Eswatini has been blessed this year by visits from not one but two travel photographers from the ‘Low Countries’. As well as Kim Paffen from the Netherlands visiting in June and being amazed by what she saw, Belgian photographer Jonathan Ramael returned to the Kingdom in August/September. This was Jonathan’s third visit to The Kingdom of Eswatini, whose beauty and variety keep drawing him back!
Jonathan visited as a guest of the Eswatini Tourism Authority with the brief to freshen up their image library with new, stunning images of attractions and experiences across the country. He did not disappoint! The images used in this article offer just a glimpse of all that he managed to capture, illustrating once again how beautiful and diverse Eswatini is, despite its small size.
On a whistle-stop tour Jonathan travelled across the whole country, from Malolotja & Pigg’s Peak in the west, to Hlane & Shewula in the east – and everything in between. He was also lucky enough to visit at the time of the country’s biggest annual traditional festival, the Umhlanga Reed Dance, as well as the very different Swazi Rally. As well as his photography, Jonathan is the author of an irreverent and highly amusing travel blog ‘Trot Op!’ which he proudly promotes as ‘The Least Informative Travel Blog in the Low Countries’. A new entry this year celebrates his recent visit to Eswatini, identifying the 8 highlights from his trip and waxing lyrical in his own unique style about what he saw and experienced.
As a country that could be ‘the perfect Africa-for beginners’, Jonathan is another who highlights the great variety that Eswatini holds within its border: ’It’s small, but with a myriad of experiences to offer. You can hike through beautiful landscapes, enjoy exciting cultural events and even book a big-five safari.’ And in contrast to many people’s short stay in Eswatini, Jonathan’s repeat visits have shown him that ‘the country is worth much more than spending a weekend in ……. Eswatini is a full-fledged destination offering everything that makes a trip to Africa a unique experience, in pocket size.’
