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TRAVEL
INFORMATION
FOR
KINGDOM
OF
SWAZILAND
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BRIEF
HISTORY
Swaziland
is an independent monarchy, rich
in traditions and heritage, led by King Mswati III with parliament
and consultation prescribing all laws and customs.
THE
CHOOSING OF THE KING
The Royal
Council plays an important part in choosing the successor to the
throne who must be single and a Dlamini. If he is still a minor then
the Queen Mother to the late King automatically becomes Queen Regent
until the prince is crowned.
THE
NCWALA CEREMONY
The King
plays an important part in his “First Fruit” or Ncwala ceremony and
it is held in December or January – the date being chosen by
astrologers. Traditionally it is forbidden to eat the fruits
and vegetables of the season until His Majesty the King has tasted
them.
THE
UMHLANGA OR REED DANCE
The Umhlanga
takes place in late August or early September each year and maidens
from all over the Kingdom pay homage to the Queen Mother.
SIBHACA
DANCING
This is a
vigorous dance performed by teams of men throughout the Kingdom.
GEOGRAPHY
OF
SWAZILAND
From North
to South,
Swaziland
is divided into four geographical regions: Highveld, Lowveld,
Middleveld and Lubombo.
The
Lubombo, which is a mountainous range, divides
Swaziland
from
Mozambique
in the east, with the
north, south and west being bounded by
South Africa
.
Climatically, rainfall and temperatures vary between the different
regions with the Lowveld experiencing generally much higher summer
temperatures of +40oc. Rainfall with thunderstorms is during
the summer months between November – April. Seasons and average
temperatures for
Mbabane
(Highveld)
Autumn:
April – May +17
Winter:
June – August +13
Spring:
September – October +18
Summer
November – March +20
Population
912,878 (third
post-independence population census 1997 est.); annual growth rate
approximately 3,2%; about 60% aged under 21 years – 76 % live in
rural areas, 24% in urban centers
LANGUAGE
English and
siSwati are the two official languages, with English widely spoken in
business and commerce.
ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
All
visitors require valid passports, some nationalities require visas
ENTRY
POINTS
Air travel:
Royal Swazi Airways operates regular 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
.
South African Express operates daily flights between Matsapha and
Johannesburg
.
National airport situated at Matsapha, 8 km from Manzini.
Departure tax currently E20 or R20). Major hotels operate
shuttle buses.
By road: Busiest border post is at
Ngwenya in the west, where substantial developments provide has
greatly improved access, Lavumisa in the south-east, and Mahamba in
the south. Foreign – registered vehicles entering by border
posts subject to E5 entrance tax.
Border
posts
Daily
opening times
Bulembu -
Josefsdal 0800 –1600
Managa
- Bordergate 0800
– 1800
Gege -
Bothashoop
0800 – 1600
Lavumisa -
Golela
0700 – 2200
Lomahasha -
Namaacha 0700 – 2000
Lundzi -
Waverly
0800 – 2200
Mahamba -
Mahamba 0700 – 2200
Matsamo –
Jeppe’s
Reef 0700 – 1800
Ngwenya -
Oshoek 0700 – 2200
Salitje -
Overwacht 0800 – 1600
Sandlane -
Nerston 0800 – 1800
Sicunusa –
Houdkop
0800 – 1600
Mhlumeni
0700 - 2000
Road
distances
From
Mbabane
to other
centers (in km)
Ngwenya
15
Mhlambanyatsi 27
Manzini 33
Bhunya
42
Piggs
Peak 66
Hlatikulu 69
Sandlane
74
Siphofaneni 79
Matsamo
104
Siteki 105
Big-Bend
115
Tshaneni 131
Nhlangano
148
Mahamba
169
Lavumisa 179
Driving
Visitors
from
South Africa
do not require international driver’s licenses. (For road
distances form other main cities in SA and
Mozambique
, refer to
Tourism). Speed limit is 80km/h unless otherwise stated, with
roads winding and steep in places. Vehicles are driven
left-hand side of road, with local laws requiring all vehicles to
give way to royal motorcades; wearing seatbelts is compulsory.
Tarmac roads lead from main entry points to Manzini and
Mbabane
.
Car hire companies operate efficient services. Cars may be
collected and left at airport. Taxis are available in
Mbabane
and
Manzini
HEALTH
REQUIREMENT
Yellow
fever and cholera vaccination certificates are not required unless
visitor travels through or from endemic area. Precautionary
measures against malaria re recommended. There are modern,
fully equipped hospitals in main centers.
CURRENCY
Lilangeni
(plural emalangeni) and cents, freely exchangeable and on par with
South African currency. Residents who wish to buy and sell gold
or foreign currency (i.e. other that Emalangeni, Maloti, Namibian
dollar or
Rand
) may do so only
through authorized dealers
BANKING
AND BUSINESS HOURS
Banks open
on weekdays from 0830 to 1530 and on Saturdays 0830 to 1100.
Commercial concerns open weekdays from 0800 to 1900, on Saturdays
0800 to 1700. Some facilities and out lets open on
Sundays. All government offices are closed on Saturdays.
CHURCHES
Most
denominations are represented, with times of services advertised
locally.
TOURIST
INFORMANTION
Tourist office
situated in
Swazi
Plaza
,
Mbabane
(Tel: 4044556)
GOVERNMENT
CONTACTS
King’s
Office
Lobamba
4161080
Private
Secretary 5052282
PARLIAMENT OFFICES
P.O. Box 49
,
Mbabane
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
Government
House,
P.O. Box 395
,
Mbabane
El:
4042251/2/3, fax: 4043943, e-mail ppcu@realnet.co.sz
DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER
Office of
the DPM,
P.O. Box
A33
,
Swazi
Plaza
Mbabane
Tel:
4042723/4044028, fax: 4040084
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| This prospectus is intended to
provide general information about the arrangements for courses,
seminars and workshops in Commonwealth Institute. The institute
reserves the right to modify or cancel, without notice, any statement
in this prospectus and accept no responsibility for any consequence
of such modification or cancellation.
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The contents of the prospectus
·
Commonwealth
Institute of Management
·
Commonwealth
Institute of Management References
·
Kingdom
of Swaziland
·
Courses, Seminars and
Workshops
·
Contacts
·
Application Form
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