Swaziland Self Drive
Safari
A
Swaziland self drive safari trip is probably one of the best ways to
experience this tiny country because the distances between locations
are small which means you can cover a lot of ground in a short period
of time.
And
the country's close location to South Africa means you can easily
combine a Swaziland self drive with a trip to the Kruger National Park
to the north or the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve and other parks to
the south.
Learn
more about how to guide
your own safari in Swaziland.
The
road network is in reasonably good condition especially closer to the
larger urban centers like Mbabane and Manzini but even in the rural
areas the gravel roads are navigable with a normal two wheel drive
vehicle.
The
total road network in the country extends for about 3 400 km (2
112 mi) and about a third of that is tarred, providing links
to both South Africa and Mozambique.
There
are roadworks on the main highway from the Oshoek/Ngwenya border post
through Ezulwini but that has been ongoing for several years now (and
will continue for several years more) and is not very
disruptive.
To
get an idea of what a Swaziland self drive trip to the Mlilwane
and Malolotja
game reserves will set you back, I've designed a spreadsheet
below containing the major expenses you will incur on such a trip.
Simply
add the relevant costs (find these by clicking on the links or
from the spreadsheet itself) in the space provided where it
says "add the total cost to this block"
and the spreadsheet will calculate the cost per person per day in four
currencies namely Rand, Pound, Euro and US Dollar.
Take note: The currency in Swaziland is the
Emalangeni or singular Lilangeni - symbol "E" - but South African Rands
are accepted everywhere. The Emalangeni exchange rate is linked to that
of the Rand.
Swaziland
Expenses Spreadsheet
Swaziland
Distance/Time Calculator
| Because Swaziland is so small you can cover the
full distance from north to south in a matter of hours. The distance
calculator on the right displays distances between game parks, urban
areas and border posts and the time it will take to get there. It's
based on an average travelling speed of 80km/h (50mi/h)
because you have to slow down when passing through towns and near
livestock. |
|
Other
Top Swaziland Self Drive Locations
Even
if safari experiences are your main motivation for visiting Swaziland,
there are some other noteworthy destinations that are also worth your
time...
-
Sibebe
Rock - The second largest exposed rock in the world (only
Ayers rock in Australia is bigger). Hike to the top for some
spectacular views.
-
Ngwenya
Glass - Observe the mysterious art of glassblowing first
hand from an observation platform above the workshop and purchase the
finished handmade glass articles in the showroom as a memento of your
Swaziland self drive visit.
-
Swazi
Candles - Located in a farmhouse, this workshop houses Swazi
craftsmen and women who mould each candle into a unique and individual
product. You can watch the entire process as it takes shape before your
eyes.
-
House
on Fire - This spectacularly decorated performance arena and
art gallery has to be seen to be believed. Filled with enough statues,
sculptures, mosaic reliefs and soapstone slates to make even Gaudi do a
double take, this is a piece of architecture unique to Swaziland.
Also
in the Malandela's complex where House on Fire is situated, is Gone
Rural where you can buy quality decorative products made by the rural
Swazi people from dyed mountain grass.
|
