Close to our heart: Swaziland and Lesotho
We’ve been looking at great spots to visit close to South Africa. You can get no closer than Swaziland and Lesotho, both of which are surrounded by South African soil.
Swaziland
Swaziland is a relatively small country with a lot to see. The countryside, with its rivers, mountains and waterfalls, is lovely. The arts and crafts in Swaziland are also well worth taking a look at. Swaziland is also very proud of its heritage and culture, and the country offers a number of opportunities to experience these.
Swaziland’s national parks and game reserves are less crowded than those in South Africa, but still offer the big five. Try Hlane Royal National Park, Mkhaya Game Reserve or Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. These, as well as a number of smaller nature reserves, also offer magnificent birding.
You will find several outlets for arts and crafts in Swaziland, but make sure that you visit the Swazi candles factory close to the Oshoek border post, and the Ngwenya Glass factory near Mbabane. Ngwenya Glass products have become popular with international tourists, and one can see why. The African products are beautifully crafted, and hard to resist!
For a cultural experience, time your visit to Swaziland to coincide with the Incwala Ceremony or First Fruit Ceremony. This is held in December or January (depending on the phases of the moon). During the four-day ceremony, thousands of young men and warriors take part in rituals, dances and songs. On the final day, the King joins the young warriors in a ceremonial dance. The King then enters his sanctuary, follows a number of traditional rituals, and eats the first fruit of the season. Thereafter, the community may eat the fruits of the season, with the blessings of the ancestors.
Another major ceremonial event is the annual Reed Dance, or Umhlanga. The ceremony is held in August or September every year, and attracts thousands of young maidens from across Swaziland who gather to honour the Queen Mother (iNdlovukazi).
Note that certain parts of traditional ceremonies and rituals may not be witnessed by outsiders, and a permit may be required for photography.
Lesotho
The mountain kingdom of Lesotho – the ‘Kingdom in the sky’ lives up to its name. Any activity in Lesotho is set against a backdrop of spectacular mountain views. Lesotho is best explored ‘at ground level’ – at 1400m above sea level! – in a car, 4×4, or on a Basotho pony, your mountain bike or your feet. Driving, hiking or riding through Lesotho will expose you to the magnificent Maluti and Drakensberg Mountains, unrivalled mountain vistas, and the gentle and welcoming Basotho people.
Lesotho is an adrenalin-junkie paradise, offering the standard hiking and mountain biking, along with pony trekking, abseiling, mountain climbing, paragliding, hang-gliding and even skiing! For those less intent on heart-pounding activity, a gentle session of walking, bird watching, relaxing beside a crystal clear river or some quiet trout fishing is also available.
Maseru offers a great base from which to explore the Maluti mountains, and you can also buy all the necessary items that you may need here. There are historical sites, hiking trails, craft centres and San rock paintings within a short distance from the capital city.
Sehlabathebe National Park is the country’s only national park, and shows off some of the country’s spectacular scenery, hiking trails, pony paths and sandstone rock formations. The park can only be reached by 4×4 vehicle.
The Sani Pass, which connects Lesotho to Kwazulu Natal in South Africa, is a spectacular, but hair-raising road to drive. The Sani Pass is the gateway to Lesotho’s Roof of Africa region, a magnificent area in which you will find some of the most dramatic mountainscapes you could hope for, including the highest peak in Southern Africa: Thabana-Ntlenyana, at 3 482m.
Next time, we’ll take a look at two wonderful destinations just a short flight from South Africa: Mauritius and Madagascar.
