Ngwenya

Ngwenya, near the South African border in northwestern Hhohho, is the site of the Ngwenya Mine on Bomvu Ridge — widely cited as the world's oldest known mine, worked at least 42,000 years ago for red haematite and specularite ore, first as a source of red ochre in the Middle Stone Age and later for iron. Today the area's better-known draw is the Ngwenya Glass Complex, built around a glassblowing factory that grew out of a 1979 Swedish aid project training Swazi glassblowers; the factory reopened under private ownership in 1987 and today produces hand-blown tableware, vases, and animal figurines entirely from recycled glass, mostly collected soft-drink bottles, exported worldwide.

By car/road: 10 km northwest of Mbabane near the South African border.

Walkable.

The Ngwenya Glass Complex, where visitors can watch skilled glassblowers turn recycled glass into tableware, vases, and figurines, plus a cluster of other artisan outlets. The Ngwenya Mine site on Bomvu Ridge, one of the world's oldest known mines.

Watching glassblowing demonstrations at the Ngwenya Glass factory is the main visitor activity.

Cafe at the glass factory.

At the cafe.

Hotels in Mbabane (10 km southeast).

Hand-blown glassware is the main attraction.

• Mbabane — 10 km southeast
• Malolotja Nature Reserve — 20 km northeast
• South Africa — across the border