Travel & Tourism
With its outstanding scenery and abundant wildlife, the Kingdom of Eswatini is a nature lover’s paradise. One of the world’s few remaining monarchies, the tiny country, which is almost completely surrounded by South Africa, has no shortage of hiking, biking, and horseback-riding opportunities, and its many national parks offer glimpses of everything from rare birds to endangered black rhinos. Known for being especially friendly and laid-back, the Swazi people are committed to preserving their culture in the face of modernization, which means that traditional customs play a large part in everyday life. Visitors to Swaziland are in for a unique and authentic African experience.
What to Do in Eswatini
1. Mkhaya Game Reserve: Home to rare species like the black rhino and the Nguni breed of cattle, as well as antelope, elephants, and a host of other animals, this small, private reserve in southeastern Eswatini is also notable for its many mkhaya, or knobthorn, trees, which bear a type of fruit that Swazis use for brewing beer.
2. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary: This secluded park in the Ezulwini Valley, in central Eswatini, is known for its relaxed atmosphere and lovely hiking trails through grasslands, eucalyptus forests, and some of the highest points in the kingdom. Catch glimpses of giraffes, zebras, and more on self-guided tours, horseback, or in open Land Rovers.
3. Sibebe Rock: Located just north of Mbabane, Eswatini’s most famous geological feature is a huge granite dome rising out of the countryside. Thrill seekers may scramble up the nearly 1,000-foot rock and its surrounding boulders; the less adventurous may check out the Bushman paintings marking the rocks at the summit.
4. Malolotja Nature Reserve: The country’s least touristy park, in the northwestern highlands, is full of excellent finds: ancient mountains streaked with waterfalls, nearly 300 different species of birds, and the world’s oldest mine.
5. Local Customs: Every year in late August or early September, young Swazi women take part in the Umhlanga, a fertility dance that culminates in the women’s singing and dancing before the king and the queen mother, giving the king an opportunity to pick a new wife. Tourists are welcome to observe the ceremony.
6. Mbuluzi Game Reserve: Hippos, wildebeests, and more roam freely in this small reserve in northeastern Eswatini; the southern portion is free of predators, so visitors may explore a handful of trails on foot.
7. Mlawula Nature Reserve: This park near the Mozambique border is so large that it comprises both dry savannas and tropical forests; it’s widely regarded as one of the best, most varied hiking spots in the country.
8. Ezulwini Valley: The country’s royal heartland and tourism center is worth a quick visit for its gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and its fantastic selection of locally made handicrafts.
9. Hlane Royal National Park: You’ll find leopards, lions, cheetahs, and other awe-inspiring animals at this park near the former royal hunting grounds.
10. Bulembu: A historic town in the northern part of the country, Bulembu, which once housed a thriving mine, provides a fascinating look back in time, with its abandoned homes, Art Déco buildings, and long cableways. The nearby mountains are thought to be some of the oldest in the world.
11. Ezulwini Valley: The Ezulwini Valley is Eswatini’s tourist hub. Located between Mbabane and Manzini, and just a ten-minute drive from either, it means ‘Valley of heaven’ and is flanked on both sides by a ridge of rocky hills.
12. Mahamba Mission and gorge: This historic site in the far southwest is the country’s oldest church and marks the point where Christianity reached Eswatini. The nearby gorge is impressive, and home to rare birds such as the black eagle and southern bald ibis. A community project offers hiking trails and simple self-catering chalets.
13. Mandela’s and House on Fire: This charming family farmstead on the road to Malkerns has expanded into a significant tourist complex, with a bed and breakfast, restaurant, internet café and craft centre. Best of all, it has House on Fire, a unique performing arts venue built around a Shakespearian Globe-style theatre that every May hosts Bushfire, a major festival of southern African music and arts.
14. Ngwenya Glass Factory and mine: Ngwenya means ‘crocodile’, referring to a large croc-shaped mountain along Eswatini’s western border. The Ngwenya mine, which lies inside Malolotja Nature Reserve, holds the oldest iron-ore workings in the world, dated to 43,000 years ago.
15. Nsangwini cave shelter: This community-run project, located in the Nkomati Valley southeast of Piggs Peak, is Swaziland’s finest example of San rock art. A local guide will lead you down the short, steep trail to the Nsanqwini Cave Shelter and explain the history and significance of the ancient figures and animals painted on the granite overhang.
When to Go
The ideal time to travel to Eswatini is between the months of May and October. Try not to visit the country at any time between November and April, when it’s hot and rainy and there’s an elevated risk of contracting malaria, or in December and January, when crime often spikes.
Getting In and Around
Visas: Visas are not required for tourists and business travelers visiting Eswatini for fewer than 60 days. Most people traveling to Eswatini enter through South Africa. Travelers heading to South Africa are strongly encouraged to have several unstamped visa pages in their passports. For additional information on Eswatini’s visa requirements, contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Transportation: There are flights to Eswatini (landing at Matasapha International Airport) from Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa and from Maputo in Mozambique. Swazi Express Airways and its sister company, Steffen Air Charters, offer flights within the country. There’s also a reliable network of buses and minibuses throughout the country and private taxis in Mbabane, the Ezulwini Valley, and Manzini.
Mobile Phones: You can use GSM mobile phone in Eswatini; consider buying a prepaid SIM card at the airport if you don’t have an international plan.
Safety and Security
Concerned about your safety as you plan travel to Eswatini? We at Africa.com, together with our friends, family and colleagues, travel extensively throughout the continent. Here are the resources we consult when thinking of our safety in Eswatini:
• UK Government Eswatini Travel Advice Guidance
Africa.com comment: Very timely and frequently updated. Perspective assumes that you ARE going to travel to Eswatini, and seeks to give you good guidance so that you understand the risks and are well-informed.
• U.S. State Department Travel Advisory on Eswatini
Africa.com comment: Can sometimes be considered as overly conservative and discourage travel altogether to destinations that many reasonable people find acceptably secure. On the other hand, they have the resources of the CIA to inform them, so they know things that the rest of us don’t know. See what they have to say about Eswatini.
Local Advice
1. The Kingdom of Eswatini is a land-locked country, bordered by Mozambique to the east and by South Africa on the other sides. The smallest country in the Southern Hemisphere, Eswatini is split into four regions: Hhohho, in the north, Lubombo in the east, Manzini in the central part of the country, and Shiselweni in the south.
2. Eswatini’s local currency is the Lilangeni (SZL), whose value is equal to that of the South African rand. (Rand dollars may be used in the country as well.) One U.S. dollar is equal to approximately seven Lilangeni.
3. The Times of Eswatini, a privately owned daily newspaper, and the pro-government Swazi Observer are the country’s main publications.
4. English and siSwati (also called Swati or Swazi) are the official languages in Eswatini.
5. Smoking in public places is currently permitted in Eswatini, though there’s a bill awaiting Cabinet approval that proposes a ban on it in public and in private workplaces.