Mbuluzi Game Reserve: A natural escape in Eswatini

Mbuluzi Game Reserve is a small, unique and highly picturesque privately owned conservation area encompassing some of Eswatini's most pristine bush-veld which is home to plentiful wildlife. Mbuluzi Game Reserve is a perfect overnight stop for holiday travelers between Mozambique and South Africa (as it is a short distance from the borders of these two countries). Visitors have an opportunity to experience the aesthetic value of the reserve as well as learn about the importance of conservation and sustainable ecotourism.

The reserve protects a variety of landscapes and splendid biodiversity and is located in the Lubombo escarpment, i.e. the foothills of the Lubombo Mountains, with two rivers flowing through. It boasts of remarkable diversity of habitats including riverine forest with towering Sycamore figs and wild date palms, rocky cliffs, knobthorn savannah, acacia bushveld and open grassland.

With a good network of game viewing roads and walking trails well-marked for easy navigation and offering impressive views, Mbuluzi invites guests to freely explore the reserve at their own pace. Activities further include mountain biking, fishing, cycling, taking drives to visit viewpoints or picnic spots and bird hides. Wildlife encounters are likely to include giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, waterbuck, duiker, nyala, warthog, impala, bushbuck, Vervet monkey and Chacma baboon. There are also crocodiles in the rivers and hippos move in and out of the reserve. On a night drive guests can bump into nocturnal species like civet, genet, honey badger and the bush pig while hyenas, leopards and otters are rare finds. Birding is top notch with over 300 recorded bird species including the Green- and Pink-throated twinspot, Thick-billed cuckoo and rarities such as the African finfoot.

Mbuluzi offers quality visitor accommodation in a number of varying luxury family lodges situated on the banks of the Mlawula River as well as in a quiet secluded campsite along the Mbuluzi River. The self-catering lodges can host 8 people (4 bedrooms) or 5 people (3 bedrooms), and the tented lodges accommodates 8 people (4 en suite tents). All lodges are fully equipped with fridge, oven, microwave, fireplace, and outdoor barbeque. All lodges also offer a private swimming pool. The lodges are connected to electricity and offer hot showers and firewood supplies which makes a stay a unique camping-like experience to fully immerse in and enjoy the bush up close.

The reserve can be visited throughout the year yet the dry months from June to September are best for wildlife viewing as during this time the bush is less thick and animals drift towards permanent water sources.

With regards to unique conservation action, Mbuluzi is one of the founding organizations of the Lubombo Conservancy that was set up to assist in incorporating communities and other protected area neighbours into a larger, stronger conservation area. Further, Mbuluzi is a founding stakeholder in the (UNESCO) Lubombo Man & Biosphere Reserve as well as encourages research on site.

Emphasis is also put on social impact and community well-being in the region. Therefore, the team runs an active community development fund that performs a number of programs within the neighboring communities. Examples are the Learner Bursaries Program that sponsors a number of students from the neighboring Maphiveni community and the Lessons in Conservation initiative which conducts learning experiences to involve the local youth.

All in all, Mbuluzi Game Reserve is a precious place which contributes to conservation and regional impact through sustainable ecotourism - worth a visit given the combination of it being a self-guided destination and a landscape rich in wild species.

Member Profile: Mbuluzi Game Reserve

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