smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Swaziland
| Swaziland overall | This Advice is current for Saturday, 09 August 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Where to Get Help (High Commission website). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
You should avoid large public gatherings and street demonstrations as they may turn violent.
We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Swaziland because of the risk of criminal activity. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Petty crime such as pickpocketing and robbery is common in major towns, particularly the capital Mbabane and Manzini. The incidence of violent crime, including armed assault and carjacking, is less common but increasing. Security risks are greater at night.
Due to the very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.
Driving in Swaziland can be dangerous due to poor driving practices, lack of street lighting, inadequately maintained vehicles and the presence of pedestrians and livestock on the roads.
Buses and taxis should be avoided as they are poorly maintained and often overloaded.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering and theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns this will be included in travel advice.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Swaziland, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include mandatory prison sentences.
It is illegal to possess pornographic material.
Photography of government buildings and military installations is prohibited.
Consensual homosexual acts between adults are not illegal in Swaziland, although the local community is generally intolerant of same sex relationships.
Serious offences, such as murder and treason, carry the death penalty.
The law in Swaziland gives the courts discretion to impose a sentence of corporal punishment, particularly where an offender is under 18 years of age.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Swaziland does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Swaziland dual nationals who are arrested or detained.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the Swaziland High Commission in South Africa for the most up-to-date information.
A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for travellers arriving in Swaziland within six days of visiting a country with yellow fever infected areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a list of yellow fever countries.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
The standard of medical facilities throughout Swaziland is limited. There are increasing shortages of basic medications. Hospitals will require confirmation of insurance cover or a guarantee of payment before commencing treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with the required facilities would be necessary. Medical evacuation costs would be considerable.
The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Swaziland is very high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection.
Malaria is prevalent in most areas of Swaziland apart from the capital Mbabane and the highlands (highveld). We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling, taking prophylaxis against malaria and using an insect repellent at all times. Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including cholera, hepatitis, bilharzia and tuberculosis) are prevalent. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Australia does not have a High Commission in Swaziland. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in South Africa:
Australian High Commission
292 Orient Street
Arcadia
Pretoria 0083, Republic of South Africa
Telephone: (27 12) 4236000
Facsimile: (27 12) 3428442
Website: http://www.southafrica.highcommission.gov.au/
If you are travelling to Swaziland, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the above High Commission you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
