KaNgwane was the least populous and second smallest in size of the 10 Bantustans created by the South African government. The Bantustan was established in 1976 as a homeland for the Swazi people, a Bantu ethnic group predominately residing in Eswatini. Two of KaNgwane’s 3 enclaves shared their border with Eswatini.
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Colophospermum mopane - The butterfly tree is a member of the Fabaceae family, the bean family. The tree, also referred to as the mopane, balsam, and turpentine tree, is native to the northern regions of Southern Africa. The bifoliate leaves resemble a butterfly with open wings. Mature heights varies between 5 and 20 meters, a factor dependent on the soil mixture being alkaline or alluvial. The wood has a reddish tint, is termite resistant, and difficult to work by hand. The wood’s density makes it one of South Africa’s heaviest hardwood trees.
