Some Interesting Facts About Swaziland

Public Holidays

Date 2005 Occasion
January 1 New Year's Day
March 8 Common Wealth Day
March 25 -28 Good Friday to Easter Monday
April 19 King's Anniversary
April 25 National Flag Day
May 1 Labor Day
May 5 Ascension
July 22 Bank Holiday
September 6 Somhlolo
December 25 Christmas Day  
December 26 Boxing Day

Weekend - Sunday

Customs & Duties

The following items may be imported into Swaziland without incurring customs duty:
400 cigarettes/50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 1 bottle (750ml) of alcoholic beverages; 50ml of perfume and 250ml eau de toilette per person. Travellers may bring in gifts to a value of E1000 per person or E2000 per family while married couples travelling together are treated as one unit and allowed duty free items for one person only.

Electricity

Power is supplied at 220 volts AC; 50Hz. Appliances not compatible with these settings will need an adaptor or converter. 15-amp round pin plugs are commonly used.

Post & Communications

Visitors to Swaziland can avail of IDD facilities, though in most places international phone calls are routed through international telephone operators. Country code: 268. The postal service is tolerable and letters to European and American destinations take between a week and a fortnight. Poste Restante facilities are available at the main post office in Mbabane.

Weights and measures

The Metric system is used in Swaziland – goods are measured in litres and kilograms while distance is measured in kilometers. Temperatures are calculated on the Celsius scale.

Tipping

10% of the total bill is the standard amount to be given as tip presuming the service is satisfactory. This, however, is just a customary amount and gratuity can be given as per personal preferences.

English Language Media

‘The Times of Swaziland’ is the main English language publication available in Swaziland. BBC and VOA broadcasts can also be heard – frequencies are liable to change.