Eswatini (Swaziland) Tours & Vacations
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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Explore tailor-made tripsEswatini (Swaziland) at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Mbabane (administrative, population 100,000); Lobamba (royal, population 5,800)
POPULATION
1.18 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.
Geography and Environment
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.
Top 5 Swazi experiences
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 taste buds on a tour of Swaziland’s street food. Mingle with locals over stewed or grilled meat, stamped mealies and corn roasted on the cob.
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
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
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 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.
Eswatini (Swaziland) has a combination of modern flushable toilets and squat/pit toilets, depending on where you are traveling 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.
Cell 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.
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 mobilize 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
Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travelers, regardless of their nationality.
We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
For travelers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.
We recommend that all travelers check with their government or national travel advisory organization for the latest information before departure. If traveling from the US, you can find helpful information from the US Department of State and the World Health Organization.
Read more about traveling with Intrepid as an American