The Kingdom of Swaziland is landlocked Southern African country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. The country is named after the Swazi, a Bantu tribe and it covers 17, 363 km2 of land. The head of state in Swaziland is the king, currently King Mswati III, who ascended to the throne upon the death of his father King Sobhuza II. By tradition, the king reigns along with his mother, Indlovukazi. As a result, the King is viewed as the administrative head of state and the Queen mother as a spiritual and national head of state. The legal system is based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations.

Swaziland is divided into four regional administrative districts: Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni. These regions are further subdivided into Tinkhundla administrated by chieftains. Swaziland offers a wide variety of landscapes, from the mountains along the Mozambican border to savannas in the east and rainforest in the northwest. Several rivers flow through the country, such as the Great Usuthu River. The climate varies from tropical to near mild.

The capital city of Swaziland is Mbabane whilst Lobamba is viewed as the traditional (Legislative) capital. Most of the working population in Swaziland lives along the Mbabane - Manzini corridor. This corridor incorporates Ezulwini (fast becoming an upmarket residential area), Matsapha (the industrial hub of Swaziland) and Manzini (the business hub of Swaziland). Other towns to note include Nhlangano, Pigg's Peak, Hlathikhulu and Siteki. Click here to see the Swaziland Government page on the various town boards...

Swaziland's currency is the Lilangeni (E) which is at par with the South African Rand (R), so E1 = R1. Swaziland is one of the wealthiest nations in Africa, but one of the poorest in the world. The countries literacy rate currently stands at 80% and there's about 300,000 people in the labour force (according to CIA factbook). Swaziland's GDP (purchasing power parity) stood at $5.424 billion in 2007 with a GDP/capita PPP of $4,800. Most of the high-level economic activity is in the hands of non-Africans, but ethnic Swazis are becoming more active as small entrepreneurs are moving into middle management positions.

According to the CIA factbook, current statistics reveal the following 'facts' about Swaziland:

• Agricultural products - sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapple, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep.
• Main industries - coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel.
• Exports - $2.169 billion.
• Expot commodities - wood pulp, soft drink concentrates, sugar, cotton yarn, refrigerators, canned fruit and citrus.

International Investors are allowed to invest in the Kingdom of Eswatini through the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority and other Investments bodies such as Tibiyo Takangwane, SIDC and other Investments bodies.

Nonetheless, about 70% of Swazis live below the poverty line in rural areas and are affected by drought and a resulting food crisis that threatens a lot of the people in the rural areas of Swaziland. The unemployment rate is approximately 40% and a significant portion of the population live on less than $1/day. Swaziland's HDI development score is low and economic growth has wavered in the past few years, worsened by the economy's inability to create new jobs at the same rate that new job seekers enter the market. This is due largely in part to the country's population growth rate, which strains the natural resources and the country's ability to provide adequate social services, such as health care and education. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems. The country's population currently stands at approximately 1,128,814 million people, but the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS is threatening to drastically reduce this figure.

In 2004, Swaziland acknowledged for the first time that it suffered an AIDS crisis, with 38.8% of the population infected with HIV. Current Prime Minister Themba Dlamini declared a humanitarian crisis because of the combined effect of drought and land degradation, increased poverty, and HIV/AIDS. Read more information about HIV/AIDS in Swaziland.

Swaziland has well-developed road links with South Africa. It also has railroads running east to west and north to south. The older east-west link, called the Goba line, makes it possible to export bulk goods from Swaziland through the Port of Maputo in Mozambique. Until recently, most of Swaziland's imports were shipped through this port. Conflict in Mozambique in the 1980s diverted many Swazi exports to ports in South Africa. A north-south rail link, completed in 1986, provides a connection between the Mpumalanga rail network and the South African ports of Richards Bay and Durban.

The majority of Swaziland's population is ethnic Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulus and non-Africans, mostly whites of British and Afrikaner descent. Traditionally Swazis have been subsistence farmers and herders, but most now work in the growing urban formal economy and in government. Some Swazis work in the mines in South Africa. Swaziland also received Portuguese settlers and black refugees from Mozambique. Christianity in Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices. Most Swazis ascribe a special spiritual role to the monarch.

Siswati and English are the official languages of Swaziland. Siswati is a Bantu language of the Nguni people spoken in Swaziland and South Africa. It has 1.5 million speakers and is taught in all Swazi schools.

The most common religion in Swaziland is Christianity which totals 82.70% of the total population, in which various indigenous African churches constitute the majority, followed quickly by Roman Catholicism. There are also non-Christian religions practiced in the country such as Islam: 0.95%, Bahai: 0.5%, and Hinduism: 0.15%.

Distances from Mbabane to Major Cities
Mbabane to Cape Town 1662km
Mbabane to Maputo 236km
Mbabane to Durban 635km
Mbababe to Maseru 736km
Mbabane to Johannesburg 371km
Mbabane to Gaberone 718km
Mbabane to Tswane (Pretoria) 330km

All visitors to Swaziland require a valid passport or travel document to enter the Kingdom. United Kingdom and British Commonwealth citizens (including African states) do not require visas. However, as a precaution or if you are not sure, it is important to check your country's visa status before coming to Swaziland. A standard visa is 30 days. Unlicensed arms and ammunitions are illegal in Swaziland hence it is imperative that one gets permission from the Firearms Licensing Board, PO Box 49, Mbabane.

Tourism in Swaziland has become an important sector of the Economy as a lot of effort and resource investments have been made towards improving the tourism sector. The upcoming Soccer World Cup 2010 in South Africa will provide the Swazi tourism industry the kind of exposure it needs. Such exposure will help the country show the world some of the traditions and culture that has been preserved even today.

The Sibhaca Dance is a vigorous Swazi traditional dance performed by teams of men and this activity is popular amongst young school boys who form teams that may perform at special functions or competitions. Swaziland's most well-known cultural event is the annual Umhlanga or Reed Dance which is a ceremony undertaken by young Swazi maidens in honour of the Queen Mother. It takes place in late August or early September. Similar to the Incwala, maidens convene to cut the reed and deliver it to the royal residence where the Queen mother resides. The maidens bath and get groomed before appear before their Majesties, the King and Queen. The girls then wear the traditional regalia made up of short beaded skirts with anklets, bracelets and jewellery then colourful sashes. The Royal princesses wear red feathers in their hair and lead the maidens to perform in front of their majesties. This ceremony may be freely photographed by people with a special permit from the Ministry of Information.

The Incwala Ceremony is Swaziland's most sacred ritual as it is the first fruits ceremony where the king plays an important role. The dates of this ceremony are astrologically decided but are in December or January every year. There are various important stages of this ceremony:

• The People of the water ("Bemanti) take a journey to the Indian Ocean to collect water
• When the Bemanti return to the royal kraal, during the new moon, the little Incwala begins.
• At the full moon, the youth of Swaziland gather to collect the sacred branches of the "lusekwane" shrub (a species of acacia).
• A bull is then slaughtered by the youth.
• After this stage, the king will then join the warriors in the traditional dance.
• After this, the king enters a special sanctuary where further rituals are performed and he eats the first fruits of the season.
• The king's re-appearance from this sanctuary indicates that the people may now also eat the fruits of the season as they are blessed by ancestors.

***NOTE: some parts of this Incwala ceremony are not for public viewing and one requires a special permit in order to take pictures in close proximity to the royal cattle byre.

For more information and facts about Swaziland, visit:

• Swaziland Government Website
• CIA Factbook - Swaziland
• Swaziland