Manzini

Manzini is the second largest city in Eswatini (Swaziland) with a population 78,000. Its sobriquet is the Hub City it is a commercial, agriculture, and navigational centre of the country. A lot of people live in settlements around the urban centre, which may not always be the best for getting lost in.

Get in

By car

The MR3 highway connects Manzini with Mbabane and South Africa, but due to the central position of the city, nearly all roads lead to it.

By plane

• 1 Matsapha Airport (MTS  ^IATA) (situated 1km outside Manzini). Regular flights from there to Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa are available with Airlink Swaziland/South African Airlink.  

Get around

One can get around Manzini by bus, kombi (local, 15-passenger minibuses) or taxi. Downtown Manzini is very small and one can walk form one end to the next in 15 minutes. Getting to the residential areas such as Fairview or Ngwane Park is trickier. There are kombis that service these areas but the availability of public transport depends on how rich the neighbourhood is. The richer suburbs have no use for public transport so it is unlikely that one would find a kombi from the city centre to such areas, in which case it is advisable to take a metered taxi (cab).

It is relatively cheap to travel around the city. The minibus taxis have no fair meters and they use fixed prices, so ask the driver before you get a ride how much it will cost, to avoid being swindled.

See

• 1 Manzini Market, Mhlakuvane St (in city center). M-Sa 6AM-6PM, closed Su. A market experience where you can find farm products, souvenirs, ironworks, and curios, including some things specific to Eswatini culture (beads, basketry, herbs, etc.) May not be quite as raucous as some African markets, but it is still something to behold. (updated Aug 2020)

Do

Attend a trade or agricultural show if one is in town.

Buy

The Manzini Market and Mall are good places if you have a need to shop.

Eat

In the center of Manzini, there are a variety of options, including Chinese and Indian ones.

• 1 Gil Vicente Restaurant, Ngwane St (next to The George Hotel), ☏ +268 25053874. Tu-Su 11AM-11PM daily, closed Monday. Family-friendly Portuguese eatery. (updated Aug 2020)

Sleep

Most of the better stays are up towards Ezulwini Valley where the Mantenga Nature Reserve and Cultural Village and other big attractions are, heading towards Mbabane.

• 1 The George Hotel (in Manzini town, across from Manzini Mall), ☏ +268 25052260. Fairly large property with a jacuzzi and big pool along with impressive restaurant/buffet and bar. Wifi, a/c, massage parlor, quaint grounds other notable features. (updated Aug 2020)

Go next

• Hlane Royal National Park
• Lobamba