Work and Travel in Swaziland

VOLUNTEER AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN SWAZILAND FOR TRAVELLERS

Swaziland, now known as eSwatini, is a tiny country in the heart of South Africa, and close to Mozambique. For the purposes of this guide, we are going to talk about work and travel in Swaziland, as it remains the most well-known name for the country.

1. Support Charities Dealing with HIV in Swaziland

Swaziland is known as a country that regularly struggles to deal with the HIV epidemic. International charities work with local organizations to both raise awareness and spread knowledge to those who’re impacted by the disease.

You can help them raise awareness of the disease. It could involve working in their local offices to produce material to be distributed to the populace. It could also involve volunteering with younger people in an attempt to make them aware of HIV and how to avoid it.

2. Care for Orphans in Swaziland

Like many other African nations, you’ll notice as you travel in Swaziland that there are a lot of street children. There are multiple ways to care for orphans in Swaziland.

Some programmes will involve being placed with a specific orphan in an orphanage. For a pre-determined period of time, you will be responsible for acting like a big brother or big sister. Another form of this is to simply work at an orphanage, where you’ll be exposed to a variety of children all with different needs.

Some volunteers will also work in Swaziland in construction. For example, you may be repairing a roof or giving a bedroom a new coat of paint.

3. Help Deliver Sports Camps in Swaziland

Sport is a powerful tool that can be used to help young people develop a variety of skills. That’s why if you’re charismatic and you love sports you could work in a sports camp in Swaziland.

You’ll be working with a team of permanent staff and will be delivering a variety of lessons to the children. Whether it’s playing football or teaching them how to play cricket, you’ll be having a great time and knowing that you’re offering an unforgettable experience for the children there.

It’s a wonderful way to connect with the local culture.

Little is known about the Kingdom of Swaziland by the average person, other than it has some of the highest HIV rates in the world. But if you want to discover the heart of this country then there’s no better way to do it than looking into volunteering opportunities in Swaziland.

Our travel guide to Swaziland is going to show you how you can discover the true face of this country.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SWAZILAND

Swaziland is a relatively easy country to get into for most people from developed country. Canada, the USA, the European Union (EU), the UK, Russia, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand are all entitled to 30-day stays for their citizens. For more info click here.

Indians and Chinese citizens must apply for a visa in advance.

Understandably, the visa-free provision may not be enough for people who’re taking advantage of the volunteering opportunities in Swaziland. For this reason, we recommend that you work in Swaziland for an established organisation. They will be able to provide you with full visa support when it comes to getting a visa that will allow you to stay for longer.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN SWAZILAND

SPRING WORK

The weather as you travel in Swaziland throughout the year will vary from temperate to tropical. The spring season is actually the close of the summer because this is the southern hemisphere.

It’s one of the best times to visit the country. You’ll be able to partake in a range of volunteer opportunities in Swaziland at this time of year.

Sports camps are always popular. These continue to run in spring, although they may also be based in the evening to coincide with the school year.

Construction work is another option you might want to consider. There are lots of options for handy volunteers who want to help rebuild people’s homes and improve the infrastructure in the rural areas.

SUMMER JOBS

The summer season is the winter in Swaziland. Again, this is an ideal time to work and travel in Swaziland. We highly recommend it.

All projects are typically available in the summer, but we recommend taking advantage of the dry season by choosing the project types listed in the ‘Spring’ session.

AUTUMN

The autumn season is the beginning of winter. You’ll experience most of the rain during this season. These are typically marked by large thunderstorms on the horizon.

For this reason, we recommend sticking with the jobs that won’t take you to the more remote areas. You could work in education, either helping the locals with their English or teaching the basics to younger children in elementary school.

Another option could involve working to spread awareness of HIV. You’ll get the chance to make a positive difference in this country, and contribute to its long-term future.

WINTER

The winter season is much the same as the autumn, just without the rain. These are the hottest months of the year. Feel free to refer back to any of the previous three sections as all this work in Swaziland is available throughout the winter.

It also tends to be the most popular time for tourists to visit, so there’s also the possibility of working with local tour guides and supporting them. Some charities have this as part of other programmes.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN SWAZILAND

The majority of tourists who want to travel in Swaziland usually come from South Africa. So it often comes as a culture shock when people go from modern South Africa to more traditional Swaziland. Here you’ll experience traditional African culture with few concessions to the modern world.

The local Swazi people are friendly, curious, and always have a smile on their faces. This is an easy place to volunteer in, so it’s the perfect place for adventurers who want to get off the beaten track for the first time.

Are you ready to work and travel in Swaziland?