Eswatini: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a small landlocked kingdom in southern Africa, surrounded by South Africa on three sides and Mozambique on the east. Mbabane is the executive capital, and Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. About 1.2 million people live there. Eswatini is one of the world's last absolute monarchies, and it is known for its mountains, wildlife reserves and colourful traditional ceremonies.

On My Earth Toy you can see Sibebe Rock, a giant bare granite dome near Mbabane, often described as one of the largest exposed granite domes in the world. Hikers climb its smooth slopes for wide views over the hills.

Geography and nature

Although Eswatini is tiny, at most about 200 kilometres from north to south, it has four distinct regions. The western highveld is cool and mountainous, with pine forests and granite peaks. The middleveld has rolling hills and farms, and the eastern lowveld is hot bush country where sugar cane grows. The Lubombo Mountains rise on the border with Mozambique. Reserves such as Hlane and Mkhaya protect elephants, lions and rhinos.

People, languages and culture

Most people are Swazi, and siSwati and English are the official languages. Christianity is the main religion, alongside traditional beliefs. Royal ceremonies are central to Swazi life. In the Umhlanga, or Reed Dance, thousands of young women carry tall reeds to the Queen Mother and dance in bright costumes. Incwala is a sacred kingship ceremony held around the summer solstice. Maize porridge is the everyday staple.

History in a nutshell

The Swazi kingdom took shape in the mid-1700s under King Ngwane III and grew under King Mswati II in the 1800s, who gave the people and country their name. Its borders were drawn in 1881. After the Second Boer War it became a British-protected territory, and it regained independence on 6 September 1968. In 2018 the king changed the country's name from Swaziland to Eswatini, meaning 'land of the Swazis'.