Swaziland Budget Safaris & Tours

About The Kingdom of Swaziland

The mountainous Kingdom of the Swaziland offers visitors a rich mix of spectacular scenery, interesting cultural encounters, traditional and craft markets and beautiful wildlife parks.  This landlocked country, also called Ngwane, is one of three monarchies in Africa and is the smallest African country in the southern hemisphere. The friendly Swazi people are proud of their traditional lifestyle and indigenous cultures welcoming visitors to experience their heritage and ceremonies.  Swaziland is a relaxing and fascinating tourist destination with a laid-back atmosphere and plenty to see and do.

Hlane Royal National Park – Game Walk in the Biggest Reserve in Swaziland

The Hlane Royal National Park is Swaziland’s largest game reserve, covering some 30 000 hectares of wilderness in eastern Swaziland.  Hlane is known for its game walks tracking white rhino and elephants. This beautiful reserve is also home to lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as giraffe, zebras and some antelopes. Hlane Royal National park is also inhabited by a rich variety of birds.

There are plenty of optional activities available in the nature reserve, including hiking, mountain biking, lion tours and game drives. On our Swaziland safaris that visit Hlane we camp in the game reserve, surrounded by unspoilt African bushveld.  We take a game walk with a local ranger in search of rhino, elephant and diverse birdlife on our Hlane Park safaris.

Mlilwane Nature Reserve - Relax in Swaziland's Oldest and Most Visited Game Park

Mlilwane Nature Reserve is Swaziland’s oldest and most popular protected area, covering 4 560 hectares of grassland and African wilderness. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is a predator-free reserve, which makes it ideal for safe game walks and family safaris. It is ideally situated in the “Valley of Heaven” or Ezulwini Valley, easily accessible from Ezulwini and Malkerns tourism hubs. Visitors have 24-hour access to the Mlilwane Nature Reserve, making it an even more convenient stop over.

Mlilwane is home to zebra, giraffe, various antelope species, crocodile, hippo and diverse birdlife. You can explore the beautiful scenery and interact with the flora and fauna of the area on foot, getting up close to nature and all its wonders. In addition to the wildlife and scenery Mlilwane Reserve also offers visitors the unique cultural experience of watching traditional Swazi dancers perform.

Optional activities at the tranquil Mlilwane Reserve include hiking, mountain biking and horse riding as well as game viewing drives. On our Swaziland Safaris to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary we stay in Beehive Huts in the reserve.

Malolotja Nature Reserve - Explore Swaziland's Last Unspoilt Mountain Wilderness 

Travelling through lush fruit farming country in northwestern Swaziland, you reach the secluded Malalotja Nature Reserve famous for its spectacular mountain scenery and rich variety of flora and fauna. Malalotja covers around 18 000 hectares of scenic mountain terrain and is considered the last unspoilt mountain wilderness in Swaziland. The reserve is known for its wide variety of habitats, from grassland to riverine scrub and bushveld to lush forests. In Malalotja you can spend a full day walking through seldom-explored mountains and taking in the stunning views.

The reserve is home to wildlife such as wildebeest, leopard, serval, aardwolf, jackal, zebra and bushpig. Various antelopes also inhabit the park, including reedbuck, blesbok, red hartebeest and oribi. Malalotja Reserve also boasts forg species endmemic to Seaziland, Lesotho and South Africa, as well as abundant birdlife, including some rare bird species. Birds found in the wilderness area include louries, sugarbirds, sunbirds, blue cranes and swallows, as well as a colony of bald ibis at Malolotja Falls. 

Ngwenya Mountain, Swaziland's second highest mountain at 1829 metres lies within Malalotja Nature Reserve. The reserve also encompasses the deep Nkomati River Valley and the highest waterfall in Swaziland, Malolotja Falls, which plummets 95 metres. On our safaris to Malolotja we stay in log cabins with fantastic panoramic views under starry Swaziland night skies.

Shewula Community-Based Natural Resources Programme (CBNRP) - Volunteer in Swaziland

One of our Swaziland tour choices is a Volunteer Safari that visits Shewula community in the scenic Lubombo conservancy. On this Swaziland Safari you spend time with the local Swazi women engaged in crafts and perma-culture projects, assisting them and learning how these women support the community. On this meaningful cultural experience in rural Swaziland you gain insight into these friendly people’s culture and traditional lifestyles. 

African Budget Safaris' Swaziland Safaris

African Budget Safaris offers a number of tours that travel to Swaziland as part of longer safari itineraries throughout Southern Africa, ranging from 7 to 42 days in length. Combine Swaziland with the Kruger National Park in South Africa, or several other highlight of South Africa, such as Cape Town, Durban, the Drakensberg or St. Lucia Wetlands among others. Or you could choose to visit Mozambique, Lesotho or other Southern African countries such as Namibia, Botswana or Zimbabwe, in addition to Swaziland.

We have different types of safaris to Swaziland, including Exclusive, Accommodated and Camping Overland Tours, self-drive safaris, volunteer programs and hiking tours. For those in search of more comfort there are also Budget Lodge Safaris and Exclusive Budget Safaris. 

Find out more with our Swaziland budget travel guide page.