Ciao: il mio post in italiano lo trovate qui, nel blog che curo e di cui sono responsabile: www.100viaggi.it, venitemi a trovare!
Once upon a time a king, with his 13 wives (and some girlfriends too), who lived in a small country in the far south of Africa ... surrounded by an unaffordable luxury ... and one of the highest percentages of deaths from a terrible scourge: AIDS!
This is not a tale of other times and not even a nowadays fable ... unfurtunately it is a sad reality! I'm talking about King Mswati III: the last absolute monarch left in the entire African continent.
We are in Swaziland, between South Africa and Mozambique. Despite not having access to the sea this wonderful land has a stretch of remote and unforgettable landscapes.
You move from deep valleys covered with forests to an hilly area up to the border with Mozambique where eyes are lost to observe a flat land, mostly covered with savanna and plantations.
And it is in this context, full of contradictions, in the beautiful setting of nature yet to be discovered, that my travel experience took place, in a country little known by the Italian tourism ...
Before 2003, the year of my trip to South Africa, I did not even know about the existence of Swaziland! Yet, while I was preparing my journey as a tour guide, reading the Lonely Planet, I discovered Myxos website.
It is since 1997 that this guy decides to create a hostel and to point, through tourism, to the enhancement of Swazi culture, trying to give concrete help to the community through the villages tours. Its activity, then in full swing, struck me so much that I decided to bring my group to Manzini, trying to get in touch with that reality so little known.
Its simple hostel is certainly not created for "demanding" tourists ": Myxos welcomes you to his house in a pleasant family atmosphere, and here you can easily meet tourists from all over the world.
Its Backpaker is the staging point from which you can reach the farming community (4,000 acres) of Kaphunga, 55 km from Manzini. Everything that is produced in this area is for the subsistence of the community, the remainder is sold to the domestic market.
In 2003, year of my trip in the country, there wasn't the possibility to sleep in the village yet, but since then things have changed ...
If you come here, perhaps to make a trip to South Africa, it is better to renounce to the visit of one of the many natural parks and stop, for at least 2/3 days, in the area of Kaphunga and Endabeni, where traditional huts were built for tourist accommodations.
Together with Myxos and his friends you will really appreciate the daily life of the village! There is no electricity or running water, no hot showers or other tourists comforts. The only concession is the supply of mineral water (if you want to bring some wine to cheer the company, you are really welcome!) while Myxos and Ncobile will cook for you grilled meat. You can then try to learn some word or phrase in their language, Siswati, visit schools, attend the traditional dances, participate in religious ceremonies, eat their typical meals and go around in mountain bike in the surrounding areas!
Part of the income for tourism activity is primarily devoted to support the nursery school in the village, founded by Myxo itself, to give aid to mothers and children from surrounding villages. Among other things, in schools of the area informations are given to pupils on how to prevent AIDS.
The addresses for informations, reservations, aids , are as follows:
for visiting Kaphunga:
Woza Nawe Hostel (Myxos' Place) wozanawe@realnet.co.sz phones: 00268th country code, then 505 8363 or 528 3117 or 604 4102; postal address: PO Box 2455, Manzini, Swaziland, Southern Africa;
for pre school:
http://www.matjanapreschool.org-a.googlepages.com/home: bank references and other email address on the website (and online newsletters) of nursery school.
The Lonely Planet-South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, pp. 753-4.
Through the Waza Nawe Responsible Culture Tour Myxos message is the following:
"We try to improve our services in order to achieve the highest levels and the principles of responsible tourism. In making our intervention we try to respect the whole environment , using water sparingly, recycling trash, pay attention in keeping cleaned the village, in armony with the surrounding nature. We take the benefits for the welfare of the entire community by promoting it. We encourage our people to create crafts using natural materials to re-sell to the interested visitors. "
Swazi culture is alive, colorful, dynamic! It is true that in the micro reality of the village you will notice the problems related to a situation of extreme poverty! But at the same time you will not feel the impatience and the contradiction of a country grounded by the extra luxury of a king!
Anyway, I will always carry with me the image of Myxos' Backpaker: the clear morning light that came through the kitchen while we were having breakfast ...
It is since 1997 that this guy decides to create a hostel and to point, through tourism, to the enhancement of Swazi culture, trying to give concrete help to the community through the villages tours. Its activity, then in full swing, struck me so much that I decided to bring my group to Manzini, trying to get in touch with that reality so little known.
