The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small, landlocked country in Africa (one of the smallest on the continent . Swaziland is about 85% the size of New Jersey,) embedded between South Africa in the west, north and south and Mozambique in the east. The country is named after the Swazi, a Bantu-speaking people.
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years.
Travelers are advised that Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection.
Click the Google icon for a free map of Swaziland. For prior alerts and more detailed information on the country, its weather, travel conditions and key facts, be sure to click on the Destination Brief above.
Please note: the situation in Swaziland can be dynamic and volatile. You are encouraged to purchase an Intelligence/Trip Brief ($7.50) or Destination Tracker ($25) for complete, up-to-the-minute information on the Country, Security and Health, Local Travel Alerts, Entry/exit requirements, Transportation, Communications/Technology, Legal and Financial situation, Environmental concerns and Language in Swaziland.