Swaziland: Emafini and Swazi Landscape

Our home from July to December 2006 was a cute little cottage at Emafini Compound, a few miles outside of Mbabane. Swaziland had about 1.1 million people at that time, most living rurally but with two major cities of approximately 100,000 each: Mbabane, the government capital and Manzini, the commercial center. Our lovely home overlooked a deep, beautiful valley and was surrounded by forests which allowed us periodic visits from Vervet Monkeys. The TechnoServe office in Mbabane was in a relatively modern building with retail on the lower floor and connected by a bridge over the Mbabane River to “The Mall.”

Across the street from our office

Across the street from our office

Mostly Bulembu is ghost town on a hill that used to hold 15,000 when the mine operated

Mostly Bulembu is ghost town on a hill that used to hold 15,000 when the mine operated

Abandoned building in Bulembu near border with South Africa

Abandoned building in Bulembu near border with South Africa

Wood stored at old Bulembu mine building

Wood stored at old Bulembu mine building

Cable at old Bulembu mine used to transport asbestos from Swaziland to South Africa

Cable at old Bulembu mine used to transport asbestos from Swaziland to South Africa

Old asbestos mine office at Bulembu on the South Africa border

Old asbestos mine office at Bulembu on the South Africa border

Bulembu Lodge on the Swazi side of the border with South Africa is re-using and re-juvenating an old asbestos mine town

Bulembu Lodge on the Swazi side of the border with South Africa is re-using and re-juvenating an old asbestos mine town

Immediately outside TechnoServe office

Immediately outside TechnoServe office

Looking down the Mbabane River next to our office toward the main part of town

Looking down the Mbabane River next to our office toward the main part of town

Spur restaurant across the river from our office

Spur restaurant across the river from our office

Bridge between our office building and The Mall

Bridge between our office building and The Mall

View down the street from TechnoServe Office

View down the street from TechnoServe Office

Nearby construction and other buildings in Mbabane

Nearby construction and other buildings in Mbabane

Looking up from our backyard to our cute cottage and swing at Emafini, near Mbabane, Swaziland

Looking up from our backyard to our cute cottage and swing at Emafini, near Mbabane, Swaziland

Mountains near the edge of Mbabane seen from outside our office

Mountains near the edge of Mbabane seen from outside our office

Retail stores attached to our office building

Retail stores attached to our office building

Main entrance to The Mall

Main entrance to The Mall

Stores down the hall below TechnoServe office

Stores down the hall below TechnoServe office
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Beautiful Swazi countryside near Ngwenya Glass Factory

Beautiful Swazi countryside near Ngwenya Glass Factory
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Mountains in distance contain old mines

Mountains in distance contain old mines
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View of grounds from Ngwenya Glass Facotry

View of grounds from Ngwenya Glass Facotry
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Farms in valley below our Emafini cottage near Mbabane, Swaziland

Farms in valley below our Emafini cottage near Mbabane, Swaziland
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Deep forest next to our Emafini cottage near Mbabane, Swaziland

Deep forest next to our Emafini cottage near Mbabane, Swaziland
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Swazi woman carries load on her head

Swazi woman carries load on her head

Valley view from the front door of our cottage at Emafini, near Mbabane, Swaziland

Valley view from the front door of our cottage at Emafini, near Mbabane, Swaziland