Is it safe to withdraw cash in Eswatini or not?
Eswatini is generally peaceful, but I avoided using ATMs after sunset unless I was with someone or inside a public facility. Machines in malls or hotels are your best bet.
Most machines close access after 9 PM in smaller towns. I asked my hotel concierge and they directed me to a 24-hour FNB ATM inside a grocery complex. The transaction went smoothly, and the area felt secure.
I used an ATM attached to a petrol station in Ezulwini after dinner. It worked with my foreign Visa card, though the lighting was dim. A few locals were around, but it felt a bit isolated. Daytime withdrawals felt a lot safer overall.
In Mbabane, I withdrew Swazi lilangeni from a Standard Bank ATM outside a mall around 8:30 PM. The machine was still accessible, and a security guard was stationed nearby. Withdrawing money in Eswatini at night was fine in well-lit, urban areas - but I wouldn’t recommend more remote spots.