Eswatini

Understand

The Kingdom of Eswatini is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, one of the smallest countries in Africa and has a well-earned reputation for friendliness in Southern Africa. It also contains several moderately sized game parks and reserves, which are sponsored by the government and are popular tourist destinations. Eswatini is named after Mswati II, who became king in 1839. The royal lineage can be traced back to the Dlamini clan. The population is divided roughly between Nguni, Sotho and Tsonga, the remainder being 3% white. The current king is Mswati III, son of Sobuza II who had about seventy wives. He rules jointly with Indlovukazi, the Queen Mother. The primary symbol of Eswatini is not what the West would typically associate with nationhood, flags or monuments, but the king himself. The relationship between king and people is demonstrated through the incwala, a ceremony lasting several weeks which focuses on traditional rule, unity of the state, primacy of agriculture, sacredness of land, fertility and potency. Mswati's relationship with his people has been made even more unique through the introduction of chastity decrees for the under-18s to combat the rise of AIDS. However, Mswati III broke the rule when he married a 17-year-old girl, his thirteenth wife, in 2005. Mswati III has come under further criticism for attempting to purchase a private plane during a period of persistent drought and famine. Dissent grew so vociferous that the media was banned from making disparaging remarks about the monarchy, and the plane in particular. In the third year of drought, further plans to build luxury palaces for his wives whilst his people starved led to mass criticism. In 2005, Mswati III signed the country's first constitution though, in effect, nothing has

See

The national parks and reserves are the most important sights in Eswatini, and traditional culture and customs are still alive.

Do

Volunteer Eswatini is one of the world's poorest countries, with 59% of the population living below the poverty line. Volunteering is a great way to explore and learn more about the country and its culture.

Adventure activities 1 Nsangwini Rock Art Tour, ☏ +268 78121139. Daily. A unique and historic site above the Komati River. R50 per person. (updated Apr 2022) 2 Sibebe Rock. One of Africa’s most breathtaking geological features. Comparable to the Uluru in Australia. If you are looking for a hiking opportunity, look no further! You may hike all the way to the top of the rock. (updated Apr 2022)

Buy

Money

The currency of Eswatini is called the lilangeni (plural: "emalangeni"), denoted by the symbol "L" for one, or "E" for more than one (ISO code: SZL). It is tied to the South African rand at par, as are the Namibian dollar and Lesotho loti. Coins of Eswatini come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 cents, 1, 2 and 5 emalangeni. Banknotes of Eswatini come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 emalangeni. Shops in Eswatini usually accept and give change in both currencies indiscriminately where banknotes are concerned, but not coins. However, this is not the case in South Africa, so if you are p

Getting there

Eswatini's visa policy is quite liberal. Citizens of many countries can visit the country without a visa. The government plans to offer visas on arrival in the near future.

Entry requirements Citizens of the following countries/territories do not require a visa to enter Eswatini for visits up to 30 days: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Timor, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Visa requirements If you need a visa to enter the country, you must submit the following documents to your local Eswatini embassy:

A valid passport. Documentation indicating your intentions to visit Eswatini. Documentation indicating the duration of your stay. Two passport-sized photographs. Proof that you are financially stable (bank statements, salary slips, and the like will suffice). Air travel tickets (if you plan to enter the country by plane). Eswatini has a small number of diplomatic missions. If your country doesn't have an Eswatini embassy, go here to see if an embassy is accredited to your country of residence. Plan and prepare according

Getting around

With an area of 6,704 sq mi, the quickest way to get around the country is by car. You can easily cover the whole country in one day this way.

By bus Minibuses, called kombis, are prevalent, but can be confusing. Like similar modes of travel around the world such as the jitney, matatu or dolmus, these are small vans that accumulate as many travellers as possible while making their way along a general direction. In Eswatini, these vans are often driven by young men, and most have assistants who estimate and collect fares, ask your destination, and give change. You are unlikely to be over-charged. Be prepared for crowded seats, loud radios, and sometimes reckless driving. The larger Sprinter vans are a safer and faster choice if available. Minibuses can usually be flagged down along main roads. Larger towns usually serve as minibus hubs or connections. Major hubs include Manzini, Mbabane, Pigg's Peak, Nhlangano, Siteki, and Big Bend. Finding the correct bus can be tricky, so discreetly ask if you can't figure it out. The kombis typically have destinations written on the front bumpers. At a bus station (or bus rank), young men will yell out the destinations and are helpful in guiding you to the correct kombi; however, always double check with the passengers. Watch your belongings as such places, like all bus terminals worldwide, have disproportionally higher crime rates. Stay away from these bus ranks at night. Travel is very difficult after dark. The only option is by taxi. If staying around Mbabane or Manzini, keep a couple of cab drivers' phone numbers on hand. Taxi drivers may overcharge.

By car Traffic is on the left. The road is partially in good condition and paved. There are sections in poor condition, particularly in the mountains. The roads are used by a l