v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Glassblowing hall. This is what the place is known for. Workers gather molten glass from the furnaces and shape it with pipes and hand tools, and you can watch from close range. The glass comes from recycled bottles, which explains the slight tints of green and blue in many pieces. Weekday visits give the best chance of seeing the furnaces fully staffed.
- Showroom. A large shop displays the finished range, from tumblers and bowls to vases and decorative pieces. Seconds with small flaws are sometimes set aside, and these are the pieces to look at if you want a bargain. Check that anything you buy is packed for a long, bumpy bus ride.
- Glass animal figurines. The animals are the signature product: hippos, elephants, rhinos, birds and antelope, each made by hand so no two match exactly. They make
- Glassblowing hall. This is what the place is known for. Workers gather molten glass from the furnaces and shape it with pipes and hand tools, and you can watch from close range. The glass comes from recycled bottles, which explains the slight tints of green and blue in many pieces. Weekday visits give the best chance of seeing the furnaces fully staffed.
- Showroom. A large shop displays the finished range, from tumblers and bowls to vases and decorative pieces. Seconds with small flaws are sometimes set aside, and these are the pieces to look at if you want a bargain. Check that anything you buy is packed for a long, bumpy bus ride.
- Glass animal figurines. The animals are the signature product: hippos, elephants, rhinos, birds and antelope, each made by hand so no two match exactly. They make a more honest keepsake than a printed T-shirt, and the small ones survive a backpack better than the large ones.
- Craft stalls on the grounds. Local artisans sell woven baskets, wooden carvings, beadwork and other Swazi crafts beside the glass. Prices here are usually negotiable, and buying directly means the money stays with the maker. Browse the stalls before spending in the main shop to get a feel for the going rates.
- Village café. A simple eating spot on site gives you somewhere to sit after the furnace hall. It is handy if you are waiting for onward transport or have just crossed the border. Order something light, since the point of the stop is the craft rather than the meal.
- Ngwenya Mine and the Lion Cavern. A short distance away on the Ngwenya Hills, this mine is dated to roughly 43,000 years ago, when people dug for hematite and ochre. It is widely considered among the oldest mining sites known. Guided visits give the context that the bare hillside does not, and it puts the village’s recent craft history into a much longer frame.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.