Swaziland lies across a geological fault which runs from the Drakensberg Mountains of Lesotho, north through the Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, forms the Great Rift Valley of Kenya and, eventually, peters out in present-day Turkey.

Fast Facts about Swaziland

Borders: South Africa, Mozambique

Visa: Not required for most nationalities

Time: GMT/UTC + 2

Telephone: Country code 268; international code 00

Money: Lilangeni (E); US$1 = E7.4

Seasons: Rainy (December to April), winter (May to August), drier and cool (September to November)

Area: 17,365 sq km

Population: 1.1 million

ATMs: Only in Mbabane

Capital: Mbabane

Budget: US$25 to US$55 a day

Languages: English, Swati

Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi

O Lord our God, bestower of the blessings of the Swazi;
We give Thee thanks for all our good fortune;
We offer thanks and praise for our king;
And for our fair land, its hills and rivers;

The Blessings be on all rulers of our country;
Might and power are Thine alone;
We pray Thee to grant us wisdom without deceit or malice.
Establish and fortify us, Lord Eternal.