Getting There

Eswatini (Swaziland) is dwarfed by its giant neighbour, South Africa, but with Mbabane being only a few hours from Johannesburg, it does benefit from the good access into that international hub. Access into Eswatini from Johannesburg can be by road or air.

After some periods of restricted travel during the pandemic, as of November 2022, ALL COVID-related restrictions and requirements for entry in to Eswatini have been removed. Eswatini is full open to all visitors once again. Click here for the November 2022 notice on Cross-border travel from the Eswatini Acting Prime Minister.

International Rules & Regulations on travelling to Eswatini

The following table lists the most common countries of origin for international visitors to Eswatini. The table includes a link to their official government website detailing the current rules & regulations on travelling to Eswatini, with particular reference to COVID-19. Some countries have dedicated pages with guidance for Eswatini itself. Other countries have a general guidance for departing citizens along with rules & regulations for when they return home. Also in the table are links to a list of tour operators in each country that sell Eswatini, pre-filtered from our International Tour Operators & Travel Agents selling Eswatini page. For the countries that may not have an Eswatini-specialist tour operator, you can navigate to the full international list to find a tour operator you wish to contact.

If you believe any of the links to be incorrect, please contact us and we will update them.

Country of Departure	COVID-19 Regulations	Tour Operators
Argentina	Link	Full List
Austria	Link	Click to View
Belgium	Link	Click to View
Brazil	Link	Click to View
Bulgaria	Link	Full List
Canada	Link	Click to View
Czech Republic	Link	Click to View
Denmark	Link	Click to View
England	Link	Click to View
Finland	Link	Click to View
France	Link	Click to View
Germany	Link	Click to View
India	Link	Click to View
Ireland	Link	Full List
Italy	Link	Click to View
Japan	Link	Full List
Northern Ireland	Link	Click to View
Norway	Link	Click to View
Poland	Link	Full List
Portugal	Link	Full List
Russia	Link	Full List
Scotland	Link	Click to View
South Africa	Link	Click to View
Spain	Link	Click to View
Sweden	Link	Click to View
Switzerland	Link	Click to View
The Netherlands	Link	Click to View
Turkey	Link	Click to View
United States	Link	Click to View
Wales	Link	Click to View

Flights to Eswatini

Reaching Eswatini by air at present is only possible from Johannesburg, flying to King Mswati III International airport on Airlink. This much larger Airport has now replaced Matsapha airport. Pre-COVID, flights to Eswatini from Johannesburg were provided solely by Airlink, taking around 45 minutes. Flights departed four times per day and cost from US$175 one-way and US$350 return. An airport tax of E50 is payable when departing from King Mswati III International Airport.

Airlink schedules as at April 2021 (downloadable file): click here.

Airlink schedules (live online system): click here.

There is also an airport shuttle bus service available from King Mswati III International airport to many places around Eswatini. You can see the full bus schedule here.

Intercontinental Flights to Johannesburg

Johannesburg is very well served by airlines from around the world with a number of European, African, Middle Eastern and American airlines all flying direct. The latest details of routes into Johannesburg can be found on this link. For London, British Airways, South African Airways and Virgin Atlantic all operate two or three daily non-stop flights. Flight prices are dependent on the time of year, with flights to Johannesburg getting more expensive around the Christmas period. Non-direct flights in most cases will be cheaper, but shop around to make sure you get the best deal.

Entering Eswatini by Road

Driving into Eswatini is relatively easy, provided you drive sensibly and avoid the pot holes, ramshackle settlements, pedestrians and wandering livestock found on many of the roads leading into the country.

There is no Bureau to change currency, however the gate does accept South African rand. Most South African car hire companies will allow you to bring vehicles over the border. Find out more information here. Certain documentation is required to enter Eswatini from South Africa, depending on the ownership of the vehicle, as follows:

Company car

Valid Passport
Driver licence
Letter from the company that you are given the access to drive the vehicle
Blue book (Registration Document)

Rented vehicle

Letter from the Car Hire
Valid driver licence
Valid passport

Own vehicle but still paying for it.

