Marula Festival - Hlane
10 - 12 March 2023
Hlane Royal Residence
Eswatini holds an annual Marula Festival celebrated at the Royal Residence of the King at Hlane in the Lubombo Region. Both the King and the Queen Mother are presented with Marula beer from each household, in keeping with it being a ‘fruit fit for kings.’ Only afterwards can Swazis drink their home brew.
Eswatini Farmer's Market launch
Sat 11 March 2023
Legends Shared
Ezulwini Farmer’s Market, launching Saturday 11 March 2023, will be a regular Farmers Market like Ekuphileni Farmer’s Market in Mbabane and Guba Makers Market in Malkerns. The Ezulwini Farmer’s Market market days are alternating with Ekuphileni and Guba - so customers in this area will get the opportunity to be served regularly with fresh farm products, handmade crafts and much more. The market will take place 9am - 12pm Every 2nd Saturday, Every 2nd Month.
Ngwenya Half Marathon
Saturday 18 March 2023
Ngwenya Glass Factory
The Ngwenya Glass Half Marathon will take place this year on Saturday 18 March. Seperated into three categories - Green Runs, Green Walks and Green Wheelies. Online registration is open until 8 Match.
Mahamba Gorge Hike
April 2023 - TBC
Mahamba Gorge
The Mahamba Gorge Hiking event is not for profit, with its primary aim being the promotion of the socio-economic development of the people of the Shiselweni region, and Eswatini at large. Each year, hikers enjoy exhilarating four kilometre hiking on the undulating and rough Mahamba Gorge terrain, taking in the breathtaking scenery.
Mbuluzi Trail Run
20 May 2023
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
An annual fund raising trail run aimed at sharing the beautiful Mbuluzi Game Reserve with the adventurous and energetic in a well organised event to benefit the communities around the Reserve. Route included, jeep track, single track & rough terrain. 3 Events: 18km: E295; 10km: E195; 5 km: E120. For more information- Tel/What's App: +268 7625 9380 email run@mbuluzi.com
MTN Bushfire Festival
26 - 28 May 2023
House on Fire, Malandelas
MTN BUSHFIRE is an annual performing arts festival held over a long May weekend at House on Fire, Malandela’s. It is one of the biggest and best of its kind in southern Africa, with everything from live music and theatre to film, workshops and a global food fair – in short, everything you’d expect from Eswatini’s answer to Glastonbury.
Border 2 Border Cycling Race
June 2023 - TBC
Ngwenya to Lavumisa Border Posts
Cyclists from Eswatini and South Africa will take on the Border 2 Border race as they begin from Ngwenya Border Post to the Lavumisa Border Post. The 200km, which is arranged by local cycling collective Eswatini Cycling, in partnership with Eswatini Tourism Authority, will see riders pass through many towns, connect with Eswatini’s surroundings and be active tourists in their own country.
Ngwenya Glass MTB and Trails Run
Saturday 8 July 2023
Ngwenya Glass
Race held annually at the Ngwenya Glass Factory. The event is broken into three categories, The MTB challenge, Oracle Trail Run and the Cheshire Home Wheelchair Sprint.
Eswatini's Biggest Braai
July 2023 - TBC
Mavuso Trade Centre
Thousands of people come together to braai at the same time in a modest attempt to raise funds for the elderly. All proceeds are donated to Philani Maswati Charity Organization whose patron is Her Majesty the Queen Mother.
galp Classic Car Rally
August 2023 - TBC
Across Eswatini
This is the biggest Classic Car Rally in Africa and take places across South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique every June. 2019 saw the celebration of 10 years in Eswatini, with the event returning in 2022. The event is expected to return again in 2023, with more details revealed closer to the time.
Sibebe Survivor Challenge
5 - 6 August 2023
Sibebe Rock
One of Eswatini’s most popular events on the annual calendar promotes domestic tourism as well as bringing international attention to the country’s famous Sibebe Rock, the second largest rock in the world! Another 5000 people will take on this year’s challenge, following a course from Sibebe Resort to the top of Sibebe Rock and back again. It is aimed at raising funds for the Rotary Club projects such as support for government hospitals.
