Eswatini Tours and Travel

Day 1 – Eswatini

• Arrive at your convenience into King Mswati III International Airport, the main airport in Eswatini, with connections from places such as Johannesburg and Durban.
• Meet your guide before beginning the journey into one of Africa’s smallest countries.
• We’ll make our way east and stop for lunch at a busy roadside restaurant popular among the locals. Here you’ll get the chance to sample grilled chicken, beef skewers, rice, pap, and fresh vegetables for a first taste of everyday Swazi cuisine!
• After lunch, a short drive to Ngwenya Mine, one of the oldest known iron ore mining sites in the world, dating back thousands of years. From the viewpoints above the site, we look down over the old mining area and surrounding hills, while learning how iron ore was extracted here in ancient times and how this region later became part of important trade routes across southern Africa.
• We then continue into the Ezulwini Valley, also known as the cultural heart of Eswatini. Here we check into Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the country’s oldest protected areas.
• We’ll gather for our first dinner feast to set the tone for the tour ahead, followed by an evening around the fire pit with drinks.
• Overnight at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 2 – Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

Morning

• Very early start before sunrise. We’ll start the drive towards Sibebe Rock, a large granite formation. We’ll walk to a viewpoint and watch the sunrise over the valleys and hills of Eswatini, having a simple, packed breakfast picnic while enjoying the views.
• From here, we continue towards Lobamba, the traditional and cultural center of Eswatini and home to the royal family and parliament.
• First stop is at Mantenga Cultural Village, where we learn about traditional Swazi homesteads, family structures, and cultural practices. The village is built in the style of a 19th-century Swazi settlement, and our local guide explains how life was traditionally organized back then and how some of these customs are still in use today.

Afternoon

• Lunch is at a local favorite spot in the Ezulwini Valley, where we can sit and people-watch over the busy valley.
• We’ll then make our way over to the local craft markets where artisans produce handmade goods such as beadwork, carved wooden items, woven baskets, textiles, and candles. Here’s your best chance of grabbing some unique souvenirs!
• Return to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary for a sunset horseback safari. We’ve already explored parts of the reserve, but riding through the open grassland and bush trails offers a completely different experience.
• Dinner is back at the sanctuary, followed by a relaxed evening.
• Overnight at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 3 – Hlane Royal National Park

Morning

• After breakfast, we check out and head back through Lobamba for a visit to the National Museum of Eswatini. This small but interesting museum gives a clear overview of the country’s important royal history, cultural traditions, and journey towards its independence.
• We then continue east to Hlane Royal National Park, a wilderness area known for its open savannah and conservation efforts, especially for protecting its rhinos.
• On arrival, we switch to open 4×4 safari vehicles and head straight into the park. The landscapes you’ll be met by are wide grasslands, acacia trees, and waterholes that attract all sorts of wildlife. This is the perfect opportunity for close-up encounters with elephants, giraffes, and maybe even some lions resting in the shade during the heat of the day.

Afternoon

• Lunch is at the park restaurant overlooking a busy waterhole. It is not unusual to see warthogs, antelopes, or even elephants passing by while you are sitting down for lunch!
• Afterwards, we’ll continue deeper into the park for another game drive until sunset.
• We’ll drive back and settle into our lodge.
• Dinner will be enjoyed outdoors, with grilled meats and simple local dishes.
• Overnight at the lodge in Hlane Royal National Park.

Day 4 – Ezulwini Valley

Morning

• It’ll be another early start with a sunrise safari. This is the best time to see the predators active before the heat of the day.
• After breakfast back at the lodge, we continue exploring the park, focusing on rhino tracking. Hlane is home to some of the most important conservation work for rhinos in the region, which we will be learning more about on today’s safari.

Afternoon

• Lunch is at the park restaurant.
• We then begin our journey back towards the Ezulwini Valley, passing rural landscapes, small settlements, and mountain views along the way.
• Arriving back in the valley, the afternoon is free to relax, swim, or enjoy the lodge surroundings before our final evening together.
• We’ll then enjoy our last dinner feast around the bonfire, with drinks afterwards.
• Overnight in Ezulwini Valley.

Day 5 – Eswatini

Morning

• Breakfast at the lodge before transferring back to the airport for onward flights.
• Tour concludes.