King Mswati III International Airport – SHO
Originally called Sikhuphe International Airport, and located in Manzini, the eponymous King Mswati III International Airport is a 150 million dollar undertaking which began in 2003. Completed with the help of the Taiwanese government’s USD 22million contribution, it was inaugurated on the 7th of March 2014, before it even had an IATA license to operate. When services finally commenced on September 30th of that year, SHO (King Mswati III International’s airport code) replaced Matsapha Airport as the only international aerodrome in Eswatini (also known as Swaziland).
Best Time to Visit
Designed to handle 360,000 passengers per year, SHO is part of King Mswati III's one billion dollar investment initiative meant to bolster the landlocked country as a tourist destination, with the airport serving as gateway to domestic and neighboring attractions such as Victoria Falls, Kruger National Park, and KwaZulu-Natal game reserves. It has one asphalt runway designated 02/20, which measures 11,810 feet and can accommodate Boeing 747s. Malkerns, Mbabane, and the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary are some of the places one can get to from King Mswati III International Airport.
What to Do & Area Attractions
For accommodations near King Mswati III International Airport, Buckswood Hilltops is about half an hour away by cab and 22 minutes from the Hlane Royal National Park. The Esilulwini Country Lodge about an hour from SHO offers sea views and is approximately 14 miles from Riverstone Mall. If want an accommodation close to nature, you can stay at the Global Village Guesthouse or The George Hotel, 22 miles from the airport.
The closest major aerodrome to SHO is Matsapha International Airport, around 28 miles off in Manzini, Swaziland.
