Swaziland is an absolute monarchy with constitutional provisions and Swazi Law and Custom.The head of state is the king or Ngwenyama (lit. Lion), currently King Mswati III, who ascended to the throne in 1986 after the death of his father King Sobhuza II in 1982 and a period of regency.
The Swazis have retained their cultural identity despite growing western influence. While many people find it convenient to dress in western clothes, large numbers still stick to the traditional brightly coloured native attire.
The climate of Swaziland varies from tropical to near temperate. The seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere with December being mid-summer and June mid-winter.