Eswatini’s (Swaziland’s) rich variety of landscapes and habitats gives it a profusion of fauna and flora, with the sheer number of species mind-boggling by most European standards. The country is not large enough to offer lots of big game experiences, but it has some 17 protected areas that are home to a very wide range of species, including the sought-after ‘Big 5’. As well as being one of the best places on the continent for rhino experiences (tracking on foot as well as viewing by 4×4, and to see both black and white rhinos), Eswatini is also the perfect place to get to grips with many smaller creatures often overlooked elsewhere. This is a country with a wealth and variety of safari experiences on offer. See all the fauna and flora of Eswatini here
Eswatini is home to numerous of Africa’s wild animal species with some 132 species of mammal recorded, many protected in the Game Parks and Nature Reserves found across the country. High on the wish-list of most visitors are such ‘charismatic megafauna’ as rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and elephants – and you can certainly see many of these in Eswatini, alongside a small number of predators, and numerous antelope and smaller mammals and reptiles.
For traditional African big game viewing, Hlane royal national park and Mkhaya game reserve are the best places in Eswatini. Both are home to a variety of big mammals, including elephant, hippo, giraffe, zebra, and rhino. Mkhaya is one of the best places on the continent to see both black and white rhino and Hlane is also home to everyone’s favorite big cat – the lion. Numerous antelope and smaller mammals are also found in both places.
Mlilwane wildlife sanctuary has a similarly diverse offering of fauna, though without the biggest of the animals except for hippos. This is a great place for the family and offers much in the way of activity from horse riding, mountain biking, to hikes and treks.
