Travel Summary
- There is no British High Commission in Swaziland. In case of an emergency you should contact the British High Commission in Pretoria. There is an Honorary British Consul in Mbabane, but he should be contacted for consular emergencies only. See the Contact Details section of this Travel Advice.
- Do not drive at night along the N4 or other isolated roads en route to, or within Swaziland, as there is a risk of being hijacked. Livestock and unlit, parked vehicles pose additional hazards. See the Road Safety section of this Travel Advice.
- Swaziland has the world's highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS. You should be alert to the dangers of unprotected sex.
- Most visits are trouble-free. Crime levels are relatively low for the southern Africa region but sensible precautions are needed. See the Crime section of this advice for more details.
- There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- We strongly recommend you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.
Crime
You should avoid travelling into or out of Swaziland by road at night. There have been numerous incidences of car hijacking on major routes from South Africa and Mozambique.
The level of crime is low in Swaziland compared to its immediate neighbours. But street crimes and burglaries do occur, sometimes involving violence. There have also been incidents of vehicles being taken at gunpoint. Avoid walking in the downtown areas of Mbabane and Manzini after dark and do not picnic in remote rural areas unless in a large group.
Keep valuables in a safe place and avoid carrying large amounts of money or wearing conspicuous jewellery. For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
Swaziland Country Profile
The political situation is stable, but there are periodically organised demonstrations relating to labour and political issues in the Kingdom. Elections and the double celebrations held in 2008 to mark both the King’s 40th birthday and 40 years of independence promoted a rising level of public protest. Certain political parties have been banned and designated terrorist organisations. We strongly advise visitors to avoid crowd gatherings which, if regarded as unauthorised demonstrations, could be dispersed by the Police Authorities using a degree of force, possibly involving firearms.
Local Travel
All areas of Swaziland are accessible by road, though care should be taken in rural areas (see Road Travel below).
Road Travel
UK or international driving licences (provided the latter are in English) are acceptable.
The standard of driving is lower than in the UK. Drivers often cross the central reservation to avoid obstructions. Speeding by other drivers is a problem (the maximum speed limit is 120 km on motorways and 80 km on other unrestricted roads). Minor roads are not well maintained and road markings are poor.
On rural roads there have been a number of serious accidents and deaths as a result of animals straying onto roads. Avoid driving on rural roads at night. As well as the risk of hitting animals, there is the additional risk of abandoned unlit trailers and poorly lit heavy vehicles.
Do not use public transport (buses and taxis). Vehicles are, generally, poorly maintained and overloaded.
Be wary of anyone who offers you help if you breakdown or need to change a tyre as it presents the opportunity for theft, muggings and hijackings. You should park in well-lit areas. Do not pick up strangers. Do not stop to assist (apparently) distressed motorists, as these are all techniques sometimes used by hijackers. Instead, report the incident to the police. For more general information see Driving Abroad.
Air Travel
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.
For more general information see Airline Security.
Local laws and customs
Drug taking (dagga/marijuana) and smuggling, though common in local culture, is illegal. Foreign nationals have been imprisoned on drug offences. Punishments can be severe. Homosexuality is legal. For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.
Entry requirements
Visa British passport holders and most Commonwealth citizens do not require visas for Swaziland. Visitors will normally be given entry permission for up to thirty days. This can be extended at the Swaziland Immigration Department in Mbabane. All Swaziland border posts open daily throughout the year but hours of operation are variable. Passport validity Your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months and have several blank pages. Applications for new passports are accepted by the Consular Section at the British High Commission in Pretoria in person or by courier (if a courier is used, the cost is borne by the applicant). South Africa South Africa authorities state that officially only one blank passport page is required for entry. But there have been reports that some South Africa officials insist on two blank pages. We recommend you have two blank pages. Vehicles If you travel in a vehicle other than one registered in South Africa, you will have to complete Form 36 at Swazi border posts on entry and departure for customs purposes. A road fund levy, currently E 50, is payable at the border for all non-Swazi registered vehicles.
Vehicles may be searched at the borders. Travelling with children Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Health
Basic healthcare is available in Swaziland, but there are increasing shortages of even common medications. Medical evacuation to South Africa is necessary for serious accidents and emergencies. Local private hospitals can arrange evacuation but only if you are fully insured or you can produce funds in advance to pay for evacuation and treatment.
There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.
Rabies occurs in most African countries. You should also be aware of the risk of tick bites in the bush.
Malaria is endemic in the lowveld and visitors are advised to see their doctors to obtain the prescribed prophylactic before their visit.Drinking water may not be safe, especially in rural areas. Bilharzia, a tropical flat worm found in water and which is parasitic in humans, exists in some rivers. There is also a risk of cholera. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Swaziland you should seek immediate medical attention.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 170,000 adults aged 15 or over in Swaziland were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 26.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Swaziland and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general health information see Travel Health.
Natural disasters
Swaziland has suffered from a drought in the lowveld in the past two years. In the wet summer months (November to April) violent thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rains are common in the highveld areas.
General
Insurance We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Representation There is no British High Commission in Swaziland, but there is an Honorary British Consul in Mbabane, who can be contacted for assistance with consular emergencies only.
Frank Pettit
PO Box 41 No "A"
Eveni
Mbabane
H103
Swaziland
Telephone +268 404 3469 / Fax: +268 551 6247
All other enquiries should be directed to the British High Commission in Pretoria, who cover Swaziland. Money
The local currency (Emalangeni) is not convertible. South African Notes (but not coins) are legal tender, as are most major credit cards. ATM machines are readily available.
