UMHLANGA (Reed Dance) Festival

The Umhlanga Reed Dance is one of Eswatini’s most important cultural celebrations, offering visitors the opportunity to witness a living tradition and experience the country’s culture at close quarters.

Although the festival stretches over a 7-day period, most of the time is strictly for the maidens as they go through the process of getting the reeds and returning to the palace of the Queen mother. The main day features the dance as the maidens, having taken a rest the previous day following their return to the Ludzidzini Royal Residence put up a spectacle for the Mswati and the gathered crowd.