Overland Swaziland Travel

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Currency to display:

Visiting Swaziland[edit]

Swaziland is a beautiful little county packed with culture. It's well worth a visit.

Entering Swaziland with a Car or Motorbike[edit]

Correct as of: January 2018

Travel Visa for Swaziland[edit]

The travel visa for Swaziland is free for virtually all nationalities, and is given at the border - land or airport.
Duration is usually 30 days, though I think you could ask for longer and they would give it no problem.

Required Paperwork[edit]

(no copies are required)

NOTE: If you are driving into any country in the South Africa Customs Union (SACU) (Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland) You do not require a Carnet de Passage. If you are shipping into or out of any of those countries, you absolutely must have a Carnet de Passage, no exceptions.

South Africa will issue a 6 month Temp Import Permit for the vehicle, which you can use in all the SACU countries. Once you have the 6 month one from South Africa, travel between all those countries is extremely simple - you don't even need to visit Customs or complete any vehicle-related paperwork as you drive into Swaziland.

Process at border[edit]

  • Get yourself stamped in at Immigration.
  • You do not need to go to Customs at all. Whatever paperwork you have from South Africa (Temp Import Permit or Carnet) is all you need - nothing needs to be stamped or even approved.

Cost of entry[edit]

All foreign vehicles must pay a <cost price="50" currency="ZAR" /> Road Tax.
This applies if you have a Carnet de Passage or not.

Permitted length of stay[edit]

The Temp Import Permit is usually valid for 6 months, and a Carnet stamp probably means it's permitted for 12 months total. This can possibly be extended with a permission letter from the AA, but likely it's just easier to leave the entire SACU and come back.

Extension of stay[edit]

Talk to Customs or the AA.

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country[edit]

Leaving the vehicle and returning is not a problem in Swaziland, though most people choose to do it in South Africa just to be closer to an International Airport. Make sure you are back and leave the SACU countries before the Temp Import Permit or your Carnet expires.

Exiting with a vehicle[edit]

  • Get yourself stamped out at Immigration.
  • If you are going back into South Africa, you keep all your Customs paperwork and don't get anything stamped (Temp Import Permit or Carnet)
  • If you are going into Mozambique you need to go to Customs and either cancel your Temp Import Permit, or get your Carnet stamped out of the SACU.

Driving in Swaziland[edit]

Recommended books for Overlanding in Swaziland[edit]

Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (trave...
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (trave...
by Lonely Planet, James Bainbridge, Jean-Bernard Cari...
From $15.74 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon
South Africa Handbook, 10th: Travel Guide To South Afr...
South Africa Handbook, 10th: Travel Guide To South Afr...
by Lizzie Williams, Francisca Kellett
From $15.35 on Amazon

Travel insurance for Swaziland[edit]

World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.

Vehicle insurance requirements[edit]

Unsure if it's required or included in the price of petrol/diesel. Nobody asks for it.

Cost of vehicle insurance[edit]

Unsure

Where to purchase vehicle insurance[edit]

N/A

Driving license[edit]

Anything should be fine.

Driving side of road[edit]

Left.
LHD vehicles can be driven in Swaziland without a problem.

Mandatory items in vehicle[edit]

You probably need two safety triangles, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and a bright yellow safety vest for every person in the vehicle. It's a good idea to have them to avoid a ticket or bribery attempts.

Roads[edit]

General Road quality[edit]

Swaziland has good tarmac roads for highways, and reasonable gravel roads for secondary. Potholes are somewhat common, keep your eyes open!

Road signs[edit]

Road signs are frequent and generally good quality. Street names are hit or miss.

Toll roads[edit]

None

Bribery in Swaziland[edit]

Bribery a rarity. If you do get asked for money it is usually best not to pay and rather keep calm with a persistent smile. See the bribery tips page for advice.

Checkpoints[edit]

Police checkpoints are very uncommon. Usually they are routine stops to check you have a license and proper registration. They are much more common at night. Police are generally friendly and the stops don't take more than a few minutes.

Traveling with pets[edit]

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gas and Diesel price in Swaziland[edit]

Last updated: January 2018

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Unleaded R12.39 ZAR per Liter
Diesel R12.35 ZAR per Liter

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency[edit]

Gas shortages are very rare, it should not be a problem.

Gas and Diesel Quality[edit]

Diesel is mostly available in 50ppm and 500ppm. Petrol quality is generally clean.

Safety and Security Considerations[edit]

Driving at night[edit]

Driving at night is common in Swaziland, but should be avoided if possible. Many vehicles drive without headlights. If driving at night, use extra caution.

Vehicle parking[edit]

As with most parts of the world, some areas are safer than others, use your instincts. Probably best not to park on the street overnight in towns. Find a secure lot.

Special driving considerations[edit]

Keep your eyes out for pothole and speed bumps - they sneak up on you!

Security advisories and information[edit]

Camping in Swaziland[edit]

There are some official campsites scattered around the country, and some wilderness where you can wild camp. Even if locals are nearby they are friendly and welcoming, and you need not be worried.

Camping guide books[edit]

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water[edit]

Water from taps is safe to drink in many parts of the country. Of course, proper water filtration is the safest option.

Navigation[edit]

Paper maps[edit]

Reise Know-How are among the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Swaziland

South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland 1:1,400,000 Travel M...
South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland 1:1,400,000 Travel M...
by Reise Knowhow
From $12.95 on Amazon
South Africa (including Lesotho And Swaziland) 1:1.5m ...
South Africa (including Lesotho And Swaziland) 1:1.5m ...
by ITM Canada
From $6.00 on Amazon
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (trave...
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (trave...
by Lonely Planet, James Bainbridge, Jean-Bernard Cari...
From $15.74 on Amazon
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (trave...
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (trave...
by Lonely Planet, James Bainbridge, Jean-Bernard Cari...
From $15.74 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Swaziland[edit]

Tracks4Africa are the undisputed best GPS maps for Africa.
Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.

Gps Map Of Africa
Gps Map Of Africa
From $click on Amazon

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Swaziland[edit]

  • iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.

Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.

Special Overland Travel interests[edit]

List any major Overlanding highlights here.

Vehicle Maintenance[edit]

Dealers[edit]

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages[edit]

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Swaziland[edit]

Buy
It might just be easier in South Africa.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References[edit]

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.


Helpful External links[edit]

Add any helpful external links here.