Eswatini is compact enough that you can drive from one end to the other in two or three hours, which makes road travel the obvious way to get around.
By Road
The main roads are tarred and generally well maintained. The MR3 runs the length of the country north to south and is the main artery. Driving is on the left. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, though enforcement is patchy outside of checkpoints. Be alert to people, livestock, and potholes on rural roads, particularly at night.
Rental cars are available at King Mswati III International Airport and in Mbabane. A South African rental car can usually be brought in with prior permission from the rental company — confirm this before you leave Johannesburg.
Kombis and Buses
Shared minibus taxis (kombis) are the lifeblood of local transport, running between towns and between town centres and outlying areas. They are cheap and plentiful but depart when full rather than to a timetable. Manzini is the main hub. Buses also run regular inter-city routes, slightly slower and a little cheaper than kombis.
Getting Between Parks
The main wildlife areas — Mlilwane, Hlane, Mkhaya, and Malolotja — are spread across different regions and are best visited with your own vehicle or as part of an organised tour. Big Game Parks, which manages Mlilwane, Hlane, and Mkhaya, can arrange transfers between their properties.