Eswatini - Info & Facts

Suggested Length of Stay

The small size of Eswatini means most travellers tend to spend 1-3 Days here adding it onto a South African tour. However to truly experience the nation five days would be recommended.

 

Modes of transport

Road

Traffic in Eswatini drives on the left. Drivers will need an Australian driving licence or an international licence in English. Around the main towns, roads are generally good, with tarmacked surfaces and reasonable street lighting at night. Away from town and main routes you will most likely encounter gravel roads, dirt tracks and very uneven surfaces. In some of the more isolated and remote areas, a 4WD vehicle if not needed, is most certainly recommended. Roads like these are most marked on a roadmap, however, if you see a road not listed on your map, you can be pretty sure that itā€™s going to be a bumpy ride.

Traffic accidents in Eswatini are high, whether on tar or gravel, so always drive with care and vigilance, wear your seatbelt and avoid driving at night if at all possible. If your home country does drive on the left-hand side off the road, donā€™t be lead into a false sense of security as driving styles, traffic laws, and general motoring etiquette is very different to that of what you may be familiar with.

Eswatini has petrol stations at all main towns, most borders and some key road junctions. A pump attendant is often on hand to fill your vehicle, and may also check your oil and water and give your windscreen a clean; a modest tip is always welcome, though never demanded. Larger petrol stations will have a shop with basic supplies, and a garage where they will repair a puncture and fix other minor mechanical problems.

Public transport

Due to buses being overcrowded, unreliable, and potential dangers, advice from local authorities often suggests that tourist should avoid travelling by public buses. Despite this, this is how the Swazis travel and offer a chance to experience a little more culture and get to know the real Eswatini a little better.

Eswatini has quite an extensive bus network, after all, for locals, it is the main form of transport. The network connects every main town around the country through privately owned operators all competing for the main routes. Mbabane and Manzini both have large bus ranks, and all other towns have smaller ones. While timetables arenā€™t normally published, speaking to the locals will get you a more accurate idea off when buses arrive and depart.

Kombi Taxi

Kombi taxi is what Australian tourists would recognise as minibuses. They often travel the same routes as the buses but at a higher speed and for a steeper fare. Some run non-stop between Mbabane and Manzini. Although another option, be aware that this is no atypical taxi service and that they do run set routes. You can ā€˜hop onā€™ and ā€˜hop offā€™ where necessary however they wouldnā€™t take you to your specific destination.

 

Climate

Rain falls mostly during the summer months, often in the form of thunderstorms typical of tropical environments, although Eswatini can vary from tropical to temperate.

The dry season (Winter) lasts from mid-April to mid-October, with an average temperature of 20Ā°C (the days being sunny and the nights chilly). The rainy season begins at the end of October, lasting through to March. During the dry seasons expect hot days when the sun is out, but temperatures can drop quickly at night with extra layers needed at all year round.

Variations in temperature are also dependent on the altitude of the different regions with temperatures of up to 40 degrees having been recorded in some areas.

 

Health Precautions

It is wise to be up to date on tetanus, polio and diphtheria (now given as an all-in-one vaccine), and hepatitis A. Proof of vaccination against yellow fever is needed if you are coming from a yellow fever endemic area, though a yellow fever vaccine is not required for Eswatini alone. Immunisation against cholera is no longer required for Eswatini. Anti-Malarial pills are only needed if travelling to the eastern side of the country (the lowveld and the Lubombo Mountains), including the reserves of the Lubombo Conservancy. However, Eswatini is also getting close to being malaria free.

Medical facilities in Eswatini are generally poor; however minor problems can be checked through private services offered by some hotels. In some serious cases, the poor health care available can mean that transfers to South Africa are needed. It is recommended that all visitors have medical insurance.

 

Food and Drink

When catering for yourself, experiencing local markets and stalls is a great way to pick up cheap good quality food as well as tasting local delicacies and dishes. Ensure all food is thoroughly washed and cooked well though. In more remote locations where cultural influence is high, African staples such as stew and pap (a traditional porridge made from ground maize) are great things to try.

Whilst meat is generally available across tourism establishments in Eswatini, for the locals, it is normally a luxury. Animals are generally slaughtered for special occasions and are considered a high-status food. When this happens nothing is wasted, with stews made with spiced chillies including tripe, offal, hooves, trotters and chicken gizzards. When people do eat meat, they tend to really go for it. Attending an Eswatini wedding is often something of a sight, as Swaziā€™s cram on as much charred flesh as they can.

