Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is a landlocked kingdom enclosed by South Africa on three sides. Attractions include wildlife viewing in Mkhaya Game Reserve and Hlane Royal National Park, as well as some stunning mountain scenery and the opportunity to experience traditional Swazi culture. It is easily visited when traveling between South Africa’s Kruger National Park and the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Rates
(USD)
- $208 to $518 pp/day
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Best Time To Go
- May to September (Dry season)
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High Season
- December to January and July to August (It never gets very busy)
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Size
- 17,364km² / 6,704mi²
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Pros & Cons
- Easily accessible wildlife viewing
- package or custom safaris
- Gorgeous scenery
- Traditional cultures
- Family friendly and many affordable accommodation options
- A convenient add-on to any itinerary running from Kruger National Park to Durban
- Small parks with fenced animal enclosures lack wilderness appeal
- Not many upmarket accommodation options in the parks
Wildlife
Eswatini has a good variety of wildlife with all of the Big Five present. The parks are quite small but well managed. Some animals are kept in large drive-through enclosures, which makes viewing easy. Lion, white rhino and elephant are all frequently seen in Hlane. A good variety of antelope species can be seen in different environments, including tsessebe, eland and sable.
More about the wildlife
Things To Do
The most popular attractions in Eswatini focus on wildlife viewing and include Hlane Royal National Park, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and Mkhaya Game Reserve. Exceptional hiking is available in mountainous Malolotja and Mlawula Nature Reserves. Eswatini is more traditional than neighboring South Africa and several places offer Swazi village visits and cultural experiences. Adventure activities include rafting the Usutu River, climbing the granite dome of Sibebe Rock, and ziplining in Malolotja.
Weather & Climate
Eswatini has distinct summer and winter seasons, but at opposite times to Europe, Asia and North America. Summer, from October to April, corresponds with the Wet season, while winter, from May to September, corresponds with the Dry season. The summer rains usually manifest in the form of afternoon storms and rarely interfere with daily activities. Summer tends to be quite hot with temperatures up to 32°C/90°F and high humidity.
More about the weather and climate
Best Time To Visit
Eswatini can be visited throughout the year. Wildlife viewing tends to be a bit better during the Dry winter months when vegetation is thin and animals come to drink at predictable sources. However, the parks are quite small and many animals are kept in large enclosures, which makes viewing easy at any time. April to May and September to October are transition months and offer mild temperatures and little rain.
More about the best time to visit
Premier Parks & Reserves
- Hlane Royal NP – Classic safaris
- Mkhaya GR – Classic safaris
- All 6 Eswatini Parks & Reserves