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Eswatini (Swaziland) Facts & Worksheets

Eswatini, officially named the Kingdom of Eswatini, is one of the few countries in Africa with a ruling king. It was formerly called Swaziland from 1967 until 2018.

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Eswatini, officially named the Kingdom of Eswatini, is one of the few countries in Africa with a ruling king. It was formerly called Swaziland from 1967 until 2018. In April 2018, the king announced that he was changing the official name of the country to the Kingdom of Eswatini. It is named after Mswati II, a king in the 19th century.

See the fact file below for more information on the Eswatini or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Eswatini worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

  • The small Kingdom of Eswatini is surrounded by Mozambique to the northeast and South Africa to the north, west, and south.
  • The capital and largest city in Eswatini is the Mbabane.
  • However, due to the history of Eswatini as a British colony, Britain has influenced its political development and led to the establishment of two main capitals, with the city of Lobamba being the other one.

BRIEF HISTORY

  • The people of the present Swazi nation migrated south from Mozambique.
  • Later, they traveled north to the current land of Eswatini when pushed out of the south by the stronger Zulu tribes.
  • In the 1840s, the Swazis gained strength and unity under the leadership of Mswati II. Mswati II asked the British in South Africa to help defend the kingdom against the Zulu raids.
  • Mswati II was Swaziland’s greatest fighting king. He also greatly increased the area of the country to twice its current size.
  • After the British victory in the Anglo-Boer War in 1903, Swaziland became a British protectorate.
  • Swaziland became independent on September 6, 1968.
  • Until 2018, the country was known by the name Swaziland, then it was officially changed to Eswatini.

GEOGRAPHY

  • The small, landlocked kingdom of Eswatini is surrounded by the Republic of South Africa to the north, west, and south, and by Mozambique to the east.
  • Eswatini has a land area of 17,364 km2 (6,704 sq mi), making it one of the smallest countries in Africa.
  • Eswatini is mountainous in the west, but it slopes down from highlands in the west to lowlands in the east.
  • Emlembe is the highest point in Eswatini, with a height of 1,862 meters (6,109 feet) above sea level. The Great Usutu River is the lowest point, at only 21 meters above sea level.
  • Eswatini’s climate varies from tropical to near temperate. It is generally warm, and rainfall is heaviest in the west.
  • Climate change in Eswatini is mainly seen through changing precipitation, variability, persistent drought, and heightened storm intensity. Sequentially, this drives to desertification, increased food insecurity, and reduced river flow.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • The population of Eswatini was estimated to be 1,377,695 people as of January 1, 2020.
  • The ethnic population of Eswatini is predominantly Swazi, mixed with a small amount of Zulu and White Africans, which are mostly people of British and Afrikaner descent.
  • The country also had Portuguese immigrants and African refugees from Mozambique.
  • 83% of the people in Eswatini adhere to Christianity, making it the most common religion in the nation. It is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices.
  • Some people believe the king has a spiritual role. Eswatini also has a small Muslim minority.
  • Eswatini’s official languages are SiSwati and English. SiSwati is taught in schools and is also one of the official languages of South Africa.
  • People living in Eswatini are called Swazi(s). Swazi people have long been subsistence farmers and herders. They now incorporate these activities with work in the growing urban economy, as well as in government. Some Swazis have jobs in the mines of South Africa.

HEALTH

  • Eswatini is greatly affected by HIV and AIDS. It was shown by the 2012 CIA World Factbook that Swaziland had the highest HIV infection rate in the world. The Swazi people’s life expectancy is 50 years.

TOURIST SPOTS

  • Eswatini covers about 4% of the Protected Areas of the national territory. It includes 3 national parks and other types of protected areas.
  • Hlane Royal National Park is the largest protected area and park of Eswatini. The park is home to the Transvaal lion, South African cheetah, white rhinoceros, giraffe, and elephant. Wildebeest and zebras, including impala herds, are attracted to the water holes during the dry winter months of June to September.
  • Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is the oldest protected territory of Eswatini. The sanctuary was once a farming and tin mining area that has been rehabilitated and is now Eswatini’s most frequently visited reserve.
  • Malolotja National Park boasts some of the world’s oldest mountains on the northwestern border of Eswatini. It is home to almost 300 bird species, including a rare bald ibis colony close to the nearly 95-meter (312-foot) high Malolotja Falls.
  • Swazi Cultural Village is Eswatini’s living museum of the ancient traditions and represents the classic style of life of the Swazi people during the 1850s before the arrival of British settlers.
  • Mbabane, the cool-climate capital of Eswatini, is home to the Swazi Market, a must-see for souvenir-starved tourists.

Eswatini (Swaziland) Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Eswatini (Swaziland) across 20n-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Eswatini (Swaziland) worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Eswatini, officially named the Kingdom of Eswatini, which is one of the few countries in Africa with a ruling king. It was formerly called Swaziland from 1967 until 2018. In April 2018, the king announced that he was changing the official name of the country to the Kingdom of Eswatini. It is named after Mswati II, a king in the 19th century.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Eswatini (Swaziland) Facts
  • Timeline of History
  • Truths vs Lies
  • Eswatini Info
  • Mswati II
  • In Newsprint
  • Eswatini Destinations
  • Famous Foods
  • The Flag and the Current Name
  • Culture Block
  • Swazi Coat of Arms

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Link will appear as Eswatini (Swaziland) Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 20, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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