Things to see and do Swaziland

A real favorite. A safari in this reserve will take you right up to black and white rhinos. A rarity in Africa, this animal is largely endangered due to poaching. The reserve has an elite unit of rangers from the local Swazi communities to protect them. You'll come across other bush animals such as elephant, giraffe and buffalo. Bird lovers will be delighted, with a multitude of species to discover, as well as black hippotragues, Livingstone's elands... No Wifi or electricity at Stone Camp.

Big Game Park is an institution in eSwatini, managing the country's three largest parks. The Millwan Wildlife Sanctuary in the west, close to the capital and the Ezulwini Valley, is home to warthogs, giraffes and zebras. To the east, Mkhaya Natural Reserve is home to rare black rhinos, while to the northeast lies Hlane National Park with its lions and elephants... The parks are particularly beautiful! For years, Big Game Park has been committed to preserving the country's natural heritage. A real success story!

This cave with incredible rock paintings of the San (the ancestors of the Bushmen) is located on the northern flank of the Nkomati Valley, between Maguga Dam and Piggs Peak. These are the best preserved in eSwatini. They date back more than 4,000 years and were skillfully made by hunter-gatherers. The line is fine and harmonious, with red ochre and animal blood. They represent mystical scenes, with animals, humans and symbols. Bring good sneakers, the slope is steep. The profits are donated to the community of Nswangwini.

You will find a lot of updated information, maps (free), hotels, restaurants and activities... Don't forget to pick up a copy of What's happening in Swaziland and What's on in Swaziland, a wealth of information on culture, history and current affairs. You can also download a lot of documentation from their website. They also organise personalised tours to discover the eSwatini, the best address in the country at this level. You can make your request by email or by phone.

It is one of the oldest mines in the world housing the Lion Cave, since it would date back 43 000 years. It is open air, perched on the edge of the great Ngwenya pit, spectacular! Unfortunately, the visitor center that housed mining-related artifacts, a steam engine, and a replica of an Iron Age furnace burned down in 2018 in a bushfire. You can still take a short guided exploration of the mine with a guide that lasts 15 minutes with an aerial view of the site.

A few minutes from the Gables shopping centre, the national museum presents an exhibition on Swazi culture. Through different documentations, costumes and several traditional objects are presented. Just across the street, King Sobhuza II Memorial Park presents the history of Sobhuza II and exhibits objects, furniture and even the luxurious cars of this king who had the longest reign, 82 years anyway, and who married 70 times, as tradition allows!

The Swazi cultural village is part of the Mantenga Nature Reserve, managed by the National Tourism Commission. The site also offers accommodation at all prices and treks. One comes to discover the ancestral way of life of this people: greetings, daily life... a living exhibition interspersed with explanations. Twice a day, the traditional Sibhaca is sung and danced in costume. Very impressive! Beautiful possible hike to the Matenga Falls.

North of Mbabane, about 10 km along the Pine Valley Road, you can't miss the second largest monolithic plutonic granite boulder in the world and the largest in Africa, Sibebe Rock. At 800 meters high, it covers nearly 16,500 hectares. If the climb to a rock overlooking the monolithic boulder seems perilous, you can still attempt it, but only accompanied by a guide to get an overview. In spring, the landscape is brightened up with carpets of flowers and you can meet wild horses.

Here you are in a national park of some 22,000 hectares (the largest in the country) managed by the National Tourism Commission and with accommodation at all prices. The park is home to lions, elephants, white and black rhinos, giraffes, hippos, kudu, wildebeest, zebras, waterbucks, warthogs, impalas... Go on safari with your car, in a 4 x 4 or on foot, take a cultural tour of the village of Umphakatsi or on the Ehlatsini Bush Trails (hiking circuit).

Hikers and nature lovers will be delighted to discover the Malolotja Nature Reserve. The park has an excellent network of trekking paths to wander along and where you can observe an incredible flora and many animals: antelopes, zebras, elk, wildebeest and almost 300 species of birds. One of the best ways to discover the beauty of the site, the Canopy tour, a two-hour zip-line ride perched in the trees, the setting is just incredible, sensation assured!