Yebo yes.

Rock climbing in Swaziland is in its pioneering infancy. So far there is only one crag with bolted routes on it (above an international school in Mbabane - since Feb 2011). We're looking to explore more areas, and already have some crags in mind. Seeing as we're all a bunch of amateurs here, what we're lacking is a critical eye and bolting gear (and someone who knows what they're doing).

So this is an open invitation to anyone out there looking for some pioneering adventure, and who can come armed with a gun and some bolts!

There is a hostel called Lidwala Lodge that is looking to offer basic climbing and abseiling to their guests and volunteers. They are willing to cover the costs of the bolting and put up a couple of people in their lodge for a full weekend. Can check out their website at http://www.lidwala.co.sz/
This would be a good opportunity to get to know the place and see what else is in store.

Swaziland is full of exposed granite rock, though unfortunately most of is its very sharp and flaky. That said, there is a lot of it.... therefore lots of potential.

Contact me at strummers@gmail.com for more info

Cheers!

Dane

Pictures will go a looong way in generating interest

We had a website and it's recently gone down - will try revive it or put some up on another page and link it soon

There are a couple of pics in a previous post of mine:

help establish climbing in Swaziland

has something wierd happened to the photos in the above link, or is it just my computer?

no apparently the photo files have messed up - I'll re-send them.

Hi, apologies about the images degrading. It comes from a time when the website was backed up and transferred using ASCII instead of Binary!
For those who might be interested --> FTP basics, what is binary vs ascii mode?

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Climb ZA - Administrator

Swaziland climbing photos
Thanks Zoe

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Climb ZA - Administrator

If that rock is good quality, it looks excellent.

Hi Dene,
I did 10 or so trad routes in the Mahamba gorge on the Nhlangano side between 1974 and 77. Grades between E and G1. Very pleasant spot and some good climbing. Eric Haber and gang came for a weekend, he may have done some more pioneering subsequently.
Also did a couple of routes on a cliff near Big Bend. Fairly hairy at the time as we had to crawl through dense bush to get to the bottom of the crag and the protection was dodgy pegs and slings around cacti. The rock was softish and very suitable for bolts I would think and there were some good lines.
Had a couple of weekends in the Ngwempisi river valley. See article in MCSA Journal1976.
Did a number of long easy solos on the granite slabs in the Mbabane/Manzini area.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
Good luck with the pioneering!
Hamba Kahle
Tim

Working in partnship with Lidwala Backpacker Lodge, we explored the Shebas Breast hill side.

We put together a guide and are keen for new climbers to review and develop these areas!

You can download the guide from the ClimbSwaziland blog:

http://climbswaziland.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/boulder-lines-opened-in-sd

Please do get in touch if you are keen to help us develop this!

ENJOY!!