Mkhaya Game Reserve – Overview

Mkhaya Game Reserve is the most exclusive safari destination in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and an important breeding center for endangered wildlife. Four of the Big Five are present, including both black and white rhino, but not lions. All activities are guided and it offers overnight stays in a luxury bush camp as well as day tours.

Best Time To Go

May to September (Dry season)

High Season

December to January and July to August (It never gets very busy)

Size More info

100km² / 39mi²

Altitude More info

200-355m / 656-1,165ft

View Photos View Photos +19 Photos

Pros & Cons

• Four of the Big Five present (no lion)
• Sanctuary for endangered species
• Eswatini’s only black rhino, buffalo, tsessebe, sable antelope and eland
• Good place to see both African rhino species
• Guided open-vehicle game drives and walking safaris offered
• Excellent safari lodge offering a great bush experience
• Many animals are kept in enclosures
• The only big cats are leopards, which are seldom seen
• Lack of wilderness appeal
• No self-drive allowed

Wildlife

Mkhaya supports the only black rhino, tsessebe, sable antelope, buffalo and eland populations in Eswatini. It is also home to elephant, roan antelope, white rhino and spotted hyena. Smaller animals that often come through camp include warthog, nyala, suni, and grey and red duiker. Leopards are around, but these shy creatures aren’t easily seen.

Scenery

Mkhaya protects a tract of Lowveld dominated by acacia savannah, with some thicker woodland in the north. The reserve is named after the knob thorn acacia, a large hardwood tree that is common in the Lowveld and used by the Swazi people in the frames of traditional houses. Several rivers cross the reserve, each fringed with beautiful riverine forest. Spring and summer bring a lot of color with beautiful wildflowers.

Activities

The main activity is guided game drives in open safari vehicles. Overnight visitors are typically taken on early morning and late afternoon drives, and are also offered guided walks. Day visits start at 10 AM and include two game drives either side of a bush lunch at the camp. All activities come with an excellent chance of closeup encounters with both white and black rhino. No self-drive is permitted.

Weather & Climate

Mkhaya has a defined winter and summer (at opposite times of the year to those seasons in Europe, Asia and North America). These seasons correspond to the Dry and Wet season, respectively. The wet summer months tend to be humid and very hot. It rains regularly in summer, but mostly in the late afternoons and seldom for the whole day. Dry winter months offer warm days, but nights and early mornings are cold.

Best Time To Visit

Wildlife viewing is not much affected by season, as animals are mostly kept in drive-in enclosures. That said, the best time to visit is in the dry winter months, from May to September, when the climate is mild and it seldom rains. The shoulder months (April, May, September and October) are particularly agreeable as it is less cold at night and in the early morning than in midwinter.

Want To Visit Mkhaya GR?

• Tour Operators for Mkhaya