The South
The scenery, particularly along the drive from Mahamba to Manzini through the Grand Valley, is really superb, and the road passes near most of the historical sites of the Swazi royal house. Big Bend itself, dominated by a huge sugar mill, is only worth visiting for its hotel, the New Bend Inn. It is a slightly run-down colonial establishment with superb views of the valley and well-positioned bars; it is a lively Swazi haunt at weekends, when major parties take place.
The area is currently being developed for tourism, and the first project has been the construction of another casino hotel at Nhlangano, about 120km (75 miles) south of Mbabane. The sports facilities, which include a golf course and swimming pool, are excellent. The nearby Mkondo River twists its way through gorges and valleys, past waterfalls, pools and rapids and, in the distance, the mountain ranges gleam brown, mauve and blue. Some of Swaziland’s finest paintings are found in this area. Other indigenous paintings are located in the mountains north of Mbabane.
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