Eswatini: main airports
Eswatini is served by King Mswati III International Airport, opened in March 2014 in the Lubombo region to replace the former Matsapha airport as the country's only international airport. The national carrier Eswatini Air, operating since March 2023, connects the airport with Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Harare.
Eswatini: recommended activities
Eswatini: visa and entry requirements
A visa is not required for tourist or business stays of up to 30 days for citizens of most Commonwealth countries, the United States, Japan and most European Union countries (check the specific position for Canada and Australia before departure). A further 30-day extension is possible at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
A passport with at least 3 months of remaining validity beyond the travel dates is required.
Eswatini: safety
The United States classifies Eswatini at Level 2 ("Exercise Increased Caution"), for common crime (sporadic armed robbery, car theft) and local police forces with limited resources.
Eswatini is Africa's last absolute monarchy, with political parties effectively banned from electoral life: the pro-democracy protests of June 2021 were harshly suppressed, and the repression remains largely unpunished. It is advisable to avoid gatherings and demonstrations, even peaceful ones, as they can escalate without warning.
Eswatini: health situation
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required only for those arriving from a country at risk of transmission; the disease is not present in Eswatini.
Malaria, however, is present in the eastern low-altitude areas (below 600 meters) on the border with Mozambique and South Africa, particularly in the Lubombo region, with peak risk from November to May: antimalarial prophylaxis is advisable for those visiting these areas.
Eswatini: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the lilangeni (SZL), pegged 1:1 to the South African rand: rand banknotes are accepted as legal tender in Eswatini, but emalangeni are not accepted in South Africa. The official languages are siSwati and English.
