Swaziland Travel Guide

Full Name

Kingdom of Swaziland

Former Name

NA

Capital City

Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital

Government Type

monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Area Size

17,363 sq km

Time Zone

UTC/GMT +2 hours

Climate

It has a subtropical climate with summer temperature of 15 degrees to 25 degrees Centigrade and 15 degrees to 19 degrees in winter. The rainfall at higher altitudes varies from 1000 to 1600mm while in the lower areas it is between 500 and 600mm.

Geography

Within Swaziland each feature of Africa's terrain is to be found, with the exception of desert. Swaziland is made up of four diverse areas, varying from 400 to 1800 meters above sea level, and each with its own climate and characteristics. The mountainous Highveld to the west has rivers, waterfalls and gorges with a generally temperate climate of warm, wet summers and dry winters when the temperature can rise sharply during the day, but with cold nights. The adjacent Middleveld is at a lower altitude with lush, fertile valleys and a warm climate ideal for cultivating various crops. It is here that much of the country's agriculture occurs. Further east is the sub-tropical Lowveld where two major export crops, sugar and citrus, are cultivated in abundance. Cattle farming is also extensively carried out in this region, much of which is typical African bush where a profusion of indigenous wildlife and flora is also found. The smallest area is Lubombo which borders with Mozambique. This subtropical region is typified by mountainous scenery and supports abundant plant and animal life.

Languages

English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)

Culture

Swaziland has been inhabitated since the early stone age and there are tracks of subsequent occupation by Bushmen, Sotho and Ntungwanguni clans. Swazi simply means the people of Mswati. Rock paintings attributed to the San have been identified in many parts of Swaziland. The paintings usually depict animals, people, hunting parties, battle scenes and dances. For all the modernisation that has come to Swaziland, the people have preserved their age-old culture and traditional ceremonies. The two most important and colourful of these, in the eyes of Swazi's and foreigners alike, are the Incwala in December and the Umhlanga in late August or early September. The Cultural Village, situated at Mantenga Nature Reserve, is a living museum of all things traditional and represents classical Swazi Lifestyle during the 1850’s. The objective of the village is to enable Swazi’s from all corners of the country to reach out to it and maintain a positive interest on their cultural heritage as well as show tourists the cultural achievements.

History

Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection

Travel Information

The national airline is Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation (ZC). Manzini (MTS) (Matsapha) is 5km northwest of the city. Taxi service to the city centre is available on all arrivals (journey time – 15 minutes). Airport Facilities consists of Banks/bureaux de change, restaurants, car hire and snack bar. Departure Tax SZL20; children under three years or age and direct transit passengers are exempt. A train service between Durban and Maputo travels through Swaziland stopping at Mpaka, 35km east of Manzini (journey time – 16 hours). There are good roads from Johannesburg, Durban and northern KwaZulu-Natal as well as tourist buses running from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. On crossing the border you will be required to show your passport and visa (if required). There is also a token road tax of E5 to be paid. There is a service from Mbabane and Manzini to Johannesburg (journey time – 8 hours), and a connection from Mbabane to Maputo.

Accommodation

There are some good hotels in Swaziland, some of international standard, but it is necessary to book well in advance. Rates quoted are generally per person based on two people sharing. Expect prices to be significantly higher in peak season (December to January, and Easter). There are also smaller motels and inns, campsites and caravan parks outside the city.

Visa Requirements

Visa is not required by citizens of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA, for stays of up to two months. Passport valid for at least six months upon entry required by all nationals of countries referred to above. Nationals of countries not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

Getting Around

The road system is largely well developed, although there is little street lighting. Some roads are winding and roads can be rough in the bush. Small toll charges are set to be introduced on the new highway between Mbabane and Manzini. The maximum speed limit on all roads is 80kph (50mph). The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.15 per cent. Traffic drives on the left. There are numerous (not always entirely safe) buses connecting the different parts of the country, including non-stop buses. Minibus taxis run shorter routes at slightly higher prices than the buses. There are a number of international car hire companies in Swaziland.

Health & Safety

Travellers arriving in Swaziland within six days of having been in a yellow fever infected area require a vaccination certificate. Cholera, rabies and typhoid vaccinations are recommended, as are malaria prevention measures for those visiting the lowland areas. Hepatitis B and bilharzia are highly endemic. There is an extremely high HIV/AIDs infection rate. Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink and food, including dairy products, presents no risk. Medical facilities are poor in the country, but the tourist hotels offer private services for minor problems. Serious cases can be transported to South Africa for treatment. Medical insurance is recommended. The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the safest tourist destinations in the Southern African region, though the possibility of petty crime cannot be ignored.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year's Day 19 Apr - King's Birthday 25 Apr - National Flag Day 1 May - Workers Day 17 May - Ascension day 22 Jul - Public Holiday Aug - Umhlanga Reed Dance Day (depending on the position of the moon) 6 Sep - Independence/ Somhlolo Day 25 Dec - Christmas Day 26 Dec - Boxing Day Dec/Jan - Incwala Day (depends on the moon)

Currency

Swaziland Lilageni (SZL)

Electricity

220V AC

Working Hours

Business Hours: 8.00am to 5.00pm each Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 8.30am to 13.00pm. Some establishments are open on Sundays as well. Banking hours: 8.30am to 14.30pm, Monday to Friday but on Wednesdays until 13.00pm and 8.30am to 11.00am on Saturdays.