Swaziland

Tiny Swaziland has much to offer visitors, from adventure activities and excellent wildlife reserves, to royal ceremonies, well-preserved cultural traditions and great natural beauty. Swaziland also makes a good stopover point en route from South Africa to Mozambique or KwaZulu-Natal to Kruger National Park.

Starting just outside the capital Mbabane, the Ezulwini valley, meaning ‘valley of heaven’, is the regal heartland of Swaziland, with the royal palace in Lobamba. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the valley and is in middleveld terrain that supports both highveld and lowveld flora and fauna, including endangered species such as oribi and grey rhebok. Free from predators, the park can be explored on foot, horseback or mountain bike. As the game is so used to horses, it’s possible to ride among herds of blesbuck, wildebeest or nyala without them paying much attention. There are cultural tours to an umphakatsi (homestead) of beehive huts just outside the gate, where you gain an insight into traditional village life. If you’re not afraid of the dark, a caving trip through the Gobholo Cave System in the Ezulwini valley is an absolute must.

Hlane Royal National Park is the biggest reserve in Swaziland, a vast tract of park-like Acacia nigrescens savanna home to white rhinos, elephants, lions and antelope. Go on guided game walks, mountain biking trails or take a tour of the lion enclosure. In the south east, Mkhaya Game Reserve is known in particular for its black and white rhinos and the intimate encounters visitors can have with them. Near the reserve is the Great Usutu River, where you can enjoy Swaziland’s top adventure activity – white-water rafting.

Swaziland has one of the last remaining monarchies in Africa, ruled by King Mswati III.

** Remember to take your passport if you’re planning on crossing the border into Swaziland.