The Kingdom of Eswatini | A Month of Animals & Exploring (4K)
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- Discovering Eswatini:
Join me, Ricky Dunn, and my wife Nat, as we embark on our first African adventure with a month in the beautiful Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland). From the wildlife at Dombeya Game Reserve to the city of Manzini, we self-drive to national parks and meet locals while learning about this lesser-visited country.
Highlights:
- Arriving in Eswatini and settling into Shonalanga Lodge within the Dombeya Game Reserve, surrounded by giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, and warthogs.
- Shopping for groceries in Manzini and experiencing the local lifestyle.
- Attending the Bushfire Festival, a vibrant multi-day event celebrating music, arts, and social change.
- Exploring the markets of Mbabane and learning about Eswatini’s culture with our guide Lunga from Nolu Tours.
- Visiting Mamba Country with Phumie Mamba and gaining insights into rural life and local politics.
- Self-driving through Hlane Royal National Park, encountering rhinos, lions, elephants, and more.
- Crossing the border for an unforgettable safari in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Whether you're an armchair tourist, seeking travel inspiration, or considering a visit to Eswatini, join us as we explore this fascinating country.
Don’t forget to:
👍 Like the video if you enjoyed our journey.
🔔 Subscribe to stay updated with our latest adventures.
💬 Leave a comment or suggestions for future trips - we’d love to hear from you!
🌍 Check out more detailed videos and series at TheStay.tv for in-depth looks at some of the incredible lodges we visited.
Contact details for those featured:
- Dombeya Game Reserve: www.dombeya.org, steph@dombeya.org, +268 7602 5277
- NoLu Tours (Lunga): www.nolutours.com, info@nolutours.com, +268 7860 3019
- Phumie Mamba: phumiemamba@yahoo.com, +268 7615 2604
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction (Switzerland)
01:20 We've arrived
03:44 Dombeya
09:46 Manzini
11:10 Bushfire
12:21 Mbabane & Cultural Village
17:37 Mamba Country
22:11 Self Drive + Hlane Royal National Park
27:21 A final adventure
28:10 Final Words
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About Us 👫:
We're an Aussie couple who gave up great jobs in Los Angeles to live a location-independent life and travel the world.
Ricky has worked in the tourism industry for many years and has visited over 80 countries, living in 4 of them! Nat is a master's qualified teacher who runs an online tutoring business. Together, we've been living a nomadic lifestyle since mid-2019.
We both share a passion for travel and love discovering new places. Typically, we spend at least one month in each location we visit, seeking authentic experiences and immersing ourselves in the natural beauty of the region.
Life Dunn Differently is our outlet to share our passion for travel and the lifestyle we've chosen to embrace, and we hope you enjoy seeing a little of our journey.
Ricky & Nat
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Links ⌨️:
For more about us (and Ricky’s 15 years living around the world) please visit: 👉lifedunndifferently.com/
🔶 Subscribe: bit.ly/LifeDunnDifferently
🔵 Instagram: / lifedunndifferently
🔵 Facebook: / lifedunndifferently
📧 Email: contact@lifedunndifferently.com
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Relevant Hashtags 🔎:
#Eswatini, #Swaziland, #Dombeya, #SubSaharanAfrica, #TravelVlog, #TravelDocumentary, #AfricanWildlife, #GameReserve, #HlaneRoyalNationalPark, #KrugerNationalPark, #SouthAfrica, #Mbabane, #Manzini, #TravelInspiration, #EswatiniCulture, #RuralLifeEswatini, #MambaKingdom, #NoluTours, #EswatiniTourism, #AfricanAdventure, #EswatiniTravelGuide, #FirstTimeInAfrica, #Eswatini4K, #ExploringEswatini
Tags 🔎:
Eswatini, Swaziland, Sub Saharan Africa, Dombeya Game Reserve, Travel Documentary, African Wildlife, Game Reserve, Hlane Royal National Park, Kruger National Park, South Africa, Mbabane, Manzini, Travel Inspiration, Eswatini Culture, Rural Life Eswatini, Mamba Kingdom, Nolu Tours, Eswatini Tourism, African Adventure, Eswatini Travel Guide, First Time In Africa, Eswatini 4K, Exploring Eswatini
I spent 12 years of my life in Swaziland. My brother was born there and is still a Swazi national. It was the most amazing place to grow up in. Previous videos have focused on the degradation of the country and made me very sad. So, this video has restored my faith in my homeland. The Swazi people are amazing and so kind - I am glad to see that you witnessed that. I lived there when King Sobhuza was on the throne. He was a brilliant man who looked after his people. This son, is not a man of his people but, the people themselves have thrived in spite of him. I may go back now I have seen this video. My father is buried there outside of Manzini.
