Swaziland has a great diversity of customs. Here is a bit of advice on some of the customs which will hopefully be useful to you.

* When meeting someone you say sawubona and in return they will say yebo.

* When you give someone something you hold it in both hands and the one receiving should take it with both hands and bend their knees a bit to show appreciation and say thank you.

* If you are talking to someone who is senior to you , you show respect by not looking straight in their eyes but by bowing a bit and looking down.

* If you meet someone when you are walking on a path you have to both leave the path, one to the left, and one to the right and pass each other by greeting politely.

* When entering a homestead you shout ‘kukhulekela’ so that the people at the homestead hear that someone is entering their home.

* If you are a woman you do not wear trousers in church or royal/national events and you must cover your head with a scarf or a hat.

* If elders are present at a home you show respect by sitting on the floor mat and let the elders sit on the chairs.

* In a homestead a man uses a spoon when eating and his wife and kids use their hands.

* If you go swimming in the rivers you must wear a swimsuit.

*If you wish to take photographs of someone or of a homestead you must ask for permission from the owners. You do not have to pay them.

*When you are buying fruits and vegetables at a market there is a standard price but you can negotiate the price if the fruits are not so fresh. If you are buying carvings you can negotiate the price.

* Swazis are very friendly people and like talking to tourists and showing them around. Feel free to talk to everyone you meet and you could even visit a homestead by arrangement.

* Swazis have large extended families. We also have street children in the towns who are there because of poverty despite the fact that they do have relatives.

Some children run away from home because they are being ill treated or they donšt want to be controlled.