To travel or not to travel...in Swaziland

Two events have spawned this blog on travel in Swaziland...

The first was a slide show at the Mountain Inn that I delivered last Saturday to a group from the Natural History Society. It focused on interesting and off-the-beaten track places in Swaziland. The audience was predominantly greying and pretty well on in years. Most had lived in Swaziland for all their lives...and many were seeing these local places for the first time. The thank you's I received, were both encouraging and distressing. Very few of those present had grasped the opportunity to get out there and explore the surrounding Swazi countryside and now for many...by their own admittance... it was already too late.

The second was spending some time this afternoon sharing thoughts with a travelguide author. Not just just your local garden variety, but one who probably, in the sphere of travel belief, ranks right up there with the ancient monks who updated and transcribed the Bible.

These writers do their best to put down all the do's and dont's when visiting a destination...but what was interesting to note was how risk averse these recommendations are slowly becoming and how confined by fear many travellers are.

I've resolved to start a blog that talks about adventure travel...and in this case adventurous travel in Swaziland in particular. Its something I've been lucky enough to have spent hours and hours doing, just from the nature of my job.

There are many voices out there saying be careful of this...and don't do that, I'd like to offer a voice says "it can be done - just do it!" So join me for the journey if you care...its going to be a slow one at best...a few words now and again...but hopefully enough to stimulate discussion, some ideas, a few challenges and a "war story" or two.