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* In the east a humid, almost temperate climate. Average annual rainfall 1,000 to 2,280 mm 40 to 90 inches.
* In the central region, drier, subtropical.
* In the west tropical with much less rain, 500 to 1000 mm / 20 to 35 inches per year.
Lilangeni divided into 100 cents. On a par with the South African Rand.
* Credit Cards:
* Banking Hours:
* Currency Restrictions:
* Agriculture: 70% of the population are occupied with agriculture: groundnuts, maize, sorghum, beans, sweet potatoes, cotton, pineapples, tobacco, rice, sugar cane, citrus fruit.
* Mining: Iron ore, asbestos, coal.
* Manufacturing: Sugar refining, wood products, food processing, textiles, paper, cement, chemicals, electrical assembly.
* Other:Several hydro electric plants; some tourism.
* Official name: Kingdom of Swaziland.
* Population: 780,000 (1991 estimate).
* Situation: Southern Africa.
* Timezone: GMT + 2.
* Area: 17,363 square kilometres / 6,702 square miles.
* Borders with: South Africa and Mozambique.
* Coasts: None.
* Capital: Mbabane (population approximately 40,000).
* Major Towns: Manzini, Mankayane, Siteki.
* Chief Port: None. Served by Durban, South Africa and Maputo, Mozambique.
* Religion: Christianity 57%, remainder mostly local beliefs.
* Rest Day: Sunday.
* Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz.
* Physical: Mountains in the west peaking at 1,862 meters / 6,109 feet. Central region is lower down to 600 meters / 2,000 feet and the eastern region is rolling bush and grassland. The major rivers are the Komati, the Mbuluzi and the Nggwavuma. The smallest country in Africa.
The origins of Swaziland as a country lie in the early 19th century when the Zulu nation was expanding.
In 1839 he died, at this point the nation was twice its present size. The country subsequently decreased in side under pressure from the Boers between 1830 and 1880.
In the 1880's the majority of the natural resources were put into the hands of concession hunters.
By 1930 the majority of the Swazi Crown land had been sold off to white settlers. The development of cash cropping on small holdings by the peasants was discouraged by white farmers and mining concerns in order to maintain a pool of manual labour.
In 1972 the king suspended the constitution, dissolved all political parties and declared a state of emergency. This was all a consequence of parties of urban workers and intellectuals collecting enough votes to destroy the dominance of the traditionalist party, the Imbokodvo.
In 1975 striking railway workers went on a march they were dispersed with tear gas.
In 1977, 400 teachers also went on a march, the result of this was the banning of the National Teacher's Association. Later that year there were further demonstrations held by students which were broken up by baton charges and tear gas. More riots followed.
In 1982 King Sobhuza II and a 75 day period of morning was announced by Dzeliwe, the chief of his 100 wives.
In 1992 King Mswati III dissolved parliament and began a traditional tribal assembly named the Liqoqo.
In 1993 a start was made to bring in some democratic reform, some of the liqoqo members now being elected.
* Official: English and Siswati.
* Tribes: Mainly Swazi (90%), Zulu (10%), some European, Tonga and Shangaan.
* Countries whose nationals do require a visa include:
* Visas are issued at Swaziland Embassies.
* Advice, information and full visa service from :
* Action Visas
Climate
Currency:
Visa, Mastercard, Access, American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted in good hotels, restaurants and also in many stores in the main centres.
0830 to 1430 Monday to Friday. 0830 to 1300 Saturday.
There is no restriction on the import or export of currency.
Economy
Geography
History
The first king of Swaziland was Sobhuza 1st. He merged refugees from Zulu and people from his own country to build a powerful military nation which could stand up to Zulu pressure.
Swaziland became a British protectorate after a period of rivalry between the Boers and the British. The British reduced the king's powers to just internal civil matters. However the king's sovereignty was not lost.
This policy suited the monarchy very well because the growth of a system of small holdings would have threatened the king's traditional rights over the land and his subjects. The king was able to demand an annual tribute either in the form of labour or crops and he also had the right to reclaim land as he pleased.
Independence was granted in 1968 as a constitutional monarchy. After independence King Sobhuza pursued a policy of buying back concessionary land and converting it to Swazi Nation Land for the whole nation to use.
In the late 1970's relations between Swaziland and Mozambique were tense but these have improved since.
King Sobhuza II was succeeded by one of his estimated 200 sons, King Mswati III.
Language
* Other: Afrikaans.
People
Swazi Index
Visas
* Countries whose nationals do not require a visa include:
+ Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Cyprus, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK (British subjects being a 'citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies'), Uruguay, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
+ All those not mentioned above.
VISA SERVICES
for worldwide visa service, central London based:
phone # 0171 388 4498
fax # 0171 916 0671
from foreign contries:
phone # 44 171 388 4498
fax # 44 171 916 0671
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