Journey through Eswatini (Swaziland)

4 Comments

1. Interesting to see this video. Back in 1989 I hitchhiked with Julie, a New Zealand friend, from Komatipoort down into Swaziland. We entered at Mananga directly south of Komatipoort. As soon as we got through the border post we realised it was going to be difficult to hitch as it was dead. Only whites ever picked up whites and blacks, blacks. Every so often we got excited to see a car, only for it to drive on! It was obvious that nobody wanted to pick us up. Fortunately Julie had befriended and African woman and about 2.5 hours after we got there a black guy in a beatup old pickup drove past us and stopped for the woman. She then persuaded him to take us too! Without her we would have been totally stuck.
   We then headed down the most pot-holed road I have ever seen, with me clinging on in the back and the girls up front with the driver. Eventually, after having dropped off the African woman, and having crossed through another border post, we got to Empangeni in South Africa. By then it was pitch dark and the exhaust was just about falling off. I didn't think there was a campsite there, but I think Julie did. We asked at the police station and there was nothing. After a few phone calls the desk sergeant said we could camp in the dog training exercise area adjacent to the cells! And so we did. We headed into town and fudged the answer when the waitress said 'oh, and where are you staying?'
   The next day there were different staff on duty and they seemed bemused at their special overnight guests. We then hitched to Durban. Fun times. Two years later I travelled through Swaziland, this time in my hire car and visited Malalotja – fabulous place. I exited through the same southern border post and stayed in St Lucia, so your videos are reminding me of a time long gone. Thanks

   Reply

2. This is Big Bend and Manzini,beautiful scenes.

   Reply

3. Have you thought about filming with a go pro?

   Reply

4. Swaziland is safe country?

   Reply