Safety in Eswatini: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 23 February 2026.
Safety
- Generally safe — After some years of political tension, the elections at the end of 2023 brought the country back to stability, at least for now. The ministry describes it as generally safe.
- Petty crime — Petty crime cannot be ruled out, particularly on the outskirts of the two main towns, Mbabane and Manzini, and in rural areas in the south.
- Police — The police work efficiently and are generally willing to help visitors with assistance and information.
- Photography ban — Photographing or filming police posts, barracks, airports and military installations in general is forbidden. Photographing Swazi people in traditional dress is allowed, but ask permission first.
- Gatherings — Avoid crowds and demonstrations.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 23 February 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Eswatini before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 23 February 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.