliament building is sometimes open to the public, but of course not on a Saturday when i visit.

statue of the late King Sobhuza II - the longest serving monarch in the World!

traditional Swazi hut outside the National Museum

Swaziland's Parliament building

Manzini is the commercial centre of Swaziland with 70,000 residents. It’s a bit of a bustling mess and after an hour i’m ready to shoot off again. Local volunteers (of which there are plenty) seem to like it though.

local kids