Swaziland Hotels and Accommodation

(Swaziland, SZ, Southern Africa)

Swaziland's capital, Mbabane, offers the best selection of accommodation, ranging from backpacker hostels and self-catering cottages to top-notch hotels. Lodging options elsewhere in Swaziland are also relatively easy to find, both in towns such as Manzini and in more rural locations.

For accommodation in Mbabane, the best option is to head to the hills overlooking the city. Here, it's possible to find hotel rooms that offer fantastic views over the surrounding countryside as well as a range of facilities, depending on budget. The Foresters Arms, for example, is situated just a short drive from Mbabane and is a charming small hotel. The Mountain Inn, located a mere 4 km / 2.5 miles from Mbabane is frequented by diplomats and business visitors, together with tourists.

Where to Stay

Also a short distance from Mbabane are various hotel resorts, which are popular with well-heeled visitors from all over the world. The Royal Swazi Spa in the Ezulwini Valley is a five-star hotel with facilities including a casino and its own golf course. This hotel oozes colonial-style charm and elegance. Nearby, the Royal Villas resort boasts five-star accommodation in a complex of luxury villas.

Swaziland also caters for those travelling on a budget, with backpacker hostels located in Mbabane and other large towns. A variety of dorms and double rooms are usually available.

Heading further afield from Mbabane and the Ezulwini Valley, accommodation is also easy to find in Manzini, Piggs Peak and Big Bend.

Staying in game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries is a great way to get away from it all whilst also being close to nature. Accommodation options usually include cottages and colonial-style lodges.

At the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors can also choose to stay in traditional Swazi 'beehives'. These grass-domed huts are arranged in semicircles. Rustic as they may appear, they are generally comfortably furnished and many have the added benefit of an en-suite bathroom.

For the ultimate African rural retreat, away from the comforts of modern hotels, more adventurous visitors can head out into the countryside for a spot of wild camping.

There are few restrictions in Swaziland on where you can pitch your tent, although it's always advisable to ask for permission in the nearest village before you do so, and to carefully consider the risks involved in your choice of camp site.