Malolotja Nature Reserve

Malolotja Nature Reserve is in Eswatini (Swaziland). It is one of the most impressive mountain parks in Southern Africa. The spectacular scenery and the variety of fauna and flora makes it a prime highveld conservation area. It is the last unspoilt mountain wilderness left in Eswatini. The reserve extends over an area of 18 000 hectares in north-west Eswatini, making it the largest proclaimed protected area in the Kingdom.

Understand

The range in altitude from the top of Ngwenya Mountain, Eswatini's second highest mountain (1829 m), to the deep Nkomati River Valley (640 m) accounts both for the mild temperate climate and great variety of habitats; from short grassland, to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and moist Afro-montane forest.

The Malolotja River rises in the east of the reserve and meanders its way through some fragile highveld bog systems before tumbling over numerous waterfalls, including Eswatini's highest waterfall, the Malolotja Falls, and cutting its way through a steep sided gorge to meet the Nkomati River, some 900 m below.

History of Malolotja

In the early 1970s the Swaziland National Trust Commission came into being and one of the first projects undertaken by the organisation was to conduct a survey of protection-worthy areas in Swaziland. One of the regions identified as a priority was the region stretching from Ngwenya Mountain in the south to Bulembu Mountain in the north. A proposal to declare the area a nature reserve was referred to the late King, His Majesty King Sobhuza II. The late King appointed Chief Bhekimpi as his eye for the project. More than eighty percent of the area was sheep grazing concession land and much of the southern area was privately owned. Findings ascertained that the area had little agricultural or stock rearing potential and King Sobhuza supported and approved the project. The families living in the area were resettled on good agricultural land adjacent to Malolotja.

Get around

Excellent walking, parts are accessible by ordinary car, but 4WD is needed for many of the tracks.

See

• 1 Nkomati Viewpoint. Viewpoint with short walks nearby, where mountain reedbuck, grey rhebok and klipspringer might be seen. (updated Jan 2020)

Do

• 1 Malolotja Canopy Tour, ☏ +268 7660 6755, malolotjares@sntc.org.sz. 3 hours of ziplining in the Malolotja Reserve R695. (updated Jan 2020)

Sleep

Lodging

• Cabins. There are 10 self-catering cabins, with a restaurant adjacent. E400 (minimum charge) E300 pp/pn (adult) E120 pp/pn (children 5-12). (updated Jan 2020)

Camping

• 1 Malolotja Main Campsite. 15 camping pitches. There is a nearby restaurant. E100 pp/pn (adult); E40 pp/pn (child 4-12). (updated Jan 2020)

Backcountry

There are 19 backcountry campsites for hikers. These have a clearing near water.

Go next

• South to Mbabane
• Songimvelo Game Reserve is nearby over the border in South Africa.