Mlawula Magazavane Challenge
August 2023 - TBC
Mlawula Nature Reserve
The Mlawula Magadzavane Challenge is an eco-challenge walk up the Lubombo Mountains on the Maputal and Biodiversity Hotspot to help bring back nature walks and appreciation of the biodiversity hotspot. Start and finish at Siphiso Campsite where camping can be arranged. Choice of 2 routes
Umhlanga Reed Dance
Aug/Sept 2023 - TBC
Somhlolo National Stadium
This is Eswatini’s best known annual cultural event. In this eight-day ceremony, young girls cut reeds, present them to the Queen Mother (Indlovukazi) – ostensibly to repair the windbreak around her royal residence – and then dance in celebration. Up to 40,000 girls take part, dressed up in brightly coloured attired – making it one of the biggest and most spectacular cultural events in Africa.
Swazi Rally
September 2023 - TBC
Riders Ranch, Sidvokodvo
Swazi Rally is an annual biker’s event held at Riders Ranch in Sidvokodvo, Eswatini. The rally is held over the last weekend in August. Thousands of motor cycle enthusiasts congregate and have a fun-filled weekend with biker friends, and make new long lasting biking relationships. The organiser, Carlos Paiva, with the help of his wife Sonia and a dedicated team began the Swazi Rally back in 1993.
Imvelo MTB Classic
Early September 2022
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Imvelo is an annual mountain biking competition held year at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary sponsored by Nedbank Eswatini & Big Game Parks. It comprises a series of races over different distances, followed by a party for all cyclists. There are 4 routes allowing cyclists of all abilities to enjoy Mlilwane: The International Tool Hire 64km Classic, The 35km Challenge, The Spur 22km Family Fun Race and The 12.5km Hoglets.
King's Cup Golf Tournament
Early September 2023 - TBC
Royal Swazi Spa
This annual golf tournament is held at the Royal Swazi Golf Club, one of only two 18-hole courses in the country. A product of King Mswati’s 2004 Job Creation Summit, it attracts business people from South Africa and around the region, and tends to pack out the hotels in Ezulwini.
Eswatini International Trade Fair
Early September 2023 - TBC
Mavuso Trade Centre
This annual exhibition event is held over ten days at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in Manzini and receives support from the king and government. It attracts over 35,000 exhibitors from different private and public sector institutions, as well as foreign companies and governments.
Swazi Reserves MTB Race
September 2023
Hlane, Mlawula & Mbuluzi
A day of energetic fun with friends and family in the African bush, riding through 2 of Eswatini’s pristine game reserves along jeep tracks and animal trails. Registrations usually open in June, with the race taking place on 24 September. In previous years, the race starts at 07h15 with multiple distance races available to register for – 73km (E320) 43km (E250) 23km (E160) and 10km (E120).
Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival
September / October 2023
House on Fire, Malandelas
Luju Food & Lifestyle festival is a celebration of the tastes, smells, sights and sounds of Eswatini and surrounds, sponsored by Standard Bank. It features an eclectic mix of food along with classes, demonstrations, fashion shows, music and comedy performances. Luju, which usually takes place in August, successfully returned in 2021 at the later date in November, due to COVID.
Incwala Festival
December/January
Nationwide
This is Eswatini’s most important annual cultural event. A ceremony that has lasted for hundreds of years, it is one of the last remaining examples of what was previously common practice in many African countries. It has a spiritual power that is largely lost on outsiders, and indeed many of its inner workings remain shrouded in secrecy.
Eswatini Birding Spectacular
January 2024 - TBC
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
The sixth annual Eswatini Birding Spectacular is expected to take place in January 2024. More information will be released in due course.
Marula Festival - Buhleni
February / March 2024
Buhleni Royal Residence
The Marula season begins each year in February/March, bringing with it a celebration of the harvest of the marula fruit. The previous event of the festivities in 2023 took place 24 - 26 February, held at the Royal Residence at Buhleni.
