Our accommodation between excursions is at the Lidwala Backpacker Lodge in the Ezulwini Valley. The All Out Africa office is situated here as well. It is conveniently located on the main Ezulwini road less than 2km from most of the area’s main facilities and attractions, such as craft markets, shopping centres, hotels, and restaurants. Volunteers on social projects stay here so conservation volunteers intermingle with them when not in the field. 

In the field, volunteers and staff camp at Hlane Royal National Park in dome tents with foam mattresses and pillows, all provided. You will need to bring a sleeping bag of appropriate warmth for the season. Flush toilets and hot showers are on-site, however, there is no electricity. Lanterns are provided in the bathrooms and at the All Out Africa campsite. A headlight or torch is still very useful to bring.

The camp kitchen consists of a gas powered stove, small gas powered refrigerator, pots, pans, and cutlery. Generally breakfast is cereals and toast, lunch is sandwiches and dinner is a cooked meal. Cooking is shared between volunteers and staff on a rotational basis.

If you are travelling from abroad it is usually easiest to fly into the region and usually the cheapest is to fly into Johannesburg in South Africa. From there you can either take a connecting flight to Manzini international airport in Swaziland (takes about 1 hour) using Swazi Airlink (a branch of South African Airways) or take a bus to Swaziland (takes all day but is cheaper) using the Baz Bus.

You will be given an ‘International Arrival/Departure form’ on your flight – please fill this in on the plane before landing (it is sensible to make sure you have a pen on the flight with you). When you are filling in the Arrival/Departure form, please remember that volunteering with All Out counts as ‘tourism’ for immigration purposes. This is because you have raised your own funds to join the project as an experience.

Occasionally your luggage may get delayed en route although this is not very common. In such cases your bags will usually arrive on the next flight (or two) so it is wise to bring with you, in your hand luggage, one spare change of clothes and a wash bag. It never hurts to be too prepared!

When you arrive at Manzini International Airport, your first stop will be at the Immigrations Desk where you will have to hand them your passport and your Arrival/Departure form that you would have filled out on your flight. Your passport is stamped/endorsed by the Immigration Officer and he/she will issue you with a visa. Please ask for a 1 month visa for Swaziland – this can be extended later.

You will then enter the baggage reclaim area to collect your luggage. Once you have your luggage make your way to the exit (signposted in English). There you will be met by one of our staff (holding a sign and usually wearing a T-shirt with the All Out logo) and brought to the All Out Office for your orientation. Also, for your destination details please write down All Out Africa and if asked for postal address please put:

Box 153
Lobamba
Swaziland

If for some reason your flight is delayed, please let Gabby Lee (All Out booking officer) know on the following cell phone number +268-7653-5886 or alternatively Sarah Hershberger (All Out Projects Co-ordinator) cell phone number +268-7641-6580