Eswatini
Africa · Country #22
Did you know?
Eswatini is one of the last remaining absolute monarchies in the world, where the king has significant control over government and tradition.
My Experience
Eswatini was one of the countries where I spent the least amount of time, passing through during an overland journey from South Africa to Mozambique. Even so, I found it fascinating to visit one of Africa’s last absolute monarchies. During my visit, I learned more about King Mswati III, who has multiple wives, and discovered that the country had only recently changed its name from Swaziland to Eswatini, in part to avoid frequent confusion with Switzerland. I was also surprised to spot a KFC in such a small country. As I would learn over years of travel, American fast food really does seem to reach everywhere.
The most memorable part of the trip, though, came at the Mozambican border, when I discovered I needed a visa I didn’t have. I spent the next hour running back and forth across the border in the sweltering heat while the Eswatini immigration officers laughed, cheered me on, and wished me luck each time I passed. It was a ridiculous situation, but one that still makes me smile whenever I think about it.
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