Almost Swaziland

On our final morning in Kruger our hosts suggested we use the best of our time and take up another activity. We opted to stop by the touristy Swazi cultural center on our drive to the airport. The center's entrance is located just outside the Swaziland border, but the road on the inside curves past the Swazi border. SO we didn't need to get a Swaziland stamp on our passports (how convenient!), but technically we were on Swazi soil...so we're totally counting that as a country we visited!

The center's main attraction is the traditional village area set up behind the shops and restaurants. Our guide Mapompo took us on a tour of the dome shaped straw huts, talked about a few traditions including clothing and such, and reminded us that men are considered superior in Swazi culture. This meant I (Noosha) had to enter the huts behind the men and on the other side of the door. Bah!  Additionally, men have multiple wives (but in reality the chief's mom runs the show).  Anyway, the real treat of the whole thing was the music and dancing. The organization recruits talented youth from the local rural villages to be part of the performance group. The group consisted of single male dancers, married female dancers, ready for marriage female dancers, and adolescents with their tatas revealed. Powerful percussions were coupled with high kick and foot stomping dances. It was really enjoyable to watch! They made me (Noosha) get up and dance, and mom might be shocked, but I was a good sport. I danced and had fun! :)  Here are some pictures.

For those of you who love dung filled facts, the floors are somehow made using earth, dung, and animal fat.