Siteki

Siteki, 65km east of Manzini, is perched on top of the Lubombo plateau and offers magnificent views back to the distant mountains in the west. Its name means ‘marrying place’ and derives from a proclamation of King Mbandzeni (1875–1889), who allowed his troops to get hitched here. The town was one of Swaziland’s earliest colonial settlements, attracting settlers with its cooling breezes and the promise of lively trade along the ‘gin road’ to Maputo (then Lourenço Marques). Today, it is hard to imagine the glory years, but you will find basic shops and amenities and, nearby, some lovely places to stay. Mabuda Farm sits on a steep hillside just outside Siteki and offers a variety of accommodation and activities on a busy working dairy farm. Guests can stroll among the hay bales and hedgerows, enjoying the breezes of the ridgetop, ride a pony around the estate, or hike a series of wild trails down the hillside.