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Where is the country of Swaziland located? Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a country in southern Africa bordering South Africa and Mozambique. Because the country is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are exactly opposite to us. June to August is the winter period here, December to March is summer in Eswatini. According to the Köppen-Geiger climate system
, Eswatini has a temperate savanna climate (Cwa) in the higher areas (west) changing into a warm steppe climate (Bsh) in the lower areas (east). The summers are warm, but especially in the west not too hot because of the location at an average altitude of about a thousand meters. In the east, which lies between one hundred and five hundred meters, there is a greater chance of tropical temperatures in the summer months.

Regen

Eswatini has a real rainy season in which fairly large amounts of rain can fall. This season runs from mid-October to early April. This is also the climatic summer in which the daytime temperatures reach values ​​of 22-29 degrees in the west and 25-32 degrees in the lower east. The combination of high temperatures and a lot of rain in the summer make the sea conditions pleasant for mosquitoes. The tropical disease Malaria therefore occurs in Swaziland and travelers should therefore obtain good advice before departure about the malaria risks and any pills that can be taken.
On an annual basis, Swaziland receives an average of more than 1,300 millimeters of rainfall per year, making it one of the wettest areas in this part of Africa. More than three quarters of the total amount of precipitation falls in the summer months. The winters are considerably drier, the months of June to August have only a few rainy days per month.

Zon

Despite the fairly large amounts of rain that fall in the summer, it is still quite sunny with an average of seven hours of sunshine per day. This is because a lot of rain falls in the form of showers, after which it often clears up quite quickly. In winter it can even be called very sunny. The months of July and August have an average of 9 hours of sunshine per day on a theoretical maximum achievable 11 hours per day if all days had a clear blue sky. If you really want to see something of the country, this is an ideal time to visit Swaziland.

The hurricane

Neighboring Mozambique occasionally has to deal with tropical storms or even hurricanes that arise over a warm Indian Ocean. However, Eswatini has never had to deal with this. In theory there is a minimal chance of a hurricane, in practice the country is usually just a bit too south and too far inland to be hit.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Eswatini

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Eswatini? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Kingdom of Eswatini, which until 2018 was still called Swaziland, is a relatively small country located in the southern part of Africa. The country can be divided geographically and climatically into four regions: Highveld, Middleveld, Lowveld and the Lebombo Mountains. Since Eswatini is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed to ours. Winter is from June to August, spring falls in September and October, the rather long summer lasts from November to March, followed by autumn in April and May.

Best months

The best time to travel for a holiday in Eswatini is from June to August. This is the winter period when the sun is most visible, there is the least precipitation and the lowest temperatures are measured. This means ideal weather conditions for a tour through Eswatini. In the nights it can get a bit cool, especially in the higher areas. If you want to go on safari and set out early in the morning to spot the wild animals, you should take that into account in terms of clothing.

Temperatures

The location and the month determine the temperatures. The lower you are in Eswatini, the warmer it is. You can also see temperature differences between summer and winter. In the lower areas of Lowveld it gets tropically warm during the local summer: count on maximum temperatures of 30 to 33 degrees. In Highveld, where the capital Mbabane is located, temperatures usually remain at around 25 degrees. In winter it is around 17 to 22 degrees Celsius during the day. In Middleveld, which lies at 400 to 800 meters above sea level, the maximums during the year are between 22 and 30 degrees.

Precipitation

For all of Eswatini, the summer is the wetter period and the winter months are virtually dry. Most rain falls in the west. As you go further east, the average annual precipitation decreases. In Mbabane you have to count on 1300 to 1400 millimeters of rain per year. In the eastern Big Bend, that is less than six hundred millimeters.