Hi Phil and Sue
Thanks for the lovely comment!
I was eager to showcase the positives of Eswatini - regardless of what the leaders do, there's still a beautiful country with great people and the world needs to see this side as well!
Hopefully it encourages more people to visit and can bring greater prosperity to the people.
I hope you get the chance to go back and thanks again for your kind words.
I hope that his Majesty denies you entry on account of being ungrateful little turds
My comment was removed but the (disguised) hateful comment by Phi and Sue was described as ‘lovely’?
CZcams may have removed comments but I have not.
I’ve deliberately tried to avoid politics and my reply mentioning lovely was in response to the comments on my video.
lovely indeed
Didnt even know we had such a beautiful country. Thank you for this great portrayal of eSwatini.
You're welcome and your country is stunning!
Thank you for visiting our beautiful Kingdom and thank you for the great review. We hope to host you again soon and hopefully bring your friends and family as well.
thanks for showing the world a haven on earth .....LONG LIVE eSWATINI lONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY THE KING
Cheers Trevor. Loved our time in Eswatini.
One of the best country. Thanks for showing us the beauty of ESWATINI. A beautiful country. Thanks from India
It's my pleasure
What a wonderful video! Thank you for making such an effort to do our beautiful country justice. I'm one of the lucky ones who gets to live here, and particularly, in Dombeya as soon as we build. Hope to see you back one day.
Thanks a lot Sara. Appreciate the kind words. How exciting to be building in Dombeya! So lucky!!
Thank you for a great portrayal of Eswatini. Next time you visit see Sibebe Rock and Maguga Dam.... great video
Wow amazing video I was looking the Africa map and found that country so I went to CZcams and found this video
Thanks again for the video I was there for a minute
To be honestly I was one of those people who hate white people a lot but as times goes on and meet different kinds of people especially whites am now better because not everyone is cruel most of us we hate others because of the past but now as we talk to each other most of the times we become better and better. May good Lord bless you and your family Sir. I know we don't know each other but I respect you and I appreciate you thank you so much for Visiting our African land 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️❤️
I like eswatini, good example of a non-muslim absolute monarchy
Politics is quite contentious there but I really enjoyed my visit and meeting the people
What a beautiful Vlog. You have inspired me as a Swazi to explore my country a lot more.
Thank you, that's really nice to hear. Have fun!
Thank you SO MUCH fpr this video. Im considering going there after Brazil so i appreciate the video
A pleasure. I hope you make it over there!
You've convinced my partner I to visit the kingdom of Eswatini. We were unsure of our next move after mozambique so this video definitely sold us! Thankyou
If anyone knows any good budget accommodation options around the country, we would love to hear!
James and Ellie
haha I love it. Thanks a lot James and Ellie - hope you both have the best time and good luck finding accommodation.
Thanks for saving our beautiful animals
Thanks so much for the absolutely gorgeous footage- and the beautiful portrayal of Eswatini! We hope to see you back at Dombeya one day soon!
So happy you like it and nice to have our time captured to enjoy for years to come… and we hope to get back one day! 🙏
Wow! Eswatini it's really a beautiful country thanks for uploading the video...I welcome you to Uganda East Africa
Thank you, it really is a beautiful place. I hear Uganda is stunning and hope we make it there one day too!
Thank you for an honest and unbiased documentary (not too many of those on the subject of Eswatini/Swaziland 🙏🏽
My pleasure - I’m glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for the beautiful video.
You're very welcome mate. Cheers!
Just two weeks ago we booked this rental for a few days next December. I clicked your video to see more about Eswatini and was amazed to see the rental in the first few minutes of your video. Nearly gave my husband a heart attack when I saw the rental lol. Great video, now it’s clear we need more than 3 nights in this beautiful country. Never enough time, I’ll be checking out the rest of your trip. Looking forward to catching up on your travels.
Great to hear. Say hi to Stephanie for us and have a fantastic visit!
Absolutely great vlog today 👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿 Eswatini is Gorgeous
Thanks a lot William. Spending a month in Eswatini was the best decision!
