Swaziland

The smallest country in Africa is also one of the most easy going - laid-back Swazis are more likely to celebrate for fun than demonstrate for reform. A progressive and hands-on attitude towards wildlife preservation has endowed it with a striking bunch of national parks.

Top Accommodation

Top Restaurants

With a mild summer and winter, the climate in Swaziland is mostly pleasant all year. Rain is more frequent from October to May, but with plenty of sunshine, low humidity and temperatures around 25°C (77°F), these months are hardly a trial to endure. Winters can get quite cold at night but are relatively dry. Closer to Mozambique in the lowlands, conditions become more tropical.

Transport

Getting around

There are a few infrequent (but cheap) domestic buses, most of which begin and terminate at the main stop in the centre of Mbabane. Generally you'll find minibus taxis are the best public transport, although they often run shorter routes. There are also non-shared (private hire) taxis in some of the larger towns. Most roads are good but there are rough ones out in the bush. Away from the main population centres the main dangers are people and animals on the road. With a legal blood alcohol limit of 0.15%, drunken drivers can be another danger!

Getting there and away

Swazi Airlink operates out of Matsapha International Airport, north of Manzini, and flies to/from Johannesburg daily. Swazi Express Airways flies four times a week to Durban (South Africa). Schedules and tickets often refer to the airport as Manzini.

Swaziland has 11 border posts with South Africa and one with Mozambique, and the smallest posts close at 16:00 or 18:00. There is a bus service from Mbabane to Maputo in Mozambique, and buses ply the roads between Mbabane, Durban and Cape Town and Jo'burg to Mlilwane. Minibus taxis also run between Jo'burg and Mbabane, but for most other destinations in Swaziland you'll have to take a minibus taxi to the border and then another from there to the nearest town, then change again. This can take time.

Health & Legal Requirements

Visas overview

Most people don't require a visa, apart from some nationalities of the European Union who can get them free at the airport. Vaccination certificates are required if you have recently been in a yellow fever area.