Eswatini also has many artisan food producers including Eswatini Kitchen ā€“ a specialist in making jams, sauces, chutneys and more. Eswatini is also home to its very own chilli production with Black Mamba Chilli, and in the northern town of Bulembu, Eswatini produces itā€™s very own honey.

Other popular foods include pumpkin, beans and rice, where available. Sweet potatoes are widely cultivated, and sorghum is farmed in some areas. Fruits include many tropical varieties in season, such as mango, guava, paw-paw, banana and avocado, which grow freely around most homesteads. The best time for most fruits is the late rainy season, from December to March.

Restaurants are mainly found in the larger, more central towns such as Mbabane and more tourist-focused areas such as the Ezulwini Valley. Portuguese cuisine (an influence from nearby Mozambique) including seafood, and especially prawns, can be found in areas like Big Bend.

 

Money

The unit of currency in Eswatini is the Lilangeni ā€“ plural Emalangeni (E) ā€“ which is fixed to the rand (1 Rand = 1 Lilangeni). South African Rands are accepted everywhere, and thereā€™s no need to change them. Some outside tourist areas will only accept the South African notes.

Emalangeni are difficult to exchange for other currencies outside Eswatini, so you should reconvert before you leave. If you are leaving through the airport, you could use your last E50 for the compulsory departure tax.

Credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops but not for the purchase of petrol. Most ATMs in Eswatini accept international cards. If you have a Maestro or Cirrus debit card, you can use Standard Bank ATMs to withdraw money.

Standard Bank, First National and Nedbank have branches in all the main centres. Opening hours are generally 8.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and until 1 pm on Saturdays.

 

Time Zone

Eswatini time is GMT+1.

 

Visas

You can enter Eswatini for tourist purposes for up to 30 days without a visa. For other visits, you’ll need to get a visa in advance.

 

Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts for Eswatini

Australia does not have a High Commission of Embassy in Eswatini. You can get consular assistance from the Australian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.

Australian High Commission, Pretoria

292 Orient Street, Arcadia, Pretoria 0083, Republic of South Africa

Telephone: (27 12) 4236000

Fax: (27 12) 3428442

Website: southafrica.highcommission.gov.au

Email: consular.pretoria@dfat.gov.au

 

Eswatini Embassy contacts in Australia

Eswatini has no official Embassy or consulate in Australia. Contact the Consulate in Malaysia for all Australian-related visa issues etc.

High Commission of the Kingdom of Eswatini

22nd Floor, Menara Citibank, Suite 3 & 3a 165 Jalan Ampang

50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

TEL: +603-21632511

FAX: +603-21633326

enquiry@swazilandkualalumpur.org

 

Electricity

220 / 240-volt AC

 

Getting there (stopovers)

Reaching Eswatini by air at present is only possible from Johannesburg, flying to King Mswati III International airport on Airlink

Driving into Eswatini is relatively easy, provided you drive sensibly and avoid the potholes, ramshackle settlements, pedestrians and wandering livestock found on many of the roads leading into the country. Upon entry, a fee is required of R50.00 for a car and for a truck/company car a fee of R80.00 applies. There is no Bureau to change currency, however, the gate does accept South African Rand. Certain documentation is required by the South African authorities to enter Eswatini from South Africa.

 

A brief history

The Nguni Swazi Kingdom rose to prominence early in the 19th century, under the leadership of King Sobhuza I, who enlarged the territory by conquering and absorbing numbers of non-Nguni people.

King Mswati II then moulded the young kingdom into a powerful military force. Through internal stability, military might and diplomacy, the Kingdom of eSwatini remained an independent country until the 1890s, the King taking advantage of the rivalry between the British administration in Natal and the Boer republic of the Transvaal to avoid a takeover by either. From 1894 until 1902 the country was administered by the Boer republic, but not annexed. After the defeat of the Boers by Britain in 1902, Eswatini came under British control until independence. The Kingdom of eSwatini became independent on 6 September 1968 and joined the Commonwealth.

 

Tipping

About 10% of your restaurant bill and about E5.00 per suitcase for porters. Tips are also appreciated at garages.

smiling white male wearing a backpack

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