Transport in Eswatini

The main road corridor runs from Ngwenya through Mbabane, Manzini and Matsapha towards Lomahasha. Roads marked MR are main roads, while D-roads are district roads; some rural D-roads are gravel or all-weather roads. The Roads Department manages road infrastructure through four maintenance districts. Traffic is especially dense along the MR3 corridor between Mbabane and Manzini, while walking access and road conditions matter more in rural areas. Public transport is established and widely used. Buses, kombis or minibuses, and midibuses provide scheduled or demand-based services. A scheduled service follows a published itinerary and timetable; an unscheduled service departs when passengers or other demand is available. Passengers commonly use ranks, which are designated boarding and departure places. The Road Transportation Board (RTB) and Road Transportation Department (RTD) regulate services through permits, and the permit must be carried in the vehicle. Private taxis provide an additional commercial option. Departure times and fares can vary by service and location, and there is no verified nationwide timetable with uniform intervals. Officially published 2020 bus fares were E7.70 for journeys up to 8 km, E0.66 per kilometre for journeys over 8 km up to 50 km, and E0.63 per kilometre for journeys over 50 km. A fare amendment passed Parliament in 2022, so the fare applying to a particular journey should be confirmed against the latest Gazette or at the relevant rank. These figures do not establish the current charge for every vehicle or journey. Private driving requires a learner licence, a driving licence obtained through RTD testing and a registered vehicle that meets roadworthiness requirements. A PrDP, or Professional Driving Permit, applies to professional drivers and uses the K53 driving syllabus. Vehicle registration is handled digitally by the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), and the registration certificate is issued immediately; renewal follows a rolling system rather than four fixed quarterly periods. A roadworthiness test is required when ownership changes. Public service vehicles require a Certificate of Fitness at least every six months. Current government fees vary and were not fully verified in the available research. Eswatini drives on the left. Drivers must obey the prescribed or signed speed limit, and a mobile phone or other communication device may be used while driving only with hands-free equipment. Motor vehicles must be registered and licensed, and paid passenger transport in a goods vehicle is prohibited. The RTD inspectorate and the Royal Eswatini Police enforce transport and road rules. Road safety remains a serious concern: from April to December 2024, the country recorded 141 fatal crashes and 545 crashes involving serious injuries, compared with 180 fatal and 557 serious-injury crashes during the same period in 2023. Pedestrians face particular exposure along busy MR3 and MR8 sections. In 2024, authorities also impounded 674 stray animals found on the road network. Eswatini Railways operates about 301 km of railway and runs around the clock. Rail mainly carries freight such as petroleum, wheat, coal, cement, sugar, vehicles, ethanol and containers. The Matsapha Inland Container Depot and Dry Port links freight movements with Maputo and Matola in Mozambique, Richards Bay and Durban in South Africa, and wider SADC and DRC markets. Typical transit times are about one day to Maputo, two days to Richards Bay and three days to Durban. Passenger rail does not provide a dependable daily intercity service; occasional tourist or passenger trains exist, but rail has limited relevance for everyday personal travel. The 146 km Lothair-Sidvokodvo project is intended to expand freight capacity and includes resettlement. King Mswati III International Airport at Sikhuphe is the main air gateway. Eswatini Air offers direct flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Harare. Published one-way fares including taxes were SZL 1,300 to Johannesburg or Durban, SZL 2,100 to Cape Town and SZL 2,200 to Harare. Airport shuttle transport may be free or organised in advance, depending on availability. Regional road travel connects Eswatini with South Africa and Mozambique. Border opening times differ by crossing: Ngwenya operates from 07:00 to 24:00, Lavumisa and Mahamba from 07:00 to 22:00, Matsamo from 07:00 to 20:00, Mananga from 07:00 to 18:00, Sandlane from 08:00 to 18:00, Mhlumeni 24 hours, Lomahasha from 07:00 to 20:00, Sicunusa and Nsalitje from 08:00 to 18:00, and Bulembu, Lundzi and Gege from 08:00 to 16:00. Cross-border journeys may require travel documents, customs clearance, road permits or a COMESA carrier licence, depending on the vehicle and purpose. Walking is common and may involve long distances, especially where public transport or paved roads are limited. Cycling is possible locally, but there is no verified nationwide cycling network or bike-share system. Eswatini policy supports non-motorised transport, car-free zones, cycling lanes and mass transit, although implementation is not documented as nationwide. Transport accounts for about 35% of total final energy consumption, and liquid fuels remain dominant. Policy measures include fuel-efficiency standards, annual vehicle performance inspections, eco-driving, expanded bus and mass-transit use, walking, cycling and hybrid or electric vehicles. The 2026–2028 government programme includes public-transport redesign and pilot electric buses and cars. The national 2035 emissions-reduction target is economy-wide rather than specific to transport.