King Sobhuza II Memorial Park

The memorial park at Lobamba is built around the glass mausoleum marking the spot where Sobhuza II lay in state at his funeral in September 1982; the king himself is buried in the mountains at Mbilaneni, in the south of the country. He reigned from 1899 until 1982 and led the country to independence in 1968, the longest verifiable reign of any monarch. A bronze statue stands under a canopy, and a small museum beside it holds photographs, personal effects and the record of his reign. The national museum and parliament are next door in the same complex. The reign spanned the whole of the protectorate period and the first fourteen years of independence.

The main sights

• The glass mausoleum - the guarded spot where the king lay in state.
• The bronze statue - the figure standing under its canopy.
• The museum - photographs, effects and the record of the reign.
• The Lobamba complex - the national museum and parliament alongside.

When to go

Year round. The site keeps set opening hours and closes on some days. Mornings are cooler in the valley.

Good to know

The museum is small and the displays are dated. Dress code and behaviour rules are enforced at the memorial. Photography is restricted in parts of the site.

Nearby

Lobamba is around it, and Mantenga is west.