Eswatini
A small landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa with cool highveld, hot lowveld bush, wildlife reserves and royal ceremonies.
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a small landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. At about 17,364 square kilometers, it is the second smallest country in continental Africa, yet its land changes quickly. The cool highveld gives way to the hot, dry lowveld of thorn trees and grassland, and the Lebombo Mountains run along the Mozambique border. Mbabane is the executive capital and seat of government, while Lobamba is the legislative capital, home to the royal residence and parliament.
Visitors go for the wildlife reserves, such as Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and Hlane Royal National Park, and for the cultural calendar. The Umhlanga Reed Dance is an eight-day ceremony held in late August or early September, and the Incwala ceremony falls on the fourth day after the full moon nearest 21 December. Eswatini is an absolute monarchy and the last of its kind in Africa. Rain falls mostly from December to March, often as thunderstorms, and winter is the dry season. Plan enough days to cover both the highveld and the lowveld.
Five things to know before Eswatini
- Check your visa-free stay
UK and Canadian passport holders can visit without a visa for up to 30 days. UK visitors can apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a 30-day extension. Check other passports with the Eswatini authorities. Visas and entry
- Check the date on your entry stamp
Make sure your passport is stamped with the right dates: mistakes can lead to a re-entry ban of up to a year. You need two blank pages.
- Cross borders during opening hours
Many small border posts with South Africa close in the late afternoon or evening. Check the hours for your crossing before you set out from Kruger.
- Book Mkhaya and Hlane stays ahead
Mkhaya is visited on arranged drives with a set meeting time, and Hlane's camps are small. Reserve before you plan the drive.
- Pay in lilangeni or rand
The lilangeni is pegged one to one with the South African rand, and rand notes are accepted everywhere. Change leftover lilangeni before you leave.
Eswatini travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Visa-free stays, extensions and checking your stamp.
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for self-drive trips and hiking in Malolotja.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans for Eswatini and a South Africa combo trip.
Read the guideMoney and cardsLilangeni, rand and card use at reserves.
Read the guideGetting aroundSelf-drive from Kruger and the border posts that stay open.
Read the guide
When to go
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- JanuaryRain20 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm, stormyJanuaryRain
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 229 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, stormy
- FebruaryRain20 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Warm, stormyFebruaryRain
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 243 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, stormy
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Rains easeMarchRain
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains ease
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, clearAprilRain
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Dry, coolMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool
- JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh20°Low8°Dry, cold nightsJuneClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cold nights
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh20°Low8°Dry, cold nightsJulyClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cold nights
- AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low10°Dry, windyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, windy
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh24°Low12°Dry, warmingSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warming
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°First rainsOctoberRain
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
First rains
- NovemberRain19 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°StormyNovemberRain
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Stormy
- DecemberRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low16°Warm, stormyDecemberRain
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 205 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, stormy
Average daily high and low in Mbabane, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Eswatini
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
10:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°14°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue22°14°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed24°15°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu27°16°18%Thursday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Fri26°19°90%Friday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Sat26°19°74%Saturday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Sun19°9°95%Sunday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 95%.
Updated 07:17 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 16.69 SZL
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Eswatini
Eswatini FAQ
Do I need a visa for Eswatini?
Not with a UK or Canadian passport for a short stay: up to 30 days is visa-free, and UK visitors can apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a 30-day extension. Check the rule for other passports.
Can I use South African rand in Eswatini?
Yes. The lilangeni is pegged one to one with the rand and rand notes are accepted everywhere, but lilangeni are not accepted in South Africa.
When is the best time to visit Eswatini?
May to September: dry, sunny and good for game viewing, with cold nights. October to March brings heat and afternoon storms.
How many days do I need in Eswatini?
Two or three days covers Hlane or Mkhaya plus the Ezulwini valley. Add a day for hiking in Malolotja.
When is the Umhlanga reed dance?
Usually in late August or early September, with dates set each year by the royal household. Check the official announcement before you book.