Malolotja Nature Reserve

The 18,000-hectare Malolotja Nature Reserve is a gorgeous upland wilderness in Swaziland’s north-west, although a mere couple of hours from Mbabane, the capital.

This magnificent landscape, with craggy peaks and high plateaus, tough gorges, hillsides rich with wildflowers (orchids especially) and forests lurking in its corners. It even has mist-belt and wetlands. The reserve is host to Ngwenya, Swaziland’s second-highest mountain at 1829m, and the 90m Malolotja Falls, the highest in Swaziland.

Animals in the reserve include zebra, wildebeest, reedbuck, blesbok, red hartebeest, oribi, leopard and aardwolves. Its 280+ species of birds include blue swallows, blue cranes and bustards.

The around 200km of hiking trails are among Southern Africa’s finest. With 17 campsites, you can make a huge variety of expeditions. You can walk without a guide or support, a rarity in a reserve of this sort. But you will need to be completely self-sufficient, so come fully prepared. Permits are needed for camping. Walkopedia would love to get here!

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