Arts & Crafts

The Ngwenya Trail.
To the north of Mbabane lies Ngwenya (which means crocodile in SiSwati) Here you can visit the Ngwenya glass works, where local craftsmen use recycled glass to produce subtle and irresistible art. You can see the craftsmen at work from the balcony viewing area and then chose a keepsake from the shop. There are several other arts and crafts shops on the site and refreshments or lunch can be purchased from the Ngwenya Café. Following this, by prior arrangement you can visit the historic iron ore mine workings. Recently developed as a tourist attraction by the Swaziland National Trust, it shows where early man was mining for red Haematite and black Specularite pigments for use in cave painting and cosmetics over 50,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest known mining sites in the world. The site was also mined for iron ore as early as A.D. 400. You can also visit Phumalanga Tapestries. Here you will be taken on a tour showing the making of the tapestries from the raw materials (Angora goat hair, wool, and cotton) through design, dying, teasing and combing and finally the weaving of the tapestries in the traditional way. These incredible works of art displaying Swazi animals or based on ancient "San" cave paintings often take months to complete. They would make ideal presents for those at home or as a keep sake in your own house.

The Ezulwini Trail.
Ezulwini means Valley of Heaven in SiSwati and offers heavenly shopping opportunities. Firstly you will visit the road side stalls where local craftsmen display there wares. From finely carved wooden and soapstone ornaments, to Calabash pots and Batik wall hangings, you will be amazed at the choices and quality of the art work available. After that you will probably be ready for some refreshment or lunch. This can be found at Mantenga Lodge with its stunning views of execution rock. A stones throw from here is Guava Gallery which offers high quality African art and jewellery, curios and quality ethnic garments. We will then take you to Mantenga Nature Reserve where in the cultural village you can enjoy a display of traditional Sibhaca dancing. There will then be time to take a leisurely stroll up the river to the beautiful Mantenga falls before heading back home.

The Malkerns Trail.
Down to Ezulwini and on through vast fields of Pineapples to Malkerns and the site of the Swazi Candle workshop. Here you can see the craftsmen making the exquisite and brightly coloured candles and choose from the bewildering array before you.
There are also other craft shops at the site and refreshments can also be purchased. Lunch can be had at Manandelas country restaurant. When refreshed, on the same site you can visit to the Gone Rural workshop, here they specialise in the traditional production of grass products, including mats, wall hangings and table settings. Finally is the Baobab Batik shop. These are colourful wall hangings made by waxing the material and then colouring and dyeing