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Eswatini (Swaziland)

Eswatini (Swaziland) Tours & Holidays

Antelope standing in the long grass on the plains of Swaziland

This small but immensely beautiful country is home to one of Africa’s last remaining monarchs.

Tradition is important here and Swazis celebrate their country and their customs with pride. Match that with some outstanding wildlife spotting and Swaziland is an absolute winner.

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Eswatini (Swaziland) at a glance

CAPITAL CITY
Mbabane (administrative, population 100,000); Lobamba (royal, population 10,00)

POPULATION
1.16 million

CURRENCY
SZL

LANGUAGE
Swati, English

TIME ZONE
(GMT+02:00) Windhoek

CALLING CODE
+268

ELECTRICITY
Type M (see D)

Learn more about Eswatini (Swaziland)

Best time to visit Eswatini (Swaziland)

While the Highveld remains cool and rain is common all year round, the lowlands are warmer and drier. Winter (from June to August) is the best time to visit. Rain is most prevalent from October to May but this can still be a pleasant time to visit as temperatures are mild and there’s plenty of sunshine.

Top 5 Swazi experiences

African lion rests in the grass in the Hlane Royal National Park

1. Walking safari

Take wildlife spotting to a whole new level with a walking safari through Hlane Royal National Park. Spot rhinos, giraffes and vultures. You may even encounter lions… from a safe distance of course.

2. Umhlanga

Once a year, tens of thousands of young Swazi girls travel to the Queen Mother’s royal village. There they cut reeds to present to her before performing traditional dances.

3. Village life

Get a taste of all things traditional at a Swazi cultural village. Explore domed grass houses, learn Swazi songs, try out some dance moves and help celebrate a culture that is being kept alive by passionate locals.

4. Incwala ceremony

Catch a glimpse of the king at the annual Incwala ceremony. Celebrating the first fruits of the season, the ceremony includes a dance by the king and his regiments in their spectacular warrior dress.

5. Eat street

Take your tastebuds on a tour of Swaziland’s street food. Mingle with locals over stewed or grilled meat, stamped mealies and corn roasted on the cob.

Geography and environment

Rocky landscape and green mountain range in the distance in Swaziland

Swaziland is blessed with four major rivers, making it one of Africa’s most fertile countries. The Lubombo plateau is the main farming area, while rolling hills and pine forests cover much of the Highveld, Middleveld and Lowveld. Swaziland shares borders with South Africa and Mozambique.

Festivals and events

Public holidays that may impact travel include:

King's Birthday
National Flag Day
Workers' Day
Ascension Day
King Father's Birthday
Somholo Day

Please note the dates of Eswatini (Swaziland) public holidays may vary.

Eswatini (Swaziland) travel FAQs

Eswatini (Swaziland):

Australia: No visa required

Belgium: No visa required

Canada: No visa required

Germany: No visa required

Ireland: No visa required

Netherlands: No visa required

New Zealand: No visa required

South Africa: No visa required

Switzerland: No visa required

United Kingdom: No visa required

USA: No visa required

Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand don't currently require a visa for Swaziland for a stay of up to 2 months. For all other nationalities, please check the requirements with the closest consulate or embassy.

Service charges usually aren’t included in bills but it’s customary to tip 10% in restaurants and to guides.

Internet cafes can be found in Mbabane but can be difficult to find elsewhere.

Mobile phone reception is good in urban areas, but can be patchy elsewhere. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your carrier if you wish to use your phone.

Eswatini (Swaziland) has a combination of modern flushable toilets and squat/pit toilets, depending on where you are travelling and staying. Generally large hotels, modern restaurants and city cafes have flushable toilets, while remote areas have squat toilets.

Tap water is considered safe to drink, however outside main towns it’s advised to sterilize or filter the water. For environmental reasons, try to avoid bottled water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found.

Credit cards are accepted in hotels and upmarket shops.

While ATMs are available, only a few accept international cards.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.

Find out more or make a donation

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to: Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to: Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to: US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

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Our purpose

Title	Author
The Kingdom of Roses and Thorns	Debra Liebenow Daly
Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World	Tom Davis
Love and Death in the Kingdom of Swaziland	Glenn Alan Cheney

Eswatini (Swaziland) Tours & Holidays

Our Eswatini (Swaziland) trips

Eswatini (Swaziland) at a glance

CAPITAL CITY

POPULATION

CURRENCY

LANGUAGE

TIME ZONE

CALLING CODE

ELECTRICITY

Learn more about Eswatini (Swaziland)

1. Walking safari

2. Umhlanga

3. Village life

4. Incwala ceremony

5. Eat street

Public holidays that may impact travel include:

Eswatini (Swaziland) travel FAQs

Do I need a visa to travel to Eswatini (Swaziland)?

Is tipping customary in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

What is the internet access like in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

Can I use my mobile/cell phone while in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

What are the toilets like in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

Can I drink the water in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

Are credit cards accepted widely in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

What is ATM access like in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before travelling?

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

How do I stay safe and healthy while travelling?