Adventure
The perfect African destination for the thrill seeker and adventurous traveller
Eswatini (Swaziland), otherwise known as ‘Africa in a nutshell’, is equally equipped for the thrill seeker as it for the safari lover or culture enthusiast. The variety and range of activities available in this small country is truly remarkable. From getting up close and personal with wildlife and leisurely hikes through a pristine wilderness, to high-speed journeys down river or gorge – there is so much to keep all visitors fully occupied! With nowhere more than 2 hours away from the country’s central tourism hub, activities can be enjoyed with ease and visitors are able to pack in as much, or as little adventure as they wish.
With wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves dotted around the country, and home to the famed ‘Big 5’, Eswatini is a wonderful safari destination. And the opportunity to horse ride, cycle and walk alongside wildlife in some reserves gives and added element of adventure
The country’s highlands and mountains offer a wide choice of hiking opportunities, including through areas of genuine, un-touched wilderness. Those and other areas can also be explored through cycling and horse riding, with quad biking another option. For keen cyclists, Eswatini has a series of Mountain Bike Races through the year open to a range of ages and abilities.
For the even more adventurous, Malolotja Nature Reserve is home to a thrilling tree-top canopy tour of zip-wires, bridges and platforms, and various mountains and gorges also provide opportunities for climbing and abseiling. Moving underground, local adventure operator, Swazi Trails has pioneered adventure caving in southern Africa’s only major granite cave system. And to top everything off, perhaps the ultimate adventure comes from white water rafting on the Great Usuthu River. Another Eswatini-based operator, All Out Africa has the tagline “adventures that change lives” and offers a variety of volunteer projects and activity tours.