Swaziland - Geography

The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small landlocked country in the east of Southern Africa, bounded to the east by Mozambique and elsewhere by South Africa.

Area: 17,364 sq km

Main towns: Mbabane (capital, pop. 78,700 in 2006), Manzini (115,200), Big Bend (10,400), Malkerns (10,000), Nhlangano (9,400), Mhlume (8,800), Hluti (6,900), Simunye (6,600), Pigg’s Peak (5,900).

Topography: There are four regions, all running from north to south. The western Highveld, a continuation of the Drakensberg Mountains, rises to 1,862m. East of the Highveld is the grassy Middleveld, beside the Lowveld (also called the Bushveld) at around 150–300m with some higher ridges and knolls. The eastern region, the Lubombo, is a narrow escarpment. The four most important rivers, all flowing from the Highveld east towards the Indian Ocean, are the Komati, the Usutu, the Mbuluzi and the Ngwavuma. None is easily navigable. The Lowveld watercourses are wadis, except after heavy rain.

Climate: The Highveld is near-temperate and humid, the Middleveld and Lubombo subtropical, the Lowveld near-tropical. Swaziland is one of the best-watered countries in southern Africa although, in common with the region, rainfall may be unreliable and periods of drought occur in the Lowveld, for example in 2004–05. Summer (October–March) is the rainy season. There is occasional, short-lived frost in the Highveld and the Middleveld.

Environment: The most significant environmental issues are overgrazing, soil degradation, soil erosion, limited supplies of drinking water, and depletion of wildlife populations by excessive hunting.

Vegetation: Varies from the forested Highveld with its Usutu pines to the grassland and bush vegetation of the Lowveld. Forest covers 32% of the land area, having increased at 1% p.a. 1990–2005. Arable land comprises 10% and permanent cropland 0.8% of the total land area.

Wildlife: There are eight nature reserves inhabited by indigenous species, several of them under threat elsewhere, such as black and white rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus, and a vast variety of bird species – including storks and vultures.

Transport: There are 3,594km of roads, at least 30% paved, linking with South Africa and Mozambique.

The 300km railway is used mainly for freight and continues in a north-easterly direction to Maputo in Mozambique, providing Swaziland with access to shipping. Since 1986, there has been a direct connection between Mpaka (35km east of Manzini) and the South African railway network. The passenger service from Durban to Maputo, Mozambique, passes through Swaziland, stopping at Mpaka.

Matsapha International Airport is 5km to the north-west of Manzini.