North East Eswatini
Conservation & Community
This region of Eswatini (Swaziland) is primarily lowveld. This is quintessential Africa: undulating thorn bush, scattered mud-and- thatch villages, and blue hills lining the horizon. It seems a world away from the cool western highveld. Those blue hills, the beautiful, flat-topped Lubombo Mountains, form the eastern border with South Africa.
The advent of the sugar industry from the late 1950s brought development and the region is now characterised by vast sugar estates, most of which have country clubs offering a variety of activities to guests and visitors. There are few towns of any notable size, with the largest being Siteki, on the western edge of the Lubombos, en route to the Mozambique border.
Most visitors come to this region of Eswatini because it is home to the country’s greatest number of nature/wildlife reserves, which collectively make up the Lubombo Conservancy. Hlane Royal National Park is the best known and most visited but Mlawula Nature Reserve, Mbuluzi Game Reserve and Dombeya Game Reserve also offer some wonderful wilderness and wildlife experiences. Within the Conservancy, visitors may spot a vast diversity of animals, including the Big Five and bird life that is second to none, all within protected bushveld areas that incorporate wonderful indigenous plants and trees. The bird life in this region is among the most prolific in the country with more than 350 species and due to the extent of the conservation areas, there are many majestic raptors as well as brown-headed parrots in their hundreds. A wide choice of accommodation is available within the reserves at the various rest camps.
Atop the Lubombo mountains is the Shewula Nature Reserve, also part of the Conservancy and home to one of the country’s most successful community tourism projects. The Lubombo Eco Trails project aims to establish even more community-based enterprises that will allow visitors to experience the mountains to the full.
Dombeya Game Reserve
Dombeya Game Reserve
Hlane Royal National Park
Hlane Royal National Park
Hlane Royal National Park
Lubombo Conservancy
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mlawula Nature Reserve
Mlawula Nature Reserve
Mlawula Nature Reserve
Shewula Nature Reserve
Sugar Estates & Country Clubs
Sugar Estates & Country Clubs
Sugar Estates & Country Clubs