Really interesting - and great editing!
Thanks a lot Chris! Getting plenty of practice in before NZ!!
Excellent presentation, beautiful country and now on my bucket list. Thank you.
Hey good to hear from you mate. Glad you enjoyed it and hope you make it there one day
Thank you for visiting our country
My pleasure. I had a great experience
Wow Man.
Beautiful Vlog. I wonder where you were before, just came across your video.❤
Please do make more vlogs on Africa. Thanks.❤
Thanks a lot mate. I am working on one now so hopefully won't be too long 😁
@@LifeDunnDifferently thanks for the reply
When you said a small place in Africa I just thought dirt,dust and poverty.
Absolutely amazing that it seems well cared for by passionate locals probably better than a lot of country Australia.
I’d be lying if I said a part of me didn’t expect that before arriving.
I reckon most of us are probably guilty of making false assumptions about unknown countries.
Now you know that you have been fed garbage for far too long....
I am a Swazi and proud African. And I am on a quest to challenge the Western media narrative in my husband' s country....
And they all sound like you until they visit.
Tell your friends, family and all who care to listen....
Great Job!
Thank you 🙏
This was so beautifully done. Thank you!!
You're so welcome!
Thank you for hoisting our country's flag🇸🇿
My pleasure
❤
I dont know why im watching a video of my own country 😂
🤣🤣🤣 hope you liked it
Great video! I will go there in June and this video helped me a lot.. I intend to stay at the same place, which is lovely.. pity that it got more expensive than you mentioned :D
I’ve just seen your comment - perhaps you’re in Eswatini now?!
I hope you have a fantastic visit and Dombeya is as good as I remember.
@@LifeDunnDifferently I'll be there by mid July, managed to get the same place , thank you, I am sure it will be fantastic.
@@LifeDunnDifferently Hey Ricky ! We are heading to Eswatini next week and we also decided to bite the bullet and go to Krueger afterwards.. also by car. Can you please tell us where did you stay there, and if you recommend it, thanks man!
@@jahblo666 hey mate - we picked up a last minute deal with a heavy discount to stay inside Kruger at Rhino Post Safari Lodge (direct on their website). Worth checking to see if they have a similar deal as it was great value with game drives and meals included. From the research we did, staying inside the park was the way to go. More expensive but so much easier to see the park at dawn and dusk when animals most active. Can't remember if I mentioned it in the video but we had to pay $100 to Europcar to take the car over the border too
@@LifeDunnDifferently awesome, Ricky thank you, I will check this one out. And also thank you for the car tip, we will deal with that tomorrow ;)
Have you seen Piggs Peak park? It's so beautiful there and I didn't see it on this video.
I did not but I’ve heard it’s beautiful. Hopefully next time!
1st comment and 2 nd like from India love from Bangalore 🌍💕👍👌
Thank you so much 😀
We dont use US Currency from this point forward. Its outlawed. Gold and silver coins with my stamp.
Thanks for sharing
Where is the place it a beautiful experience from watching the video
The lodge or the country 🧐
I know Stephanie
Lady from Virginia
I've lived here for 10 years. Plenty Ups and downs. I am considering relocating back to South Africa. But SA is in a mess which is escalating by the day. So I'm confused at this point.
Swaziland has good people but bad ones also. Very unreliable. Very difficult to deal with. Which makes life hard. You never know where you stand.
On the surface they are all smiles and display a happy demena. Beware of the Wolf in sheep's clothing. Very shallow people. They look to suck your talents and usefulness. When they don't need you or have found someone more lucrative they will ignore you. I learned never to get close to them, keep them ato a far distance.
@@neilarmitage6632 Damn that sucks. Regardless of the subjective nature of your analysis, this is your truth and it must be acknowledged. As a Swazi I wish it were different and hope you will meet at least one person to change your opinion, even minutely. All the best.
Hard for me to comment on that as over 4 weeks, you can only learn so much about a country. nonetheless, my experience was a positive one and I met many lovely people.
@@neilarmitage6632Sound as Europe or America and Asia!
Worse place for a woman to live and be born but the place look beautiful
Why so?
@@1004445 this i wanna hear
Wow amazing video I was looking the Africa map and found that country so I went to CZcams and found this video
Thanks again for the video I was there for a minute
Thanks so much mate. Happy to hear you enjoyed it!