Letter from the bank
Blue book (Registration Document)
Valid passport
Valid driver licence

Own vehicle and fully paid.

Blue book (Registration Document)
Valid passport
Valid driver licence

Borrowed from relative/friend

Affidavit
I.D copy of the owner of the vehicle
Blue book (Registration Document)
Valid passport
Valid driver’s licence.

Road Toll Fees

Eswatini Revenue Authority road toll fees for vehicles entering Eswatini are as follows as from 1st November 2019:

Class of Motor Vehicle	Fee
1. A foreign registered light vehicle weighing 3500kg or below	E100.00
2. A foreign registered commercial vehicle weighing above 3500kg	E300.00
3. Local commercial vehicle	E50.00
4. Foreign registered commercial vehicle entering the Kingdom of Eswatini through Mhlumeni or Lomahasha borders	An equivalent to 100 United States Dollar (US$ 100.00) per vehicle and per trailer

For further information, please see official documentation here.

Border Opening Times

In attempts to limit the spread of Coronavirus, a few of Eswatini’s smaller border posts were temporarily closed as from March 2020. However, as of 1 August 2022, all border posts are now operational during the following opening times:

Bulembu/ Josefdal : 08.00 – 16.00
Gege/ Bothashoop : 08.00 – 16.00
Lavumiso/ Golela : 0700 – 22.00
Lomahasha/Namaacha : 07.00 – 00.00
Lundzi/Waverley : 08.00 – 16.00
Mahamba : 07.00 – 22.00
Mananga : 07.00 – 18.00
Matsamo/Jeppe’s Reef : 07.00 – 20.00
Mhlumeni/Goba : 06:00 – 00:00
Ngwenya/Oshoek :24 Hours
Nsalitshe /Onverwacht : 08.00 – 18.00
Sandlane/ Nerston : 08.00 – 18.00
Sicunusa/Houdkop : 08.00 – 18.00

By Bus from South Africa & Mozambique

A number of companies, including TransMagnific and Melula Travel, run luxury minibus services between Mbabane and Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton). Depending on the company, there are 1-3 services a day in each direction with journey times around 5 hours. Fares are from R450 one-way and R950 return. TransMagnific also now offer regular services to and from Durban, Nelspruit and Maputo on certain days of the week. Melula Travel can also provide transport for those routes on request. Local buses and mini-buses can also be used to get from South Africa or Mozambique into Eswatini but any such journey may need to be made in stages.

International Tour Operators

Most operators who organise tours to southern Africa will offer Eswatini itineraries, or provide a tailor-made service. Information about companies can be found on our International Tour Operators page.

Duty Free

International travellers over the age of 18 may import:

New or used goods, of a total value not exceeding E5000 per person
2 litres of wine
1 litre of spirituous and other alcoholic beverages
200 cigarettes and 20 cigars
250g of cigarette or pipe tobacco
50ml of perfumery and 250ml of toilet water

For VAT, all travellers (whether arriving from SACU or elsewhere) are entitled to import new or used goods duty free for their own personal use or consumption (i.e. not for resale) of up to E1 000 per person.

Travelling With Children

In 2015 South Africa changed its immigration regulations with regard to travelling with children, and introduced a requirement for Unabridged Birth Certificates. In November 2019, that requirement was removed. The only document needed by for foreign children travelling from a visa-exempt country into South Africa is their passport (the exception being children who are travelling completely unaccompanied). The full regulations can be viewed on this page. And a sheet of FAQs on the South African requirements can be downloaded if you click here.

These are regulations that apply when travelling to and from South Africa. There were never any such regulations introduced for Eswatini itself.

Entry Requirements, Visas & Foreign Missions

For information about entry requirements, Visas, and Eswatini’s Diplomatic Missions around the world, see our Visa Guide.

Visa Guide