Siswati and English are the official languages.
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Swaziland’s official currency is the lilangeni (plural: emalangeni). South Africa’s rand is also accepted as legal currency. Make sure you exchange any emalangeni before leaving the country. Major credit cards and traveler’s checks are widely accepted. Traveler’s checks not in US dollars, euros or UK pounds will be charged a high commission. ATMs are easy to find.
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Swaziland’s international country code is 268. To call another country from Swaziland, dial 00 followed by the appropriate country code. Many villages and towns have public telephones.
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It’s customary to tip 10 percent of the bill.
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Swaziland has a low crime rate and most tourists don’t have any trouble. Use common sense and protect yourself against theft. Avoid driving at night.
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If you’re coming from a country infected with yellow fever, you’ll need a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter the country. It’s also a good idea to get vaccinated against cholera and typhoid. Malaria is a risk in lowlands, and hepatitis B and bilharzias are common. The HIV/AIDS rate is extremely high. The water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. Tourist hotels often have private physicians to help with minor problems, but most of the country’s medical facilities are poor. Make sure you’re covered by health insurance.
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Swaziland’s electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz and uses the same plug as South Africa.
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A New England native but explorer at heart, Melisse has lived in four U.S. cities, spent a summer in Hawaii, made her way through wine-producing regions in Australia and New Zealand, and traveled around Europe while studying abroad in London. She is the Content Manager for the U.S. and Canada at Cheapflights.