Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a beautiful landlocked country nestled between South Africa and Mozambique. Despite its small size, Eswatini boasts a diverse landscape that includes mountains, valleys, waterfalls and game reserves. With its warm subtropical climate, Eswatini is a great destination to escape the winter blues.
Eswatini has four administrative regions, but for tourism, it is more conveniently into five, each offering a varied and different set of attractions and experiences.
Concentrating on one region will allow a visitor to witness its individual character, but Eswatini’s compact size allows the region to be mixed and matched in any single visit, even in a single day! To experience the remarkable variety of the kingdom, it is best to visit as many of the regions as possible. With no attraction more than two hours away from the other, it is very easy to visit Eswatini attractions in any order and create a tailor-made trip to meet your personal requirements without encountering long journeys and fatigue.
Eswatini offers the perfect winter warmer destination! Our charming kingdom boasts pleasant winter weather, ideal for exploring its stunning landscapes and indulging in exciting experiences. Take a sneak peak of what the North-East of Eswatini has in store for you this winter.
North-East Eswatini (Conservation and Community)
Dominated by lowveld sugar estates, this region is also home to a number of reserves (all accessed from the MR3 road, which collectively make up a conservancy.
A conservancy may be defined as a body concerned with the preservation of natural resources, for example, a nature conservancy. The mountains at the eastern edge are wild and beautiful with remote settlements, one of which offers a shining example of community tourism.
Lubombo Mountains
An 800km of mountain range close to the Mozambican border.
With walking trails and routes that connect with community initiatives and mountain camps, this area can be explored for a number of days.
Dombeya Game Reserve
Dombeya Game Reserve, a private reserven, is a beautiful and unique place to enjoy nature up-close.
Guests can hike on trails and take their own game drives, stop to watch a herd of zebra or giraffe, or bring a picnic and bottle of wine to enjoy sunset at a wildlife watering hole.
It is an amazing chance to slow down and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature in Africa, at your own pace.
Hlane Royal National Park
Hlane Royal National Park is Eswatini’s top game reserve, and home to the Big Five.
It is a very natural habitat and visitors have a good chance of spotting a multitude of wildlife.
Visitors can choose from a selection of game drives and Hlane’s wide network of game-viewing roads is ideal for a self-drive safari.
You can stretch your legs at picnic sites and watch animals come to drink from the game-viewing hide at Mahlindza Dam.
Mlawula Nature Reserve
Framed by the stunning Lubombo Mountains, this 16 500-hectare reserve is safe from predators yet still has an impressive range of animals and birdlife.
Walking trails start from 1.5kms along with a network of 54kms of roads to explore.
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
This private game reserve is set on 3 000 hectares of bushveld. The reserve has plenty to offer overnight or one-day visitors, including many types of game.
Also, there is a choice of self-catering safari lodges.
While not one of the largest reserves, Mbuluzi is home to a healthy population of giraffe, kudu, blue wildebeest, zebra, impala and other herbivores.
Shewula Nature Reserve
The Shewula Nature Reserve is a 2 650-hectare conservation area located within the Lubombo Conservancy in Eswatini.
It’s a community-owned reserve managed by the Shewula community under Chief Mbandzamane II, working in cooperation with the neighbouring Mlawula and Mbuluzi game reserves.
Home to a vast array of flora and fauna including a variety of bird species, Shewula offers an excellent community tourism experience for visitors at the Shewula Mountain Camp.
Sugarcane Museum
The Sugarcane Museum, also formerly known as the Swaziland Sugarcane Museum, is located within the Tambankulu Sugar Estate, in the north-east of Eswatini.
The museum offers a fascinating look at the history and importance of sugarcane production in Eswatini. Sugarcane has been a key crop in the country for many years, and the museum does a great job of explaining the entire process, from growing the sugarcane to milling it into sugar.
This museum also has a gift shop and café on site.
Sugar Estates and Country Clubs
Simunye, Tambankulu, Mhlume and Mananga Country Clubs – While these country clubs were originally intended for expatriate workers, they are now open to the public and are a great way to experience a bit of Eswatini’s colonial past.
They offer a chance to relax and unwind in a scenic setting, surrounded by Eswatini’s rolling sugar cane fields.
Accommodation, conference facilities, swimming pools, restaurants, racquet sports and golf courses can be enjoyed by visitors.
Are you craving sunshine to chase away the winter blues? Eswatini offers a warm escape! Explore Hlane Royal National Park for Big Five sightings or unwind at Mbuluzi Game Reserve with scenic hikes. Hike the Shewula Nature Reserve for breath-taking views or delve into Eswatini’s history at the Sugarcane Museum. Stay at charming country clubs on historic sugar estates – perfect for relaxation amidst lush greenery. Eswatini awaits to melt your winter woes away!
