General Information of Swaziland

Population:
895 000 ( 1995 est ); growth rate approx 3.2%

Climate:
Generally very pleasant. Highveld is mountainous with the hightest rainfall through the year and temperate with occasional frosts during winter. Middleveld and Lubombo regions have sub-tropical climate, while lovely is dry and at times hot. Rainfall occurs mainly in months between October and April.
Average temperatures: Spring ( Sep. - Oct.) 18 C; summer ( Nov. - Mar. ) 22 C; autumn ( Apr. - May ) 17 C; winter ( June - Aug. ) 15 C

Entry points:
International Airport at Matsapha, 8 km from Manzini.
Airport tax ( currently E20 or R20 ) payable on departure.
Border posts at road points around country -
Lomahasha/Namaacha 07:00 to 16:45
Matsamo/Jeppes Reef 07:00 to 18:00 ---- Lavumisa/Golela
Sandlane/Nerston 08:00 to 18:00 ----- Ngwenya/Oshoek
Mahamba 07:00 to 22:00
Ngwenya/Oshoek 07:00 to 22:00

Entry Requirements:
Visas are not required by visitors from Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Granada, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Visitors from the EC, Austria, Switzerland and Republic of China may obtain visas free of charge at airport.

Customs For Malities

Residents of Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa are required to give statistical information for goods originating in those countries which are not for sale in Swaziland. For other visitors, normal customs formalities apply. Duty free allowances - 400 cigaretts, 50 cigars, 250 g tobacco, 2 wine, 1 spirits, 500 ml perfume.

Health: Yellow fever and cholera vaccination certificates are not required unless visitor travels through or from endemic area. Precautionary measures against malaria are recommended. There are modern, fully-equipped hospitals in main centres.

Driving:
Visitors from South Africa do not require international drivers' licences. Speek limit is 80 km/h, 60 km/h in built-up areas. Vehicles are driven on left-hand side of road; wearing of seatbelts is compulsory.
Tarmac roads lead from main entry points to Manzini and Mbabane. Distances in kilometres from Mbabane to other centres: Johannesburg 370; Cape Town 1660; Durban 630; Maputo 220. Car hire firms operate efficient services. Cars can be collected and left at airport. Taxis available in Mbabane and Manzini.

Air Travel:
Royal Swazi National Airways operates regualr scheduled air services and suitable connections to numerous major regional cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Maputo, Harare, Lusaka, Maseru, Dar-es-Salaam, Nairobi and Entebbe.

Currency:
Lilangeni ( plural Emalangeni ) and cents, freely exchangeable and on par with South African currency.

Banking and Business Hours:
Banks are open on weekdays between 08:30 and 14:30 and on Saturdays between 08:30 and 11:00.
Commercial concerns are open on weekdays from 08:30 to 17:00, on Saturdays from 08:30 to 13:00. Some facilities and outlets are open on Sundays.
All government offices are closed on Saturdays.

Electrical Appliances:
Operate on 220/240 volts. Outlets are of three-pin, 15 amp type.

Churches:
Most denominations are represented, with times of services advertised locally.

Tourists' Information:
Tourist office situated in Swazi Plaza, Mbabane ( tel 4 2531 )

Language:
Official Lanaguages are siSwati and English.




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