Swaziland - basics - Countries Guide

Time: Local time is GMT +2.

Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. The plug type used is a 15-amp round, three-pin plug as used in South Africa.

Language: The official languages are Siswati and English.

Health: Travellers arriving in Swaziland within six days of having been in a yellow fever infected area require a vaccination certificate. Hepatitis A, rabies, polio and typhoid vaccinations are recommended, as are malaria prevention measures for those visiting the lowland areas. Bilharzia exists in some rivers, and cholera outbreaks occur. There is an extremely high HIV/AIDS infection rate. Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink and food, including dairy products, presents no risk. Medical facilities are poor in the country, but the tourist hotels offer private services for minor problems. Serious cases can be transported to South Africa for treatment. Medical insurance is recommended.

Tipping: Service charges are not normally included in bills, but tips of 10% are customary.

Safety: The crime rate is low and most visits are trouble free. It is wise, however, to take precautions against theft, and avoid travelling by road at night.

Customs: Homosexuality is illegal.

Communications: The International direct dialling country code for Swaziland is +268 and the outgoing code 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). The city code (0)67 is used for Villaverde de Guadealimar only. The country is covered by a GSM 900 mobile network, and an Internet service provider is active. Post offices open weekdays from 8am to 5pm, and Saturdays 8am to 11am. Public telephones are well distributed through the towns and villages.

Duty Free: Travellers to Swaziland do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g tobacco; 1 bottle alcoholic beverage (up to 0.75 litres) and 284ml of perfume. For goods re-imported to the country, travellers must complete a DA65 or NEP-form. Married couples travelling together are allowed free import for one person.

Climate: Conditions in Swaziland vary according to altitude, with the higher areas being generally cloudy, misty and several degrees cooler than the rest of the country. The mountainous region in the west, where most tourists spend their time, is humid and wet, the rain falling in occasional violent storms. In the middle and lowland regions conditions are drier, the climate ranging from sub-tropical to tropical as one moves east. The rainy season is generally between October and May and is warm and wet, while cooler and drier conditions prevail from June to September.