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Hlane National Park Safari in Eswatini
In the siSwati language, the word ‘Hlane’ means wilderness. And the name is certainly apt. For the call of the wild doesn’t get much louder than in Hlane Royal National Park—a relatively obscure little conservation area located in Eswatini’s northeastern corner. Since Dan and I planned our trip to Southern Africa during the rainy season when animal sightings are more difficult to come by, we didn’t expect much from our visit to Hlane National Park. But, from the moment we entered the gates of the park, Hlane set us up…
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Swaziland: Arts and Crafts in the Ezulwini Valley
The landlocked Kingdom of Swaziland rarely receives much international attention and often sits forgotten in the shadow of its much larger neighbors. And in the few instances that it does pop up in conversation or make its way to the news outlets, it often draws inquisitive looks or comments from people who are quick to confuse it with Switzerland. But Switzerland and Swaziland share very little in common, save for their similar names and beautiful scenery. While the former is an organized, wealthy European bastion of stability, neutrality and punctuality,…
