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Small is beautiful: the quirky charms of Swaziland
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Friday 3 February
Theatre 2
Time: 11.00am
Title: Small is beautiful: the quirky charms of Swaziland
Time: 11.00am
Title: Small is beautiful: the quirky charms of Swaziland
Speaker: Mike Unwin
Company: Swaziland Tourism Authority
The Kingdom of Swaziland is continental Africa’s second smallest country and its last remaining absolute monarchy. It is easy to overlook this tiny, landlocked nation while heading for the better-known attractions of neighbouring South Africa. Yet Swaziland’s borders contain a wealth of delights – both natural and cultural.
The country’s location, straddling the slopes of southern Africa's eastern escarpment, makes for a dramatically varied topography. From the mountainous grasslands of the western Highveld, through the lush cultivated Middleveld, and down to the hot, dusty eastern Lowveld, each landscape offers its own unique scenic beauty.
The rewards for the nature lover are legion. Although the great herds of yesteryear are long gone, several excellent nature reserves protect big game such as rhinos (both white and black), elephant and giraffe. Meanwhile the hills of the highveld offer prolific flora and birdlife for the hiker, plus the thrill of having a genuine wilderness all to yourself.
Swazi society remains richly infused by tradition, most visible in such spectacular ceremonies as the Umhlanga (reed dance) and the Incwala (first fruits festival), unrivalled across the region for their energy and scale. Yet today the country finds itself in a state of transition, reconciling the challenges of development with the sureties of the past.
For the visitor, Swaziland is peaceful, welcoming and highly accessible. It offers a rare chance to see authentic Africa on its own terms.
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The country’s location, straddling the slopes of southern Africa's eastern escarpment, makes for a dramatically varied topography. From the mountainous grasslands of the western Highveld, through the lush cultivated Middleveld, and down to the hot, dusty eastern Lowveld, each landscape offers its own unique scenic beauty.
The rewards for the nature lover are legion. Although the great herds of yesteryear are long gone, several excellent nature reserves protect big game such as rhinos (both white and black), elephant and giraffe. Meanwhile the hills of the highveld offer prolific flora and birdlife for the hiker, plus the thrill of having a genuine wilderness all to yourself.
Swazi society remains richly infused by tradition, most visible in such spectacular ceremonies as the Umhlanga (reed dance) and the Incwala (first fruits festival), unrivalled across the region for their energy and scale. Yet today the country finds itself in a state of transition, reconciling the challenges of development with the sureties of the past.
For the visitor, Swaziland is peaceful, welcoming and highly accessible. It offers a rare chance to see authentic Africa on its own terms.
Back to timetable
