Safaris Eswatini is a Big 5 destination, with lions in Hlane Royal National Park, and both black and white rhino in both Hlane and Mhkaya Game Reserve. Game drives are very rewarding, but there are also opportunities to safari on horseback, mountain bike or on foot, if you want to get up close and personal. This even applies to the rhino, which can be tracked on foot – one of the most thrilling safari experiences there is. But, in Eswatini it’s not all about being big, with some rare species of smaller flora and fauna to be discovered. As for the bird-watching, the variety of species found across Eswatini’s varied habitats matches that of the much larger Kruger Park just to the country’s north. The many Game Parks and Nature Reserves across Eswatini protect a vast variety of animals. From the magnificent ‘Big Five’ to warthogs, antelope and reptiles, Eswatini is home to numerous of Africa’s wild animal species. The emphasis in Eswatini is to provide visitors with a more intimate wildlife experience in areas of natural beauty, and to allow them a certain amount of freedom to explore on their own terms. In a number of the reserves visitors are free to move around independently, without the need for a guide or ranger. There are even self catering options amongst the accommodation that allow you to be in charge of your own ‘safari lodge’ in the bush. There aren’t many places in the world where you can head off for your own bike ride and encounter zebra and bushbuck along the way, or take a stroll to see the giraffe before settling down to your own bush barbeque. Some 132 species of mammal have been recorded in Eswatini. High on the wish-list of most visitors are such ‘charismatic megafauna’ as rhinos, giraffes, hippos and elephants – and you can certainly see many of these in Eswatini, alongside a small number of predators, and numerous antelope and smaller mammals. For traditional African big game viewing, Hlane Royal National Park and Mkhaya Game Reserve are the best places in Eswatini. Both are home to a variety of big mammals, including elephant, hippo, giraffe, zebra and rhino. Mkhaya is one of the best places on the continent to see both black and white rhino and Hlane is also home to everyone’s favourite big cat – the lion. Numerous antelope, predators and smaller mammals are also found in both places. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary has a similarly diverse offering of fauna, though without the biggest of the animals except for hippos. The Swaziland National Trust Commission reserves of Mlawula and Malolotja and the privately run Mbuluzi are also generally without major predators and the largest of the mammals, although Mbuluzi has giraffe and Malolotja the magnificent eland and all three have the usual diversity of antelope and smaller mammals. Royal National Park is a protected area in northeastern Swaziland. A flat, lowland area with grassland and shallow pans, the park is traversed by the Umbuluzana River. Roads and trails offer views of diverse wildlife such as lions, elephants, hippos, white rhinos, leopards and giraffes. White-backed vultures and other raptors nest in the ancient hardwood trees. The park also hosts a colony of marabou storks.
