Nelspruit Travel Forum

I'll stay in South Africa next year and I'll visit Kruger national park and will use Nelspruit-airport. Due to its neighborhood to Swaziland I'm tempted to visit the country too. Do you think visiting the Swaziland is a good idea? Which sight would you recommend to visit?

Because i'm already visitng Kruger, I'd prefer anything else than another national park, so I'm thinking about Swazi cultural village in Mantenga.
Is it possible to visit the village within only one day arriving from Nelspruit and going back to Nelspruit again? How far is the distance and how are the streets?

http://www.sntc.org.sz/cultural/mantvill.html offers a program for the village. Are there also othe possibilities (which do not last a whole day?).

No problems to drive in one day but you want also to enjoy the place, I would recommend also to stay over night. The roads are good and Swaziland offers also mountains and other attractions then just safari.

I agree, it's a different country from RSA, yet easy to get around. It's a kingdom with its own culture and history. A lot of people miss out on seeing it. Its worth a visit and, as said before, an overnight stay.

Primarily I considered to fly to Nelspruit (MQP) via Jo'burg. Due to my plans to visit Swaziland too, I've gor another idea: Should I fly to Matsapha Airport (Manzini) instead, hire a car and go drive to Nelspruit? The flight to Swaziland seems to be cheaper than the flight to MQP...

Will I need a 4WD-car? I realize that AVIS is situated at both airports, but they do not offer jeeps... Additionally, will there be a problem to cross the border with a hired vehicle?

Well, how much cheaper it is? Is it really worth it? Flying to Nelspruit should be easy as thousands of tourists flying there and it is just outside Kruger. I think renting a car at one place and return to the other will cost extra. There is no problems crossing the border with rental car. You do not need 4WD at all as the roads are excellent, but there is small advantage it gives you in the safari with being higher and have better view.

The flight to Manzini cost approximately the half than the flight to Nelspruit... Additionally I'd be able to spare time, because I could make a direct route from Swaziland to Nelspruit instead of going from Nelspruit to Swaziland and return to Nelspruit. But I realize, that Manzini airport is situated in the Southern part of Swaziland, so I probably have to to go the same kilometres...

Visiting Swaziland is a good idea. It is a very small country and close to Nelspruit. I have a Swaziland page.

...A very good Swaziland page!

Hi.

Swaziland is one of my favourite places in Soutern Africa. Fly to Nelspruit and drive through to Swazi. I can recommend a great cave to stay in - you have the valley to your self (it's also got bunks, gas cookers etc.). But I'd recommend not taking the main highway - queues can be long and you'd miss out on one of the most stunning drives I know. See the description of this drive from Baberton (near Nelspruit) below:

[Baberton (Mpumalanga) to Piggs Peak (Swaziland)
Certainly not the quickest route to Swaziland from the Kruger area. But definitely one the most scenic ways to get from one country to another in the world! Until the road is fully upgraded, this requires a sense of adventure - it can’t be rushed and at times you are driving on dirt tracks with many potholes but we’ve done it twice in saloon car, including in torrential rain, and had no problems.

From Baberton you climb rapidly up to Saddleback Pass through increasingly dramatic mountain scenery. The road is tarred and in good condition, and you’re grateful for that because the drops are not worth thinking about. Every corner presents you with a kaleidoscope of changing views down to remote valleys sprinkled with mud huts and waterfalls.

Near to the Swaziland border the road becomes a dirt track, however it’s in relatively good condition and in the process of being upgraded. Finally you round a corner and you’re at the border crossing – a series of small buildings and huts staffed by a few sleepy guards. Guantanamo Bay this is not. The lack of queues and self-important border guards contrasts refreshingly with the more commonly used Oshoek Border Gate.

On the Swaziland side the road descends slowly through intense forest and plantations on a poor, but passable road. Take your time because potholes probably lie around the next switchback! This used to be big mining country, so you can see a lot of signs of human habitations, but most the settlements feel like ghost towns now. Once you hit the highway at Piggs Peak it’s a quick dash down to Malolotja Nature Reserve, Mbabane and beyond.

Length: Approximately 60KM from Baberton to Piggs Peak, but allow 2-3 hours, including the border crossing. Check border opening times.]

Here is my overview of Swaziland:

[Situated to the east of South Africa, on the border with Mozambique, Swaziland wins our coveted prize for the least discovered gem in Southern Africa.

Apart from beaches, there’s everything here and at great value. Swazi’s are proud of their unique heritage and monarchy and don’t carry the baggage of apartheid that some South Africans understandably do. In our experience, they are a very confident, open and optimistic bunch. Even the cities in Swaziland are safe to walk around at night, as long as you use common sense.

We’re still not sure how such a small kingdom can fit in such varied and beautiful terrain, from some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Africa in the north-west to the bushveld under the Lembombo Mountains of Mozambique in the north-east, from the remote, virtually uninhabited green valleys of the south-east to the flat, steamy sugar cane fields of the south-west. For the most scenic and simple border crossing imaginable, try the Bulembu route from Baberton.

Tourists that visit Swaziland tend to do so on their way through to the KwaZulu-Natal north coast or Mozambique and stop over at Ezulwini Valley. The valley is renowned for its woodwork, weaving and candle-making and can get very busy at the time of the King’s annual Reed Dance. We believe Swaziland should be a lot more than a commuter trail – its unique culture, stunning scenery, hospitable people and wilderness areas should make this a destination in its own right.

We’ve stayed in caves in empty valleys, partied hard at House on Fire, and camped in a game reserve with no-one for company other than a rather curious giraffe.]

That is a fantastically informed reply.

I may need to go back there!

I have to add that the new highway was recently opened. Once you enter the border at Oshoek and are heading to Mbabane, the highway is excellent. We travelled as far as Manzini on the highway. In fact we did not encounter any potholes at all. We travelled the surrounding areas too.