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The pint-sized Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is unchartered safari territory for most Africa aficionados. Sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique, just to the south of Kruger National Park, this tiny African kingdom offers an impressive array of wildlife, culture and safari adventure. It might not have the conservation areas and wildlife concentrations to challenge its more illustrious neighbours, but it makes up for any shortcomings with its uniqueness and variety of visitor experiences.
Whether on a rewarding Big Game Parks game drive, enjoying up-close sightings of rhino and elephant, zip lining in the forest, appreciating Swazi culture and tribal dancing, or exploring the kingdom on foot, bike or horseback, Eswatini has a safari offering to suit all tastes and budgets. Despite its impressive diversity, Eswatini remains almost unknown to the wider safari community, making it a destination that you should endeavour to experience before the wider world discovers
The Swazi conservation pioneer, Big Game Parks, is the custodian of three of the nation’s finest safari offerings: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Hlane Royal National Park and Mkhaya Game Reserve. Despite rhinos being one of the most endangered mammal families on the planet, you will likely see an astonishing number of white rhinos while on safari in Hlane or Mkhaya, and black rhinos are also easily seen in Mkhaya.
Eswatini is not just a rhino and wildlife destination – it also boasts rich cultural offerings. The annual Umhlanga festival is Eswatini’s biggest cultural event and is attended by the King and royal family. During this eight-day ceremony, young maidens cut reeds that they symbolically present to the Queen Mother. Many Swazis, dressed in traditional attire, partake in the local song and dance festivities.
The Kingdom of Eswatini is a little-known African safari gem, oozing safari intimacy and boasting unparalleled rhino-viewing opportunities.
Whether on a rewarding Big Game Parks game drive, enjoying up-close sightings of rhino and elephant, zip lining in the forest, appreciating Swazi culture and tribal dancing, or exploring the kingdom on foot, bike or horseback, Eswatini has a safari offering to suit all tastes and budgets. Despite its impressive diversity, Eswatini remains almost unknown to the wider safari community, making it a destination that you should endeavour to experience before the wider world discovers
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it.The Swazi conservation pioneer, Big Game Parks, is the custodian of three of the nation’s finest safari offerings: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Hlane Royal National Park and Mkhaya Game Reserve. Despite rhinos being one of the most endangered mammal families on the planet, you will likely see an astonishing number of white rhinos while on safari in Hlane or Mkhaya, and black rhinos are also easily seen in Mkhaya.
Eswatini is not just a rhino and wildlife destination – it also boasts rich cultural offerings. The annual Umhlanga festival is Eswatini’s biggest cultural event and is attended by the King and royal family. During this eight-day ceremony, young maidens cut reeds that they symbolically present to the Queen Mother. Many Swazis, dressed in traditional attire, partake in the local song and dance festivities.
The Kingdom of Eswatini is a little-known African safari gem, oozing safari intimacy and boasting unparalleled rhino-viewing opportunities.
The Unknown Kingdom
I’d wanted to visit the mysterious Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) for as long as I could remember, so I was delighted to cover a story on conservation in the country for ‘BBC Earth’ magazine. Eswatini is home to many rare and fascinating creatures … but perhaps none so unique as the octogenarian conservation legend Ted Reilly.
Eswatini boasts roughly 700km2/270mi2 of formally protected parks and reserves (as well as a few wildlife farms and conservancies) yet half a century ago it was a virtual wasteland, devoid of almost all its wildlife. Wildebeest had been declared vermin by the British colonial government and died in large numbers (along with almost everything else) at poisoned waterholes. With the support of the Swazi royal family, a dedicated young conservationist by the name of Ted Reilly turned the whole thing around, finally introducing viable populations of 22 large wild animal species – including lion, elephant, rhino, giraffe,
As the second-smallest country on the African mainland (only The Gambia is smaller), Eswatini is an easy country to visit. While it might lack the scale of Africa’s vast wilderness areas, it is a microcosm of the African bush and is easily underestimated: it boasts the Big Five along with most of southern Africa’s iconic species; it supports over 520 bird species (about the same as Germany … which is 20 times bigger); and, thanks to a tough no-tolerance anti-poaching strategy, it’s one of the best places in the world to get close to wild rhino (white and black).
Along with unforgettable landscapes and spectacular sightings, it provides a fascinating insight into African ecology for anyone looking for an out-of-the-ordinary safari experience.
Eswatini boasts roughly 700km2/270mi2 of formally protected parks and reserves (as well as a few wildlife farms and conservancies) yet half a century ago it was a virtual wasteland, devoid of almost all its wildlife. Wildebeest had been declared vermin by the British colonial government and died in large numbers (along with almost everything else) at poisoned waterholes. With the support of the Swazi royal family, a dedicated young conservationist by the name of Ted Reilly turned the whole thing around, finally introducing viable populations of 22 large wild animal species – including lion, elephant, rhino, giraffe,
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buffalo, sable, hippo, tsessebe and eland.As the second-smallest country on the African mainland (only The Gambia is smaller), Eswatini is an easy country to visit. While it might lack the scale of Africa’s vast wilderness areas, it is a microcosm of the African bush and is easily underestimated: it boasts the Big Five along with most of southern Africa’s iconic species; it supports over 520 bird species (about the same as Germany … which is 20 times bigger); and, thanks to a tough no-tolerance anti-poaching strategy, it’s one of the best places in the world to get close to wild rhino (white and black).
Along with unforgettable landscapes and spectacular sightings, it provides a fascinating insight into African ecology for anyone looking for an out-of-the-ordinary safari experience.