Hlane Royal National Park and the lowveld reserves

Why visit Hlane

Hlane means wilderness, and the park protects a large stretch of bushveld and old hardwood trees that were once the royal hunting grounds. Today it is managed by Big Game Parks, which brought rhino, elephant and lion back to the kingdom after decades of poaching. It is small compared with Kruger, but that is its strength: the animals are relaxed, the camps are intimate, and you often have sightings to yourself.

Wildlife and game viewing

The waterhole in front of Ndlovu Camp is the heart of Hlane. White rhino, elephant, hippo, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra come down to drink, especially in the dry winter months, and you can watch from the camp or the restaurant. Lions live in a separate fenced section that you visit on a guided drive, along with leopard, cheetah and hyena that are seen more rarely. Hlane is also excellent for birds, with large numbers of vultures and raptors, including the country's densest nesting colony of white-backed vultures.

You can self drive on the main park roads in a normal car during the dry season. Guided activities include sunrise and sunset game drives, rhino walks with rangers and mountain bike trails in the safe section.

Mkhaya Game Reserve

South of Hlane, **Mkhaya** is a smaller private reserve famous for black and white rhino, sable antelope and buffalo. Day visitors and overnight guests are met at a set time and taken in by the reserve's guides, as self driving is not allowed. Stone Camp, with open fronted stone and thatch cottages lit by paraffin lamps, is one of the most memorable bush stays in the region. Booking ahead is essential.

Mlawula, Mbuluzi and the Lubombo mountains

East of Hlane, the land rises into the Lubombo mountains along the Mozambique border. **Mlawula Nature Reserve**, run by the Eswatini National Trust Commission, has hiking trails, gorges, river walks and rare plants. **Mbuluzi Game Reserve** is a private reserve with giraffe, zebra and antelope and riverside lodges where you can walk and cycle freely. On the ridge above, the community run **Shewula Mountain Camp** has simple huts, guided village walks and huge views over the lowveld and towards Mozambique.

Culture in the lowveld

The lowveld is sugarcane country, centred on the estate towns of Simunye and Big Bend. Around February and March, when marula fruit ripen, communities across the Lubombo region brew buganu, marula beer, and the Marula Festival celebrates the season with the royal family. It is a lively, local event rather than a tourist show.

Where to stay

Inside Hlane, **Ndlovu Camp** has thatched cottages and rondavels without electricity in the rooms, lit by lamps at night, and a restaurant by the waterhole. **Bhubesi Camp**, in a quieter corner by the river, has self catering stone chalets. Mkhaya's Stone Camp is the luxury option, and Mbuluzi and Mlawula have riverside lodges and campsites.

Getting there and health

Hlane is around an hour from Manzini and about forty minutes from King Mswati III International Airport. The Lomahasha border with Mozambique is north of the park, making Hlane a natural last stop before Maputo. The lowveld is a malaria risk area, especially in the wet season from November to May, so speak to a travel health clinic before you go. Summers are hot, so plan activities for early morning and late afternoon.