Its simple hostel is certainly not created for "demanding" tourists ": Myxos welcomes you to his house in a pleasant family atmosphere, and here you can easily meet tourists from all over the world.
Its Backpaker is the staging point from which you can reach the farming community (4,000 acres) of Kaphunga, 55 km from Manzini. Everything that is produced in this area is for the subsistence of the community, the remainder is sold to the domestic market.
In 2003, year of my trip in the country, there wasn't the possibility to sleep in the village yet, but since then things have changed ...
Therefore and on this assumption Myxos gives you the opportunity of an unmissable and unique experience !
If you come here, perhaps to make a trip to South Africa, it is better to renounce to the visit of one of the many natural parks and stop, for at least 2/3 days, in the area of Kaphunga and Endabeni, where traditional huts were built for tourist accommodations.
Together with Myxos and his friends you will really appreciate the daily life of the village! There is no electricity or running water, no hot showers or other tourists comforts. The only concession is the supply of mineral water (if you want to bring some wine to cheer the company, you are really welcome!) while Myxos and Ncobile will cook for you grilled meat. You can then try to learn some word or phrase in their language, Siswati, visit schools, attend the traditional dances, participate in religious ceremonies, eat their typical meals and go around in mountain bike in the surrounding areas!
Part of the income for tourism activity is primarily devoted to support the nursery school in the village, founded by Myxo itself, to give aid to mothers and children from surrounding villages. Among other things, in schools of the area informations are given to pupils on how to prevent AIDS.
The addresses for informations, reservations, aids , are as follows:
for visiting Kaphunga:
Woza Nawe Hostel (Myxos' Place) wozanawe@realnet.co.sz phones: 00268th country code, then 505 8363 or 528 3117 or 604 4102; postal address: PO Box 2455, Manzini, Swaziland, Southern Africa;
for pre school:
http://www.matjanapreschool.org-a.googlepages.com/home: bank references and other email address on the website (and online newsletters) of nursery school.
The Lonely Planet-South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, pp. 753-4.
Through the Waza Nawe Responsible Culture Tour Myxos message is the following:
"We try to improve our services in order to achieve the highest levels and the principles of responsible tourism. In making our intervention we try to respect the whole environment , using water sparingly, recycling trash, pay attention in keeping cleaned the village, in armony with the surrounding nature. We take the benefits for the welfare of the entire community by promoting it. We encourage our people to create crafts using natural materials to re-sell to the interested visitors. "
From the left Eva, Myxos and I
Swazi culture is alive, colorful, dynamic! It is true that in the micro reality of the village you will notice the problems related to a situation of extreme poverty! But at the same time you will not feel the impatience and the contradiction of a country grounded by the extra luxury of a king!
Anyway, I will always carry with me the image of Myxos' Backpaker: the clear morning light that came through the kitchen while we were having breakfast ...
... and then breathe the pure African air!
Thanks friend for letting me know and appreciate the simple reality of your village!
Había una vez un rey, con sus 13 esposas (y algunas novias también), que vivía en un país pequeño en el extremo sur de África ... rodeado de un lujo inalcanzable ... y uno de los porcentajes más altos de muertos por un terrible flagelo que es el SIDA!
Esto no es un cuento de otros tiempos ni tan siquiera una fábula moderna ... se trata de una triste realidad! El Rey en cuestión se llama Mswati III y es el último monarca absoluto de todo el continente africano.
Estamos en Swaziland, entre el Sudáfrica y el Mozambico. A pesar que no se encuentra el mar los paisajes aquì son perdidos y inolvidables. Se pasa de profundas valles cubiertas de bosques a una zona montañosa hasta la frontera con el Mozambico, donde los ojos se pierden observando una zona llana, cubierta sobre todo de sabana y plantaciones.
Es en este contexto, lleno de contradicciones, en el hermoso escenario de pura naturaleza que se pone mi experiencia de viaje, en un país poco conocido por el turismo italiano ...
Antes de 2003, el año de mi viaje a Sudáfrica, ni sabía de la existencia de Swaziland! Sin embargo, mientras yo preparaba el viaje para acompañar a mi grupo, leyendo la Lonely Planet, descubrí el sito web de Myxos.
