Mlilwane Wildlife
Sanctuary
The
Mlilwane wildlife sanctuary is situated in the western part of the
kingdom of Swaziland between Mbabane and Manzini in the Ezulwini
valley.
This
is not a "big five" game destination so you won’t be able to
see lion, rhino, elephant or buffalo here but you will still be able to
spot some of the other large game species as well as a good variety of
antelope.
At
4560 hectares, this wildlife sanctuary can be covered completely in a
morning or afternoon drive so the distances and travel times are small.
For example, the distance from the Mlilwane Rest Camp to the sanctuary
entrance gate
is approximately 2km (1.2 miles).
Ironically,
one of the best game viewing areas here is right inside the rest camp
itself so if you stay on your veranda with a beverage of your choice
you might see a passing parade of birds and wildlife.
I've
written a detailed guidebook on how to plan and carry out a safari here successfully. Learn more about the guide
your own safari ebook...
Mlilwane
Wildlife Sanctuary Map
The magnification and detail on
this satellite
map is superb. For example, if you zoom in closer (double
click with the mouse or
use the controls in the left hand corner) to the hippo pool
dam situated in the rest camp and follow the gravel road to
its
left you will actually be able to make out a white car driving towards
the dam. Icons are clickable for details...
View Larger
Map
When
to Go
The best time to visit is when it
is cool and dry, between the months of May to September. The rainy
season runs from October to May and the hot summer months when
temperatures can reach the high thirties (°C) (around
100°F) and make a safari
a bit uncomfortable are from November to March.
Mlilwane History
This sanctuary was the first conservation
area in Swaziland which came into being when Ted Reilly, a farmer in
the Ezulwini valley became extremely concerned about the fact that
Swaziland’s natural heritage was fast disappearing due to
excessive hunting, trapping, poisons, insecticides and habitat
destruction.
By the 1960’s, much of
Swaziland’s wildlife which was formally rich and varied was
on the verge of extinction. Ted Reilly resolved to do something about
this and converted his own 460 ha farm into a wildlife sanctuary and
through sheer hard work and persistence created the pioneering Mlilwane
which was gazetted as a game sanctuary on the 7th January 1966.
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