Accommodation in Swaziland
Eswatini, still often referred to as Swaziland on older German-language websites, reveals its distinctive character through the changing landscapes: the partly wooded Highveld lies in the west, followed by the hilly Middleveld, while lower-lying landscape areas begin in the east. Even at the stage of initial trip planning, this transition makes it clear that a stay in Eswatini can combine very different scenic impressions.
At a glance
- The country is officially called Eswatini today; until 2018, Swaziland was the official name.
- Eswatini is a landlocked country in southern Africa and borders South Africa and Mozambique.
- The Highveld lies in the west, a highland that extends into South Africa's Drakensberg mountains.
- The Highveld is partly wooded and forms the western start of the changing landscape.
- The Middleveld is characterized by hilly terrain.
- The four regional reference points are located in the north and northwest, west and center, south, and east of the country.
From wooded highlands to the eastern areas
The landscape of Eswatini can be read like a journey from west to east. The Highveld combines highland character with partly wooded areas. In the Middleveld, the terrain becomes hillier. Farther east, lower-lying landscape areas shape the impression. For a shared trip with different interests, this transition offers a tangible starting point: you can first decide whether highlands, rolling hills, or the eastern part of the country should define the look and feel of your days.
Precisely because the landscape regions are so different, it is worth defining your preferred focus before looking for accommodation. A base in the western or central part of the country puts the Highveld and Middleveld at the center; Lubombo stands for an eastern focus. The exact location of the accommodation should then match the part of the country you actually want to experience.
Four regions, four cardinal directions
The four directly linked regions divide Eswatini clearly by location. Hhohho is in the north and northwest of the country. Manzini is located in the west and center. Shiselweni is the southern region, while Lubombo forms the east.
This allows you to align your next accommodation and place search with the type of trip you have in mind: north or northwest, west and central, south or east. These location details are especially helpful when, as a family, you are weighing up a landscape-focused stay against a trip that covers several parts of the country.
Choosing accommodation to match the landscape
If you want to focus on the western highland character or the hilly Middleveld, you can first look in Hhohho or Manzini. For an eastern focus, Lubombo is the most obvious regional starting point; Shiselweni leads into the south. If several of these parts of the country interest you, you should look at the locations individually in relation to the planned landscape route and check the exact accommodation location before booking.
Questions about Swaziland and Eswatini
Why do you find the names Swaziland and Eswatini?
Eswatini is the country's current official name. Until 2018, the country was officially called Swaziland. You may therefore encounter both names when planning a trip or in older information.
Which landscape areas shape Eswatini?
From west to east, the landscape ranges from the partly wooded Highveld through the hilly Middleveld to the lower-lying eastern areas. This change provides a clear orientation for choosing a regional travel focus.
Where are the four regions located in the country?
Hhohho is in the north and northwest, Manzini in the west and center, Shiselweni in the south, and Lubombo in the east. This makes it possible to align your further search for an accommodation region with the desired direction and landscape.
