Showcasing Eswatini as a fantastic off-the beaten-path destination with extraordinary experiences, Wanderlust – Trips Outside the Comfort Zone from Brazil to Kamchatka, is a 304-page journey featuring 617 photographs from 40 countries, with Eswatini being a personal favourite of author Aliz Ertler.
For Eswatini, Ertler delved into the breathtaking landscapes, the vibrant culture, and the warmth of its people, across multiple chapters. Rather than arranging this book in to destination chapters, Ertler felt it was more important to express what resonated most with her on her travels so opted for a thematic structure to the book.
Eswatini features in chapters on Unexpected Encounters, Volunteer, and Mother – the latter a chapter dedicated to travelling with her mother for her birthday. In that particular chapter, she states in the book “For my mother’s 75th birthday, I wanted to give her the most special gift imaginable: an African safari. The decision was simple—Eswatini. It offers everything you’d expect from a safari, in a compact yet diverse country, with no crowds, affordable prices, and complete safety.”
Ertler shares her connection to Eswatini and how the country left an imprint on her which inspired the text in the book:
“My childhood dream of seeing the animals of the savannah with my own eyes came true in my twenties. Over the years, I’ve been on safaris in many countries, but I longed for a deeper connection with nature—something beyond a quick stop at a sighting, where I could truly immerse myself in the wilderness and escape the hum of car engines.
I discovered a volunteer opportunity at Mkhaya Game Reserve in (then) Swaziland, where I spent five unforgettable weeks. It wasn’t just an unparalleled glimpse into untouched wilderness, but also an opportunity to connect with locals. It was a life-changing experience.
Having visited 100 countries, I rarely return to the same place—there are simply too many incredible destinations to explore. But Eswatini is a rare exception. I’ve returned three more times, and I hope to visit again and again.”
You can delve right into the extracts on Eswatini here, or to purchase the book, head over to the dedicated website here.