Ezulwini means Heaven

by Nomzamo Mathebula (South Africa)

I didn't expect to find Swaziland

I didn't know I'd meet the love of my life until I stumbled on her beauty. She was a landscape of lush greenland, and mountains that seemed to touch the heavens in perfect tranquility. I took her in for the first time at her bordergate...she had a slight mist about her face and her crisp yet humid fragrance took my breath away. I had packed in a hurry, deciding on a whim to go and finally meet my soulmate. Not knowing what to expect, I saw her character through the mannerisms of her people. I tucked myself, my small tent and hiking bag into the back window seat of the mini-bus taxi, I could see everything from here. I knew she was friendly because every stranger boarded with friendly greetings and I learnt she was kind when tubs of steamed dumpling and chicken were passed around for the whole taxi to feast. Everyone was beautiful here. A 3 hour journey took 5 hours as we trudged along in a taxi filled with warmth, banter, snacks and naps. I was the strange lone traveller girl going to my native land for the first time and I already felt like I belonged. Once in the Kingdom of Eswatini, we travelled on long winding roads filled with majestic mountains peeking through clouds and sunshine. The grass and the trees were so green you could swear God did the gardening himself. The air was crazy peaceful here. Zoey this is Swati...Swati meet Zoey. After more taxi rides I reached my destination after sunset, it was dark and in the midst of my confusion and lingering fear I encountered an old old man. After a brief introduction he offered to walk me to the campsite . With his arched back and steady pace he introduced me to the history of Eswatini. He had worked as a queens guard for one of King Sobuzas many wives and his Royal tales had me enthralled. I woke up to a hazy misty sunrise with a backdrop of more mountains than I'd ever seen. Outside my tent was a neatly folded thick blanket that I was later told the old man had left for me. It seemed half the world had gathered here. I brushed my teeth next to an American boy who was exasperated by the beauty of the place. I shared breakfast with Hippie triplets from Peru who vowed to move to eSwatini and later had translated conversations with tall fair skinned white people from the land of "ice" with the blondest hair and bluest eyes I'd ever seen. They marvelled at the peace they felt here. I saw a white owl perched on a fence not too far from me on my first night, always a good omen for me. Throughout my stay I was in a dream like state where everything was new. I felt a beauty and love that I still experience to this day everytime I visit her. The love of my life is a small Kingdom in the South of Africa where Kings rule and Princesses live in real castles. I never saw the old man again. But I still have his blanket.