How to travel to Eswatini (Swaziland) during COVID

NATURE INFUSED GETAWAYS RIGHT HERE ...

Are you dreaming of your  next weekend or holiday in beautiful, serene spaces? A retreat where you  can ponder the past year, and recalibrate your future ? To plan & brainstorm, to set goals and get fired up about the exciting opportunities and  possibilities that could be a single decision away. Or do you desire to  simply escape for a bit to share meaningful experiences with the people  you truly love and care for the most? Well, dear friends, Eswatini  certainly fits that bill - and more. She will not disappoint you! Our  Nation is alive with colourful, soulful offerings which we will share  with you over the course of our Blogs. For now we will focus on how to  get you here safely.

A hot topic and frequently asked question at the moment is How to travel to Eswatini (Swaziland) during COVID? Here's some travel advice from us at Wide Horizons Mountain Retreat & Lidwala Lodge to help clear up some misconceptions and share helpful guidelines & insights. Our aim is to make your travel plans a whole lot smoother so you can enjoy your journey to & through our sunny Kingdom.

What a year its been! Various iterations of partial lockdown then opening up then partial lockdown again. Here in Eswatini we have been very fortunate to have experienced relatively low levels of COVID-19 spread. Thankfully we have open spaces and a naturally distanced population, so for the majority of people here life has been able to continue without too many limitations. The majority of us do realise how lucky we are to be in Eswatini at this time. In fact, for anyone looking to avoid the hard lockdown measures of other countries and are actively seeking alternative options to spend time in nature and the outdoors, Eswatini has plenty of great options. To highlight a few favourites, you can try the following - all are very special options, with great stories :

• Wide Horizons Mountain Retreat
• Lidwala Lodge
• Benka Luxury Country Cottages​
• Reillys Rock Hilltop Lodge
• Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
• Mkhaya Game Reserve
• KaMsholo Bushveld Safaris
• Hlane Royal National Park
• Sheba's Breast Hiking Trail 

Shebas Breast Hiking Trail is probably the most convenient, loved & visted Hiking Trail in Eswatini

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COVID-19 Eswatini Dashboardni Dashboard

ESWATINI

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REGIONAL

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SOUTH AFRICA

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What are the Eswatini travel restrictions? Are Eswatini’s Borders Open ? Covid-19 continues to generate many travel questions !
Yes, Eswatini’s (Swaziland’s) Borders are Open (for now)
Covid has definitely thrown us all some brutal curve balls. Lockdown was one of them. Its impact on our small economy has been severe to say the least. But there is light at the end of the travel tunnel. Although Tourism has been severely hit we remain hopeful & optimistic that the future is bright and positive outcomes will most definitely emerge.

Nitty Gritty of getting here:
At the time of writing this you may enter Eswatini (Swaziland) as a tourist provided you have a valid PCR COVID test with a negative result performed within 72 hours of crossing the border. At present, to exit Eswatini (Swaziland) you also need a PCR COVID test with a negative result performed within 72 hours of crossing the border.

Where Can I Get a COVID Test in Eswatini (Swaziland) ?
Within Eswatini (Swaziland) PCR COVID tests performed by Lancet or Ampath are currently the only accepted ones for travel. Lancet http://www.lancet.com.ng/index.php/africa/swaziland COVID tests can be done between 8am & 5pm weekdays or between 8.30am & 1pm Saturdays at:

• Mbabane Private Clinic, Mkhonubovu Road, Mbabane
  +268 24042368
• Medisun Private Clinic, Mantenga Estate, Ezulwini
  +268 241620246
• Manzini Laboratory, 6 Kelly Street, Manzini
  +268 25058593

Email: [email protected]
Ampath COVID tests can be done between 8am & 5pm weekdays or between 8.30am & 1pm Saturdays at:

• Mbabane Private Clinic, Mkhonubovu Road, Mbabane
  +268 24042368
• Philani Private Clinic, Mbhabha Street, Manzini
  +268 25057803

Email: [email protected]

COVID Protocols in Eswatini (Swaziland)

• Wear a mask
• Wash your hands with soap and running water, or sanitise with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  
• Maintain physical distance
• Avoid indoor gatherings
  (dining outdoors & under the stars is AWESOME anyway!)

There is currently a curfew between 8pm and 4am to limit the amount of movement and in particular night gatherings and parties, so please do not travel at night.

At   Wide Horizons   we put the safety of our guests and our staff first so all of these protocols are strictly in place.

COVID-19 and the 501Y.V2 variant
Important information and misconceptions :

There’s been a lot of speculation and  many misconceptions about the new Covid-19 variants. One of these the media  has termed ‘the South African variant’ more correctly called the  501Y.V2. variant. It was first genetically sequenced and identified in  South Africa. This has created the perception that it originated in  South Africa (which may not be true) and that it's confined to South Africa  (which is not true). It is in fact present all over the world. According  to Prof Tulio de Oliveira, director of KZN Research and Innovation Sequencing Platform: “It could easily have emerged elsewhere but it’s  only thanks to our excellent genomic surveillance here in South Africa  that we know more about it.
Viruses tend to mutate into new variants  as they spread. Many new variants of SARS-COV-2 (which causes Covid-19)  have been identified around the world. According to WHO this 501Y.V2.  variant is more transmissible but is not known to produce worse symptoms  nor cause more deaths than the original variant.
The advice we have been given is to treat it in the same way as the original variant and continue with the standard protocols:
For more information about COVID in Eswatini and advice please check out the WHO page for Eswatini - CLICK HERE

To wrap up, we believe there is no better place to be right now, than the great outdoors in Eswatini. The exploration of our wonderful Kingdom comes very highly recommended!

CLICK HERE to visit the above destination. This is a remote, tranquil and soulful getaway

In our upcoming Blogs we will share more of the following with you:

1. Best hidden gems & places to visit
2. What to do & where to go
3. Eswatini tourist attractions
4. Accommodation & places to stay in Eswatini
5. Activities in Eswatini - including camping, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, game drives, sundowner drives, game walks, zip lining and much more
   
6. Family holidays
7. Corporate retreats & getaways
8. Youth travel options including experiential holidays
9. Adventure camps & wilderness training for school groups and university groups
10. Self Catering Cottages / Self Catering Chalets in Eswatini
11. Travel tips to enhance your trip in Eswatini
12. Latest updates to enrich your journey