Swaziland
Table of Contents: Regions / Cities / Other destinations / Culture and History / Travel to Swaziland, visa requirements Flights to Swaziland, airtickets Buses to Swaziland / Swaziland tours. Get around / Talk / Shopping, Swaziland souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Swaziland nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Learn / Work / Stay safe / Stay healthy / Respect / Contact More from Southern Africa: Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Botswana, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe More from Africa: Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Saharan Africa, Seychelles, Southern Africa, West Africa |
Swaziland is a country in Southern Africa, land locked by South Africa in its west and Mozambique in the east. Swaziland's monarchy is one of the oldest in Africa.
Regions
Swaziland is divided into four districts:
- Hhohho (northwest)
- Lubombo (east)
- Manzini (central-west)
- Shiselweni (south)
Cities
- Mbabane - capital
- Lobamba - royal and legislative capital
- Manzini - major business centre
- Piggs Peak
- Big Bend
Other destinations
Culture and History
Swaziland, one of the the smallest countries in Africa, has a reputation for friendliness in Southern Africa. It also contains several large game parks and reserves, which are sponsored by the government and are popular tourist destinations.
Compared to other countries in the region, Swaziland is known for its civility and peacefulness, despite similar problems with poverty and one of the world's worst AIDS crises.
Rumors abound that much of Swaziland's economy is based on the farming of marijuana, or dagga, as it is locally known.
Travel to Swaziland, visa requirements
Flights to Swaziland, airtickets
The only International airport of Swaziland is Matsapha Airport [1], 1km outside of Manzini. Only two airlines fly there. Airlink Swaziland provides flights from Johannesburg (South Africa), while Swazi Express Airways has scheduled flights to and from Durban (South Africa), Maputo and Vilanculos (both Mozambique). There is also a small car rental station at the airport and a snack shop. A hotspot has recently been installed, allowing users with WiFi and Wireless LAN equipped computers or PDA’s to access the internet from anywhere in the building free of any charge.
Buses to Swaziland
Most bus services arrive in Mbabane or Manzini. Larger buses generally provide service to Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town in South Africa as well as Maputo in Mozambique.
Smaller bus lines, or minibuses usually stop at border crossings, where passengers must connect with an onward journey.
The South African Baz Bus, an independent line somewhat popular among backpackers, also makes regular stops via South Africa to various hostels and hotels in Swaziland.
Swaziland tours. Get around
Most travel in Swaziland is by either car or minibus.
Minibuses 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 Swaziland, these vans are often driven by very young men, and most have assistants who estimate and collect fares, ask your destination, and make change.
Be prepared for crowded seats, loud radios, and sometimes reckless driving.
Minibuses can usually be flagged down along main roads. Larger towns usually serve as minibus hubs or connections. Finding the correct bus can be tricky, so discreetly ask if you can't figure it out. You will be advised to watch your belongings, as such places, like all bus terminals worldwide, have disproportionally higher crime rates.
View places of interest in Swaziland other people have found worthy of travelling to and add your own locations on an interactive Map of Swaziland
Talk
English is the official language of business, however the local language SiSwati (also known as Swazi) will be useful talking to some locals.
Shopping, Swaziland souvenirs
The currency of Swaziland, the lilangeni, is tied to the South African rand. Shops in Swaziland often accept and make change for both currencies indiscriminately. This is not always the case in South Africa, however, so if you are planning to visit South Africa also, you may prefer to request rand in exchange for lilangeni.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Many foods are available in Swazi grocery stores, but traditional foods are still common, as are modern convenient food based on traditional ingredients.
Maize-based dishes are popular, and mealie-meal or mealie-pap (similar to porridge) is a staple. Beans, nuts, and sour milk are also common ingredients. Dried and cooked local meats, such as antelope, are widely available.
Sweet breads, vegetables and fruits are often available from roadside merchants.
Swaziland nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Swaziland is a small country and it is easy to go anywhere in the country during one day.
Ezulwini Valley is located between the two major cities, Mbabane and Manzini, and in Ezulwini you will find a lot of places to stay as well as the valley have the best restaurants in the country.
A very good choice is Calabash Restaurant [2]
Mantenga Lodge [3] is one of the most popular places to stay as the place offers value for money and has one of the best restaurants in country with some interesting new creations where modern cooking is combined with traditional Swazi food items.
Ezulwini Valley are also the home of the most popular disco in the country, Why Not, as well as you find the shopping centre Gables in the same area. You will also find The Great Thaipei, a Chinese restaurant, Kanimambo with Portuguese food as well as Quatermains pub and restaurant. Another pub in the same area is Lohheya.
A few miles from Ezulwini Valley you find House on Fire, a very different and popular venue for disco nights. All the major entertainers in the South African region are performing at House on Fire frequently. Freshly Ground, Ringo to mention some.
A wonderful place to stay one or more nights is Phophonyane Falls [4]. It is situated in the north-east, next to the Phophonyane waterfalls and offers great hiking trails. Best is to sleep in comfortable tends, next to the river.
Learn
Work
Stay safe
Swaziland has a much lower crime rate than other countries in the region.
Hippopotami are found (rarely) in the country's rivers, and are one of the more dangerous animals you are likely to come across. They are actually quite fast animals, as well as being extremely strong and with large, powerful jaws. They often stay submerged in shallow water during the day, but come out at night to graze. They can be unpredictable, territorial and very protective of their young. Do not stand between a hippo and the water. One should also take care while swimming in rivers as there may be some crocodiles.
Swaziland also has one of the highest numbers of people struck by lightning per capita in the whole world and it is common to know (or know of) somebody who has been struck by lightening
Stay healthy
Swaziland has the world's highest rate, of HIV prevalence in the world. Do not have unprotected sex in Swaziland, or anywhere else for that matter.
There are risks for bilharzia if you frequent infected streams, as well as seasonal risks for malaria in some parts of Swaziland.
Respect
Contact
More from Southern Africa: Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Botswana, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe More from Africa: Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Saharan Africa, Seychelles, Southern Africa, West Africa |
China travel tips: Language / pensions culture in Barcelona / cheap youth hostels singapore / hotels and hostels in Trastevere in Rome / Major Morocco tourist attractions / South Africa political attractions / Vancouver visitors guide, culture & youth hostels / Las Vegas hotels, top casinos, tours and shows
