Sights in Swaziland
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Malolotja Nature Reserve
This beautiful middleveld and highveld nature reserve is a true wilderness area that’s rugged and in the most part unspoiled. Recently it’s been declared a Transfrontier Park with Songimvelo in neighbouring South Africa. Malolotja is an excellent walking destination, with around 200km of hiking trails, and an ornithologist’s paradise, with over 280 species of birds, including several rare species. Wildflowers and rare plants are added attractions, with several (including the Woolly, Barberton and Kaapschehoop cycads) found only in this region of Africa.
Various antelope species make Malolotja their home, as do herds of zebras, elands and wildebeest. The terrain…
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Mkhaya Game Reserve
This top-notch and stunning private reserve was established in 1979 to save the pure Nguni breed of cattle from extinction. It’s known, however, for its black and white rhino population (it boasts that you’re more likely to meet rhinos here than anywhere else in Africa and, judging from our experience, this is true). Its other animals include roan and sable antelopes, tsessebe and elephants. It’s near the hamlet of Phuzumoya, off the Manzini–Big Bend road. The reserve takes its name from the mkhaya (knobthorn) tree, which abounds here.
You can’t visit the reserve without booking in advance, and even then you can’t drive in alone; you’ll be met at Phuzumoya at a…
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Sibebe Rock
Taking care of errands is the main activity in Mbabane for most travellers but about 8km northeast of Mbabane is Sibebe Rock, a massive granite dome hulking over the surrounding countryside; the area is managed by the local community. Much of the rock is completely sheer, and dangerous if you should fall, but it’s a good adrenalin charge if you’re reasonably fit and relish looking down steep rock-faces. Swazi Trails, in Ezulwini Valley, takes half-day nontechnical climbs up the rock (E585 per person, including transport).
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Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
This beautiful and tranquil private reserve near Lobamba was Swaziland’s first protected area, created by conservationist Ted Reilly on his family farm in the 1950s. Reilly later opened Mkhaya Game Reserve and supervised the establishment of Hlane Royal National Park. Mlilwane means ‘Little Fire’, and the wildlife sanctuary was named after the many fires started by lightning strikes in the region.
While it doesn’t have the drama or vastness of some of the bigger South African parks, the reserve is easily accessible and well worth a visit. Its terrain is dominated by the precipitous Nyonyane (Little Bird) peak, with several fine walks in the area. Animals to be seen…
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Mlawula Nature Reserve
This tranquil reserve, where the lowveld plains meet the Lebombo Mountains, boasts antelope species and hyenas, among others, plus rewarding birdwatching. You can bring your own mountain bike. Walking (from two- to nine-hour treks) along plateaus, or to caves and a waterfall is a highlight here.
For accommodation, there’s Sara Camp, with self-catering double safari-style tents. While the tents are looking a little long in the tooth, the location and the fun washing experience under paraffin-heated outdoor showers, perched over a rock ledge, are awesome. There is a basic shared kitchen under a lapa (circular building with low walls and a thatched roof, used for cooking,…
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Hlane Royal National Park
This park is near the former royal hunting grounds. Hlane (the name means ‘wilderness’) is Swaziland’s largest protected area, and home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, white rhinos and many antelope species, and offers wonderfully low-key wildlife-watching.
There are guided walking trails, which afford the opportunity to see elephants and rhinos, as well as two-hour wildlife drives at sunrise, sunset and during the day, a cultural village tour and mountain-bike rentals.
Hlane has two good camps. Both can be booked through Big Game Parks over at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.
Ndlovu Camp is pleasant and rustic, with no electricity, a gas-cooking area and a…
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Mbuluzi Game Reserve
The small and privately owned Mbuluzi Game Reserve boasts a range of animals, including giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelope species and wildebeests. There have also been over 300 bird species recorded here. Several walking trails dot the reserve and make for a fun activity.
Accommodation here, in a choice of lovely five- or eight-person self-catering lodges, is more luxurious than at neighbouring Mlawula Nature Reserve. Some lodges have spacious verandahs and wooden viewing decks and are set on the Mlawula River.
Campsites are also available near the Mbuluzi River on the reserve’s northern side. The turn-off for Mbuluzi is the same as for Mlawula; the reserve entrance is…
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Big Game Parks
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