Discover the beauty of Eswatini this April!
THIS April, the charming Kingdom of Eswatini is a place to be and beckons travellers from around the world to explore its hidden gems and vibrant culture.
Nestled in the heart of Southern Africa, Eswatini offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, making it a must-visit destination for adventurers and culture enthusiasts alike.
From majestic landscapes to rich heritage, there is something for everyone to discover in this enchanting land. Eswatini Sunday has compiled places that should be on your ‘to-go-to’ list.
Maguga Dam
Maguga Dam, an impressive expanse of blue water, can be reached via a loop road east of the MR1, which crosses the Nkomati Valley at the dam wall. It is Eswatini’s largest reservoir and its wall, which stands 115m high, is the fourth largest in southern Africa. Visitors can pause to take in the view at various points. Boating and fishing are both available on the dam, with fully equipped houseboats for hire. You might even glimpse one of the hippos that sometimes make their way here along the Nkomati.
The dam was built under the auspices of the joint South Africa/eswatini’s Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA), and today produces hydroelectric power and supplies irrigation to farmers across a wide area. When completed in 2001, it received the South Africa Institute of Civil Engineering award for ‘most outstanding achievement’ in the international category.
For many visitors, Maguga Dam is just a scenic pit stop between Mbabane and Kruger Park. In this respect, the Maguga Lodge restaurant is beautifully located. Seated on the southern shore, its terrace overlooks the glittering waters. With more time, you can enjoy hikes to local bushman paintings and waterfalls, birdwatching, and mountain biking.
Sibebe Resort
Located in Pine Valley, Sibebe Resort is a leisure site to behold placed atop a behemoth granite rock. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by breathtaking vistas of the iconic Sibebe Rock, rising majestically against the azure sky. Lush gardens meander through the resort, creating a sense of tranquillity and inviting exploration. Spacious, elegantly appointed suites provide havens of relaxation, adorned with handcrafted Swazi décor and boasting privacy and unveiling a captivating panorama.
Unwind by the sparkling infinity pool, indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments, or savour delectable meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients at the onsite restaurants. Every detail at Sibebe exudes an air of understated luxury, ensuring an unforgettable escape. Sibebe Resort goes beyond providing breathtaking landscapes and thrilling activities; it serves as a bridge to the rich cultural heritage of Eswatini.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Swati traditions through authentic dance performances and guided visits to local villages. This Valentine’s season, visit the resort that offers activities such as quad biking, ziplining, and hiking, visitors may also take a cool dip in the infinity pool or tap into their playful side by utilising the pool slides. Sibebe provides a platform for genuine cultural exchange, fostering understanding and appreciation for the Swati way of life.
Phophonyane Nature Reserve
The Phophonyane Nature Reserve, a private nature reserve, lies about 10km north of Pigg’s Peak and nestles in a forested hillside above the tumbling Phophonyane River, incorporating the attractive Phophonyane Falls. The gorgeous lodge has a beguiling natural ambience, with its cluster of buildings, all painted in African ochres and adorned with hangings and frescoes, smuggled discreetly into the lush subtropical vegetation.
Nature runs rampant, with birdsong blending into the ubiquitous trickle of running water. Accommodation ranges from rustic cottages to safari tents and upgraded beehive huts. Day visitors can enjoy the restaurant, trails, and natural rock swimming pool.
Phophonyane’s quiet trails are home to plentiful wildlife. You may spot a timid red duiker or troop of banded mongooses, while vervet monkeys often hang around the lodge. Among some 240 recorded birds, pride of place goes to the dazzling narina trogon, an elusive gem that forms the reserve logo.
If it doesn’t fly, it slithers. Abundant reptile life at Phophonyane ranges from pretty (harmless) spotted bush snakes camouflaged in the undergrowth to rainbow skinks dashing across rocky outcrops. Owner Rod de Vletter has stories of big black mambas and pythons, although snakes – everywhere – are seldom seen. Meanwhile, among the more conspicuous mini beasts are a profusion of millipedes, and kite spiders that string their webs across forest trails.
The lodge organises guided walks into the community, where you can visit the primary school, and hikes along the nearby Gobolondo mountain ridge, with panoramic views north over the Makhonjwa mountains and east towards the Lubombo escarpment. An easier though less deserving way to enjoy the views from Gobolondo is on a guided drive in one of the lodge’s 4×4 vehicles, complete with a picnic lunch at the top. Excursions to other local attractions, such as Nsangwini, can also be arranged.
Royal Jozini Private Game
Reserve
Set in Eswatini’s lowveld, but on the slopes of the majestic Lubombo Mountains, Royal Jozini is a private game reserve where investors have built private homes in the bush. Some of these are available, on a self-catering basis, for people to enjoy this breathtaking reserve, with its 5 ecosystems, pristine bushveld, and wealth of animals.
