Wes & Sally "On the Road" Exploring South Africa

Swaziland Mar 19, 2008

Pangolo to Swaziland - March 19

Swaziland is a separate Country in Africa. It looked like a holiday at the border - very crowded. No real problems, but it cost us a couple of cokes to get by the border guard. Didn't think anything of it -- until we found the hit the MH in front of us for the same thing. It's the very real problem of being kind in a third world country - it quickly corrupts and leads to a feeling of deserving rather than gratitude.

Swaziland is much more proseprous looking than ZA. Even the poorer folks had gardens and animals. Even small thatch roof dwellings had electricity, but still had outhouses. Good small houses evfen had satellite dishes. The larger farms were very prosperous looking. Small hillside farms were even terraced for more efficient use of the land. The major town of Manzini is a thriving hub. Lots of vehicles clogged the streets. Stores, shops, and street stalls were all doing business.

My navigator totally failed to function at a key turn. She was focused on visiting a Swazi Candle Factory and overlooked a key turn several km before. We reversed course and found a new route - actually the same one we would use later to continue the drive. The Candle Factory/Cafe/Craft Market was very tourist oriented. We had a good lunch, but found prices no bargain.

The Milwane Game Preserve in Swaziland was our stop for the night. It's very African looking with thatched roof buildings for the Welcome and Administrative area and round thatched roof buildings, called beehives, for rent - similiar to KOA Cabins at home. The RV sites were just openings in the trees with power plugs. On our 3 km drive, over very rough roads, back to the RV sites we found Impala, Wildebeest, Warthogs, Nyla, and Zebra everywhere. Three Nyla walked right through the parked Mauis in the campground.

Swaziland seems to use a new form of personal transport - a wheelbarrow. We saw lots of them being used along the roads, and under the shade trees that are used as meeting places.

After supper we had entertainment provided by a local group. We were a bit annoyed by their arriving 20 minutes late until we found that thay all walked here - some from as far as 20 km away. In Swaziland walking is the primary means of travel, no matter the distance. We saw lots of small boys along the road carrying one loaf of bread. There would be no sign of a store where it could be obtained for many km in either direction.