Eswatini ✓ VISITEDEswatiniROAMSUN

Eswatini✨ 10 best things to do in Eswatini

Things to do in Eswatini

1. Track rhino at MkhayaJoin a guided drive or walk in this private reserve known for close encounters with black and white rhino.
2. Cycle MlilwaneRide or walk among zebra, antelope and warthog in the country's oldest wildlife sanctuary.
3. See lions at HlaneSpot lion, elephant and rhino in the lowveld of Hlane Royal National Park.
4. Hike MalolotjaTrek past waterfalls, gorges and grassland in a highland reserve with a canopy tour over the forest.
5. Climb Sibebe RockScramble up one of the largest granite domes in the world for views over the hills near Mbabane.
6. Watch traditional dancingCatch a performance at Mantenga Cultural Village, beside a beautiful waterfall.
7. Shop for craftsBrowse candles, glass, baskets and batiks in the Ezulwini and Malkerns valleys.
8. Visit Ngwenya GlassWatch glassblowers turn recycled bottles into animal figurines and tableware.
9. Raft the Great UsutuTackle rapids on the country's largest river with a local adventure outfit.
10. Explore Lion's CavernStand at the edge of one of the world's oldest known mines in Malolotja.

Eswatini🗺️ Where to visit in Eswatini

Where to go in Eswatini

• 📍
  Ezulwini ValleyCentral · culture & craftsThe 'valley of heaven' holds royal sites, craft markets, Mantenga and easy access to Mlilwane.
• 
  Mlilwane Wildlife SanctuaryCentral · wildlifeA gentle reserve where you can walk, cycle or ride horses among grazing animals.
• 
  Hlane Royal National ParkLowveld · big gameThe largest protected area in the country, home to lion, elephant and rhino.
• 📍
  Mkhaya Game ReserveLowveld · rhinoAn intimate reserve dedicated to endangered species, visited on guided safaris.
• 
  Malolotja Nature ReserveHighveld · hikingRugged mountains, waterfalls and wildflowers make this a hiker's paradise.
• 
  MbabaneHighveld · capitalThe relaxed hilly capital and a good base for Sibebe Rock and Ngwenya.
• 📍
  Malkerns ValleyCentral · farms & artsPineapple fields, craft workshops and a lively arts and music scene.
• 📍
  Mbuluzi Game ReserveLowveld · bush & birdsA quiet reserve with riverside lodges, giraffe and excellent birdlife.

Eswatini🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Eswatini

Best time to visit Eswatini

Eswatini's climate varies with altitude: the highveld around Mbabane is temperate and misty, while the lowveld in the east is hot and drier. Most rain falls in the summer months from November to March.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Mbabane (approximate averages).

Eswatini🎉 Festivals & events in Eswatini

• August or September
  Umhlanga (Reed Dance)Thousands of young women bring reeds to the Queen Mother in one of Africa's largest cultural ceremonies.
• December-January
  IncwalaThe sacred 'kingship' ceremony marking the new year and the first fruits, with parts open to visitors.
• February-March
  Buganu (Marula) FestivalA celebration of the marula fruit harvest and its traditional brew.
• September
  Independence DayNational celebrations mark independence on 6 September.

Eswatini🧭 Eswatini itinerary ideas

How many days in Eswatini?

Eswatini🎒 Backpacking Eswatini – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $35–55 a day

• Shared minibus taxis link Mbabane, Manzini and the border posts cheaply, though they stop running early in the evening.
• Mlilwane and the Ezulwini Valley have well-known backpacker lodges and campsites.
• Many travellers combine Eswatini with Kruger National Park via the hop-on backpacker bus routes from South Africa.
• Eat at local market stalls in Manzini for cheap pap, stews and grilled meat.
• Hitchhiking is common locally, but use judgement and avoid travelling at night.

Eswatini🛡️ Safety & money in Eswatini

Emergency: 999 police · 977 ambulance · 933 fire

Eswatini🛬 Getting to Eswatini

King Mswati III International Airport is the main air gateway, though most visitors arrive by road from South Africa via border posts like Oshoek or from Mozambique via Lomahasha.

✈️ Cheap flights to Eswatini: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Eswatini💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Eswatini

• Eswatini is one of the world's last absolute monarchies.
• Lion's Cavern at Ngwenya is considered one of the oldest known mines on Earth.
• King Sobhuza II reigned for over 80 years, one of the longest reigns in recorded history.
• The country was renamed from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018.
• Sibebe Rock is among the largest exposed granite domes in the world.

Eswatini❓ Eswatini travel FAQ

Eswatini travel questions