Y desde 1997 que este joven hombre decide crear un hostal y de enriquecer, a través del turismo, la valorizaciòn de la cultura Swazi, tratando de dar una ayuda concreta a la comunidad a través de las visitas a las aldeas. Su actividad, en pleno apogeo en 2003, me pegó tanto que llevé a mi grupo a Manzini, con el intento de ponerme en contacto con una realidad tan poco conocida.
Su sencillo hostal ciertamente no es creado para los turistas "exigentes". Myxos les da la bienvenida a su casa en un agradable ambiente familiar, en su casa se encuentran turistas de todos países.
El suyo es un Backpaker punto de parada para luego visitar la comunidad agrícola (4.000 acres) de Kaphunga, 55 km de Manzini. Todo lo que se produce en esta área es para la subsistencia de la comunidad, el resto es vendido al mercado interno.
En 2003, año de mi viaje en el país, todavía no habia la oportunidad de dormir en las aldeas, pero desde entonces las cosas han cambiado ...
Entonces, Myxos te da la oportunidad de vivir una experiencia única y imperdible!
Si ustedes vienen aquí, por sia caso para hacer un viaje a Sudáfrica, es preferible dejar la visita de uno de los tantos parques naturales y permanecer al menos 2/3 días en la zona de Kaphunga y Endabeni, donde se construyeron chozas tradicionales para ospitar los turistas.
Junto a Myxos y sus amigos vivràn, de verdad, la vida cotidiana de la aldea! No hay electricidad ni agua corriente, ni duchas de agua caliente ni otras comodidades para los turistas. Sólo es permitido traerse agua mineral (y una botella de vino para compartir todos juntos), mientras que Myxos y Ncobile cocinaràn carne grillada. A continuación, podràn aprender algunas palabras o frases en Siswati, visitar escuelas, asistir a los bailes tradicionales, participar a las ceremonias religiosas, saborear la comida tradicional y irse de vuelta alrededor en montain bike!
Parte de lo que se gana con el turismo se utiliza principalmente a apoyar al circulo infantil de la aldea, creado por Myxo mismo, para prestar ayuda a las madres y los niños de las aldeas vecinas. Entre otras cosas, en las escuelas de la zona se da una información completa a los alumnos sobre cómo prevenir el SIDA.
Las direcciones de informaciónes, reservas, ayudas, son las siguientes:
para visitar Kaphunga:
Woza Nawe Hostel (Myxos Place) wozanawe@realnet.co.sz teléfonos: 00268a código de país, luego 505 8363 o 528 3117 o 604 4102; dirección postal: PO Box 2455, Manzini, Swaziland, África del Sur;
circulo y escuela infantil:
http://www.matjanapreschool.org-a.googlepages.com/home: referencias bancarias y la dirección de correo electrónico de la página web (y boletines en línea) de la escuela infantil.
Lonely Planet-Sudáfrica, Lesotho y Swaziland, pp. 753-4.
A través del Waza Nawe Responsible Culture Tour el mensaje de Myxos es el siguiente:
"Tratamos de mejorar nuestros servicios al fin de alcanzar los niveles más altos y los principios del turismo responsable. Traemos los turistas en las aldeas tenendo mucho respecto de la cultura y del ambiente alrededor, utilizando el agua con moderación y reciclando la basura, dejando siempre limpias las aldeas y respetando la naturaleza de nuestra tierra. Obtenemos beneficios de la actividad tùristica para el bienestar de toda la comunidad haciendole propaganda: animamos a nuestro pueblo para crear artesanías utilizando materiales naturales y revenderlas a los visitantes interesados".
La cultura Swazi es viva, llena de colores, dinámica! Viviendo en la micro realidad de una aldea, es verdad, se viven los problemas de una situación de extrema pobreza pero, sin embargo, no se nota la intolerancia y la contradicción de un país trancado por el gasto eccesivo de su propio rey !
De toda forma, yo siempre llevo conmigo la imagen del Hostal de Myxos: la clara luz de la mañana que entraba a través de la cocina, mientras tomábamos el desayuno ...
y respirar, entonces, el aire puro de África!
Gracias amigo por darme la oportunidad de conocer y apreciar la simple realidad de tu aldea y de tu gente!
:)
:)