A short drive from the Ngwenya border crossing, in the northwest of Eswatini, stands one of the most unusual stops on any trip through the country — a glass factory where old soda bottles are reborn as animal figurines, vases and glasses that are simply a joy to look at.

A story that began with Swedish help

Ngwenya Glass was founded in the late 1970s as a Swedish development project. Local craftsmen were sent to train at the renowned Kosta Boda glassworks in Sweden to learn the art of glassblowing. Production stopped for a few years in the mid-1980s — until the South African Prettejohn family, who had fallen in love with the glass elephant figurines from the original production, took over and revived the factory. The company has been running continuously since 1987 and today employs around seventy people, including a few members of the original team.

One hundred percent recycled glass

What makes Ngwenya Glass unique is its raw material: every product is made from one hundred percent recycled glass, mostly from beverage bottles collected all across Eswatini. Local people gather and hand in empty bottles for a small payment — which is why the area around Ngwenya is one of the cleanest in the country. The company also works with schools, teaching children why sorting glass matters.

A show right by the furnace

On weekdays, visitors can watch from a gallery above the workshop floor as glassblowers work at the blazing furnaces — you can feel the heat even from above. Each piece passes through the hands of several craftsmen at once and is shaped purely by blowing and molding, with no mass production involved. After the tour, there's an on-site shop with finished products, from glasses and vases to small glass figurines of African animals — popular souvenirs and gifts alike.

More than just glassmaking

Ngwenya Glass has long been involved in conservation as well — part of the proceeds from sales supports a rhino and elephant protection program in the Mkhaya Game Reserve. A visit to the factory is therefore more than just an interesting stop along the way; it's also an example of how small-scale local production can bring together craftsmanship, community and care for the land.

Why it's worth the stop

Ngwenya Glass is a fitting example of what Eswatini has to offer — not a big-name attraction, but a place with a story, honest work and a personal touch. It makes a great stop on the way between the South African border and the interior of Eswatini, ideally combined with a visit to the Ezulwini Valley or Mantenga Cultural Village.