With three of the big 5 – elephants, leopards, and buffalo, as well as giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, nyala and waterbuck to name a few, this is truly a nature lovers’ paradise. In early springtime, the mountain slopes are awash with the creamy blossoms of the knobthorn trees, and then the new leaves appear on all the acacia, marula, and other trees after the first rains and transform the landscape.
With rare bushveld (arid veld) and rare veld grasses which have been lost to other parts of |Southern Africa, the fauna thrives here. Royal Jozini is also set on the banks of the northern section of Lake Jozini – where the Pongolapoort dam floods across the border into Eswatini – bringing birdlife into the wetland areas and boating and sport fishing for both birders and fishermen who are enthusiasts! Strictly catch and release for fish, this is the southernmost part of the continent where tiger fish can be caught and there’s nothing like the thrill of having a tiger on your line.
And how amazing is it that almost 300 different types of birds have been spotted there? The lodge homes at Royal Jozini mostly have four bedrooms and sleep 8 people, and range from comfortable and rustic, to ultra-luxurious “Out of Africa” style. They have spread around in the bush, either on the mountainside with spectacular views, in the bush hidden from neighbours, or on the lakeshore.
There is also a tented camp, fully equipped, that sleeps 16 which is ideal for birding groups or fishermen. From budget to luxury, from couples to families to groups of friends, there is a bush home at Royal Jozini to suit every need. Royal Jozini is Southern Africa’s best-kept secret and is truly a jewel in the Kingdom’s crown.
Malolotja Nature Reserve
Malolotja is one of the very best highland reserves in southern Africa, its 18,000ha wilderness of high rolling hills and deep forested river gorges offers a genuine wilderness in which hikers can lose themselves for days. The Malolotja River rises in the reserve, plunging over the 95m Malolotja Falls on its way to the Nkomati River, which cuts east towards the Indian Ocean.
The rocks beneath Malolotja are among the oldest in the world – some, known as the Swaziland Supergroup, having been laid down as ocean sediment over 3.5 billion years ago, before metamorphosing under heat and pressure into the shales and quartzites we see today. The reserve entrance is just a 30-minute drive from either Mbabane or Piggs Peak. Visitors can stay at the campsite or in self-catering log cabins.
Alternatively, they can stay in traditional beehive chalets – complete with modern interiors – at the nearby Hawane resort, which runs activities into and around the reserve, including horse-riding. A small dam at Hawane is good for bird watching and fishing. The Malolotja wildlife experience is more about quality than quantity. You won’t see as many species as on the Lowveld reserves, but you might see one or two more unusual ones.
Among the larger mammals are grazers such as blesbok, zebra, blue wildebeest, and the rare black wildebeest. Smaller antelopes include grey rhebok, mountain reedbuck and oribi. A few shy leopards roam the hills and gorges, while serval and aardwolf stalk the grasslands and baboons patrol the ridges. Look out for aardvark diggings and the scattered quills of porcupines. Malolotja has many treats for ‘birders. The main drawcard is the endangered blue swallow.
Other specials include Gurney’s sugarbird, ground woodpecker, Denham’s bustard, and southern bald ibis – the last of these breeding on the cliffs above the falls. Malolotja is also home to localised reptiles, such as the Swati thick-tailed rock gecko. Fabulous displays of wildflowers thrive during the spring months (October & November), with lilies, orchids, and redhot pokers, while the valley floors support two threatened species of cycad.
Malolotja’s 200km of trails offer some of the finest hiking in southern Africa, from gentle morning walks to multi-day wilderness hikes. Malolotja’s climate is highly variable, and hikers should come prepared for all weather. A limited network of rough roads is not designed for game viewing but serves to reach the trailheads. Mountain bikes can be hired at the entrance gate.
For a more adrenaline-charged experience, the Malolotja Canopy Tour comprises a 50m suspension bridge and 11 wooden platforms ingeniously affixed to the steep sides of Silotshwane Gorge. Participants zip-line from platform to platform on a steel cable high above the forest canopy and Majolomba River.
While visiting Malolotja, don’t miss the stone carves near the entrance.
Their products are among the best of their kind in Eswatini. Made mostly of soapstone, an easily workable local rock, their natural grey-green colour is enhanced by oiling or darkened with shoe polish. Without a doubt, Malolotja should be on the itinerary of every adventure-seeker or scenery-lover visiting southern Africa.
Phophonyane’s quiet trails are home to plentiful wildlife. You may spot a timid red duiker or troop of banded mongooses, while vervet monkeys often hang around the lodge.