eSwatini, a small landlocked country in southern Africa, offers a variety of stunning sceneries to explore. One of the top attractions is the Ezulwini Valley, also known as the Valley of Heaven, which is surrounded by beautiful mountains and lush …
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Backpacking eSwatini in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in eSwatini with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit eSwatini
Welcome to eSwatini, a backpacker's haven nestled in the heart of Southern Africa. Pros? Immerse yourself in the rich Swazi culture, explore wildlife in reserves, and enjoy the warm hospitality. With a compact size, it's easy to navigate. However, limited public transportation may require strategic planning. For backpackers seeking an off-the-beaten-path African adventure, eSwatini offers a unique blend of tradition and nature, providing an intimate and culturally enriching experience, making it a distinctive choice on the backpacker's map.
Why to go?Why backpacking in eSwatini
Scenery
Mountains
One of the great mountains to explore in eSwatini is the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in the Ezulwini Valley, this mountain offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and is home to a variety of wildlife, including zebras, …
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Wildlife
eSwatini is great for seeing wildlife because it is home to a diverse range of animal species and offers various opportunities for wildlife viewing. The country's protected areas, such as Hlane Royal National Park and Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, …
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💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in eSwatini
- Hlane Royal National Park: This park is the largest protected area in eSwatini and offers incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. Visitors can spot elephants, lions, rhinos, and a variety of bird species in their natural habitat.
- Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary: This sanctuary is a great place for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It offers hiking and biking trails, as well as opportunities for horseback riding and birdwatching. Visitors can also stay in traditional Swazi beehive huts.
- Ezulwini Valley: Known as the ”Valley of Heaven,” this picturesque valley is home to a number of tourist attractions, including craft markets, cultural villages, and the Royal Swazi Spa. It is also a great base for exploring nearby attractions like Mantenga Nature Reserve and the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Mbabane: The capital city of eSwatini, Mbabane, offers a unique blend of traditional and modern attractions. Visitors can explore the bustling markets, visit the Swazi National Museum, or hike to the top of Sibebe Rock, the second-largest monolith in the world.
- Swazi Cultural Village: Located in the Mantenga Nature Reserve, this cultural village offers visitors a chance to learn about Swazi traditions and customs. Visitors can watch traditional dances, participate in craft workshops, and interact with the local community.
But eSwatini offers more...
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking eSwatini
The best time to visit eSwatini for backpacking is during the dry season, which occurs from May to September. During this time, the weather is cooler and there is less rainfall, making it ideal for outdoor activities and hiking. Additionally, wildlife viewing is also better during the dry season as animals tend to gather around water sources. However, it's worth noting that eSwatini can be visited year-round and each season has its own unique charm.
Risk level: medium (50%)Safety advice for eSwatini
- Stay away from protest activity. Protests can lead to violent clashes, including the use of deadly force.
- Petty crime is common and violent crime can occur. Safety risks are greater at night, along roads and in rural areas. Avoid walking alone.
- Carjacking is reported along major routes from South Africa and Mozambique, especially at night. Keep car doors locked, windows up and valuables out of sight, even when moving.
- Road conditions in Eswatini are very poor, and there's a high number of vehicle accidents.
- The rate of HIV/AIDS is very high. Seek medical help if you're a victim of violent crime, especially sexual assault.
source: smartraveller.gov.au
eSwatiniMy tips to get you on the way!Does eSwatini sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for eSwatini. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. eSwatini may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for eSwatini. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. eSwatini may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into eSwatini, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into eSwatini, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 28 September 2024