Swaziland's capital city (pop. 73,000) is a pleasant place to spend time preparing to tour the rest of the country.
Mbabane (pronounced
em-BAH-bahn) is not known for its nightlife, but it does have good shopping and a laid-back atmosphere. The Swazi Plaza and the Swazi Mall (across OK Road from Swazi Plaza) are filled with small shops and eateries.
Sibebe Mountain is a huge granite outcrop that provides a scenic spot for a picnic and offers a good two-hour hike to the top. Mbabane can be easily seen in a day, but it's also a convenient base for excursions (most of the country's deluxe hotels are located in the nearby Ezulwini Valley).
20 mi/30 km northwest of Manzini.