Mbabane is the capital of Swaziland. It is also the second largest city behind Manzini in the country.
It is located on the Mbabane River and its tributary the Polinjane River in the Mdimba Mountains. The city’s name comes from an African Chief, Mbabane Kunene, who lived in the region when British settlers arrived in the late 19th century.
With a population of almost 100,000, Mbabane is one of the least-populous capitals in Africa.
The town was founded around 1887 along the Transvaal-to-Mozambique transport route.
Sights N Sounds in Mbabane
The city of Mbabane is surrounded by the steep hills of the Dlangeni Hills and lies at about 1,234 metres.
Mbabane is a city of contrasts, while the capital has few tourist attractions, it is very authentic, with colourful market stalls, crowded minibuses and a cheerful bustle. You will easily find many shopping malls but also small, more authentic shops.These large malls and shopping malls coexist with small, typically African shops.
The city is concentrated on a crossroads at the Soshiya Road, on one side the bus station and on the other Pick’n Pay, a shopping center where you will find absolutely everything. From Mbabane, you are only a short distance from the tourist points of interest, at most it will take you 2 hours to get completely north to the Matsamo/Jeep Reef border.
Where to stay in Mbabane
Located 4,7 km from Mbabane City center, Vekis Village is situated on the edge of Sibebe Rock and offers an outdoor pool, BBQ facilities and a view of the city.
The apartments feature a fully-equipped kitchen and dining area, a living room with flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi and work desks.
Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane has a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and bar in Mbabane. Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, room service and luggage storage for guests.
How to get to Mbabane
The closest major airport to Mbabane, Swaziland is Matsapha Airport. This airport is located in Manzini, Swaziland, some 40 km from the center of Mbabane.