Best Bitcoin Exchange for Swaziland
Although Swaziland is the second smallest country in Africa, it is in no way inferior to other countries in terms of nature and wildlife. On a safari through a national park or a game reserve, the African animals can be observed in their natural environment, which will probably be one of the most unforgettable experiences. But not only here you can admire the vastness of Africa with its hills, rivers, valleys and waterfalls. The Ezulwini Valley is one of the most beautiful areas in Swaziland and enchants with its unique landscape and hot mineral springs.
The area around the Mkondo River is also worth a visit because of its nature, and there are also rock paintings by bushmen. Swaziland is also famous for its Ngwenya glass, which is produced in the city of Ngwenya. No matter how you plan your journey through the small African country, one thing is always part of your travel plan: the travel budget. What should it contain? Can money be exchanged in the country or should it already be exchanged at the house bank? Can money easily be withdrawn in Swaziland? All answers to these questions and further information on the subject of travel funds and means of payment can be found in the following article.
Lilangeni (SZL) – the local currency
Overview Banknotes Swaziland LilangeniSwaziland is the national currency and therefore the official currency of the Lilangeni (Plurarl: Emalangeni), divided into 100 cents. The national currency is available in coins and banknotes, the denominations of which are shown in the table below:
- Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1, 2, 5 Emalangeni
- Bills: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 Emalangeni
Neither import nor export of local and foreign currency is subject to any restrictions.
Exchange money in Swaziland
During the travel preparations it is not recommended to exchange money already at the house bank. In Swaziland you get a much better exchange rate than at your house bank. Euro, US Dollar as well as British Pound Sterling can be easily exchanged in banks.
The opening hours of the banks are from Monday to Friday between 08:30 and 14:30 o’clock, as well as Saturday from 08:30 to 11:00 o’clock. For security reasons, it is generally advisable not to take too much cash with you and to use an EC or credit card if local currency is required. In addition to the local currency, the South African Rand is also accepted as a means of payment in Swaziland.
Cashing traveller’s cheques in Swaziland
Travelers Cheques are accepted in Swaziland but should be made out in US dollars. If you are considering taking traveller’s cheques with you, you should know that they are generally returned worldwide. It is also advisable not to limit yourself to traveller’s cheques as means of payment, but to take a mixture of different means of payment such as cash, an EC card and at least one credit card with you in your travel fund.
Cashless payment in Swaziland
In Swaziland, cashless payment with a credit card is possible in some places. Card payment is mainly accepted in hotels and restaurants. It is important to note that American Express and Diners Club are generally not accepted for payments in Swaziland. Holders of such a card are advised to either take an EC card bearing the Maestro or Cirrus mark with them or to apply for another credit card such as Visa or Mastercard in good time before departure.
When using the credit card as a means of payment, it is important to know that a foreign assignment fee will be charged for this. The fee for the foreign assignment is added as a percentage of the invoice amount and is usually between 1 and 4 %. If you want to save the foreign assignment fee, you can get a free travel credit card with which you can withdraw and pay worldwide without the annoying fees. You will learn more about these cards in the following.
Withdraw money in Swaziland by EC card
Holders of an EC card bearing the Maestro or Cirrus mark can look forward to their cards working at many ATMs in Swaziland. Whether a machine accepts the card can be easily identified by the operator logos attached to the ATM. V-Pay card holders are strongly advised to look for an alternative to their cash card before traveling. V-Pay cards do not work outside the Euro zone and Europe, neither for payment nor for withdrawal. A credit card is a sensible alternative, as it can not only be used to withdraw money, but can also be used for cashless payment.
If you want to use your EC card to withdraw money in Swaziland, you should know in advance that your house bank will charge a foreign assignment fee for this service, which can be quite expensive in the long run. For each withdrawal and regardless of how much cash is withdrawn from the ATM, a fixed fee is charged for the assignment abroad. Between 5 and 10 euros is a common amount. Binding information about the exact amount can be obtained from the bank.
Withdraw money in Swaziland by credit card
No travel fund should be without a credit card, as it is far more widely accepted than an EC card and even more so than a V-Pay card. Withdrawing money in Swaziland is easy with a credit card. It is advisable to have a look at the contract documents before travelling, as most credit cards usually charge a foreign service fee of between 1 and 4% of the invoice amount.
The following link takes you to the overview of free travel credit cards. These cards are provided free of charge by the banks listed there. With them it is possible to withdraw money worldwide free of charge. The credit card pays for itself the first time you use it at an ATM, because even in Germany you can withdraw cash free of charge at any third-party ATM.
The application is completed online in just a few minutes and then only needs to be printed out. If you want to use the Postident procedure to identify your account, you only need to go to the nearest post office with a valid identity card or passport and application. Once the form has been sent, it should take about two weeks to process, which is why it is advisable not to submit the application too soon before the start of the trip. As soon as the new credit card is in the letterbox and the PIN has arrived, nothing stands in the way of withdrawing money free of charge.
Safety when withdrawing money in Swaziland
Unfortunately, credit card crime also occurs in Swaziland, which is why the card should not be ignored when making payments. In this way you can prevent credit card data from being copied. When withdrawing money in Swaziland, always make sure that the PIN is entered secretly so that the PIN cannot be spyed on. In addition, it is advisable never to store the PIN together with the card. Regular checks of the statements and the account help to detect card misuse quickly.
If irregularities are detected or if the travel fund is even stolen, immediate action is required to avoid further financial damage. In these cases, you should contact the blocking emergency call, which has been specially set up for this purpose. The number can be reached via the following link. The hotline can be reached 24 hours a day and the affected card is blocked immediately by the call. Further helpful links for travel preparation are listed below.