Being very close to South Africa, and supplying a large amount of migrant labour, border posts can be quite chaotic on Friday afternoons, long weekends and holidays. These periods are manageable if you have a good deal of patience, but it is best to avoid these times, and ensure that you have all your personal and vehicle information organised!

The best time to visit is between late April and mid June (after the rains but before winter sets in properly) or in September to mid-November (before the rains, but after the cold period). You'll get cooler temperatures (downright cold at night) in the eastern lowlands and warmer, drier weather in the highlands.

As in most Southern African reserves, the best game-viewing period is over winter (May-August), when the vegetation is less dense, and animals are more easily spotted. Birdwatching, however, is best in summer (November-April) when the migratory species are resident.

If you want to see the two most important Swazi cultural ceremonies, go in August or September for the Umhlanga (Reed) Dance, or in late December or early January for the Incwala ('First Fruits') ceremony. But bear in mind that Swaziland is often rain-soaked between December and April.

Reading:
To find out more about Swaziland or to bag some books, dvd's or music for your trip, please take a look at the Mud Hut's Reading List!