Eswatini

Kingdom of Eswatini (until 2018 Kingdom of Swaziland) Former British colony.

The country is located in South Africa and shares borders with South Africa and Mozambique.

 

 

Language.

The official status is in Swati and English.

Time.

The time difference between Moscow and Mbabane is one hour.

Population.

1.387 million people (2012). Ethnic composition: Swazi, Zulus, Tsonga, mulattoes, Europeans and others.

Religion.

The Constitution (adopted in 2006) provides for freedom of religion. Most of the population professes Christianity, there are followers of the local Swazi religion and other religions (Muslims, Mormons, Baha'is, Jews).

Climate.

Transitional climate, from subtropics to tropics. Precipitation goes from December to April: from 1500 mm to 1400 mm per year.

Average monthly air temperature + 24 C ... + 26 C in summer, winter + 12 C ... + 15 C.

Currency.

Lilangeni.

Visa regime.

A visa is not required to enter Swaziland (business trip, tourism, transit, visiting friends).

Customs regulations.

National and foreign currency can be imported and exported indefinitely. It is prohibited to import narcotic substances, canned goods, explosives and ammunition and ammunition.

Weapons can only be exported with a license. It is forbidden to independently develop and export minerals.

Resorts.

Swaziland is an amazingly picturesque country that has beautiful nature: mountain peaks, emerald valleys, tropical forests and savannas, blue rivers and lakes.

Hlane National Park is considered the most famous reserve in the country, it can be seen in cheetahs, antelopes, zebras, buffaloes and leopards. The king can hunt here, photo hunting is available for tourists.

Mlilvane is a natural park, located near the capital of the country, it is home to populations of hippos, crocodiles, zebras and giraffes. On the Great Usutu River there are excellent conditions for rafting.

Mlavula is a nature reserve in the foothills of the Lemombo mountain range, where hyenas, leopards and several hundred different birds are found. In these places, archaeologists have found traces of ancient people.

In the unique reserve Muti-Muti opened a school of herbalists and folk healers. The operating Ngwen mine, the oldest in the world, mines gold, silver, iron; you can visit the museum.

Kitchen.

The national cuisine of Swaziland uses fruits (bananas, oranges, apples, pears) and vegetables (tomatoes, onions), seafood and a variety of fish. Dishes are seasoned with hot pepper and greens.

Everyday dishes are considered porridge from corn, sorghum, baked corn with butter. Meat dishes are prepared from beef: ribai steak, baba ganouch and lamb, for example, couscous; susat - kebabs.

Traditions.

The main cultural ceremonies in the country are dancing and singing, and at any holiday or action, rhythms are heard that previously brought people into trance, and later turned into folk songs and dances.

Every year in August-September, the country hosts a Purity Festival, where the King of Swaziland can choose another wife. Becoming the chosen one of the monarch is very honorable, this status means that you can not work for the rest of your days. The culmination of the holiday is usually Umhlanga - a long dance of half-naked girls who dream of becoming the chosen ones of the king.

There is a custom in the country that a man can have as many wives as he can feed.

December-January is the time for another ceremony - the celebration of the first fruits, when there is a pilgrimage to the waters of the Indian Ocean and washing in them. The king should taste pumpkins in front of his people, as a sign that you can taste the new crops.