Welcome to Mbabane, the most populous city in Eswatini, the country once called Swaziland. It is one of two capitals, alongside Lobamba, and serves as the executive capital. The city sits on the Mbabane River in the Mdzimba Mountains, at an average elevation of 1,243 metres. Mbabane was founded in 1887 where the route from the Transvaal to Mozambique crossed the river, and it takes its name from a chief, Mbabane Kunene, who lived here when British settlers arrived. In 1902 it became the capital of the new protectorate. Let's head out and explore.
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo: Vaiz Ha · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWelcome to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, the oldest protected area in Eswatini, covering 4,560 hectares of the Ezulwini Valley. This land was once used for farming and tin mining, but it has been rehabilitated and is now the country's most visited reserve. You can explore the grassy southern plains on foot, on horseback, by mountain bike or by vehicle. And the name? Mlilwane means little fire, a nod to the many fires started by lightning strikes on Mlilwane Hill.
Sibebe
Photo: theswazigirl · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAbout 10 kilometres from Mbabane rises Sibebe, a vast granite mountain also known as Bald Rock. It is the second-largest monolith in the world and the largest exposed granite pluton, rising 350 metres above the valley of the Mbuluzi River. Every year several thousand people climb it in a charity walk called the Sibebe Survivor. The rock has even lent its name to a local beer, Sibebe Premium Lager.
Ezulwini Valley
Stretching for about 30 kilometres before you is the Ezulwini Valley, known as the Valley of Heaven. It is also called the Royal Valley, a place of many legends from Swazi history, and the historical capital Lobamba lies within it. The valley is home to the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ezulwini Handicrafts Centre and the Swazi National Museum. Despite hotels, shops and casinos, the landscape still keeps its soft green hills, with game grazing on the lush plains below.
Ludzidzini Royal Village
This is Ludzidzini, the royal residence and home of the House of Dlamini, the royal family of Eswatini. It also serves as the administrative headquarters of the Queen Mother. The village is best known for the annual Umhlanga, the reed dance ceremony, one of the great occasions of the Swazi year.
Indingilizi Gallery
Step into the Indingilizi Gallery, an art gallery in Mbabane established in 1982. Most of Eswatini's top artists have shown their work here. Wander among sculptures, paintings and batiks, then look closer at the mohair pieces, ethnic jewellery and pottery, a colourful showcase of Swazi creativity under one roof.
Lomakuume
