Eswatini
Kingdom of Eswatini
Southern Africa · SWZ
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Eswatini
Eswatini works well for travelers who want an easier southern Africa add-on with wildlife reserves, mountain scenery, and a more compact route than South Africa or Namibia. It is strongest as a short road trip or border-crossing extension, not as a destination that needs a long standalone itinerary.
Popular For
Things To See
- Mbabane
- Lobamba
- Hlane Royal National Park
- Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
- Malolotja Nature Reserve
- Mkhaya Game Reserve
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Most travelers see Eswatini at its best as part of a broader southern Africa route rather than as a long single-country trip.
- Reserve stays and road travel are the main itinerary building blocks, so the country is easy to over-plan if you chase too many small stops.
- This is a practical fit for travelers who want a quieter wildlife break with simpler logistics than a larger regional circuit.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Eswatini.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Eswatini Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Eswatini.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Mbabane
- Population
- 1,235,549
- Area
- 17,364 km²
- Region
- Southern Africa
Languages
- English
- Swazi
Currency
Swazi lilangeni (L)
SZL
South African rand (R)
ZAR
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
33.1
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Mbabane (26.32°S, 31.13°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 4/100
- Lived safety
- 35/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.695
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.052
- 10-year change
- +0.117
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.964
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.484
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 4.2%
- Forest cover
- 29.1%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 9
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 15
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
25/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
63/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise increased caution in Eswatini due to crime and civil unrest. Advisory Summary Crime Crime is common in Eswatini. Sporadic armed robberies and carjackings occur. Local police may lack the resources to deal effectively with criminal incidents. Unrest Demonstrations and protests occur sporadically in Eswatini. Americans should avoid all public gatherings, even peaceful ones. They could turn violent with little or no warning. If you decide to travel to Eswatini: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Eswatini. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Eswatini. Keep a low profile and stay aware of your surroundings. Do not display signs of wealth, like expensive watches or jewelry. Review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Monitor local media for breaking events. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of July 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data