Eswatini Souvenirs: glass, paper & wax

The small kingdom of Eswatini in southern Africa still hasn’t seen mass tourism. Maybe that’s why its souvenirs win you over with such freshness and authenticity.

Perhaps the most famous brand of Eswatini is Ngwenya Glass. Here, recycled glass turns into wine glasses, vases, animal figurines and jewelry. The Ngwenya Glass boutique is about twenty kilometers west of the capital, Mbabane, inside the Ngwenya Craft Centre, almost on the border with South Africa.

In the same Ngwenya Craft Centre, you’ll find the shop of Quiazi Design. Here, recycled paper (!) is transformed into delicate jewelry, unusual vases and original home décor. A rare case when paper looks this striking!

Head the other way from Mbabane and, some thirty kilometers south, in the Mantenga Valley, you’ll come across another craft oasis with market stalls, an art gallery and a tea garden. The main attraction here is Swazi Candles, offering handmade candles. You’d think candles can’t surprise you — but these do. They glow from within like stained glass, impossible to look away from!

Ngwenya, Quiazi and Swazi — glass, paper and wax. Just two stops around Mbabane, and your Eswatini collection is complete. And if you linger a little longer at each stop, you’ll discover plenty more that’s hard to pass by!