The Hlane (“Wilderness”) Game Sanctuary is home to the largest herds of game in the country and is one of the few places in Swaziland where visitors have a chance of seeing lion, elephant, and rhino.
Birders will also be happy at this 22,000-hectare reserve with a diverse collection of species, including the highest density of breeding white backed vultures on the continent.
Visitors must take a guided game drive to see the lions, which reside in a separate enclosure, but self-guided drives are permitted in other areas of the park. Besides wildlife watching, activities here include guided mountain biking, cultural visits to a nearby Swazi village, birding walks, and overnight fully-catered bush treks.
Guests can opt for an evocative electricity-free experience in a campsite or traditional lantern-lit hut, while a second camp offers self-catering stone cottages with modern conveniences.
About a 40-minute drive south of Hlane Royal National Park, Mkhaya Nature Reserve was established to protect endangered species, including white and black rhino. The park also protects buffaloes and elephants as well as giraffes, hippos, and many birds.
