| Swaziland's Refuge for Endangered Species
In the southeast of Swaziland, the heart of the lowveld
lies an unspoilt wilderness, haven to endangered species
who roam the magnificent African bush.
For the animals that once roamed wild and free, uninhibited
by fences and boundaries, they faced and still face an
uncertain future with man’s compulsion toward maximum
yield, poaching and lack of ignorance toward nature conservation
and protection of our natural heritage. These once abundant
animals that could be seen for miles around were, and
some still are, close to extinction. It became clear
to the Reilly Family, Swaziland’s foremost nature
conservationists, that these animals needed a place of
refuge, and tranquility and the absence of menacing man
and his gun, and Mkhaya was the perfect place.
Mkhaya
was established in 1979 to save the pure Nguni breed
of cattle from extinction and is a proclaimed Nature
Reserve. Its focus has expanded over the years to include
other endangered species such as black rhino, roan & sable
antelope, tsessebe, white rhino, elephant and other locally
endangered species.
Mkhaya Game Reserve, named after the Acacia nigrescens
tree, comprises of acacia-dominated thornveld in the
south and broadleaf sandveld in the north. Unique, intimate
encounters with Mkhaya’s wildlife are almost guaranteed
as all travel within the reserve is solely by Big Game
Parks’ open Land Rovers or on foot (all guided).
The reserve is criss-crossed with dry riverbeds,
dotted with waterholes and has a network of intertwined
game-viewing roads.
After a day out in the hot African bush, come back to
the camp that is sited in bird-rich riverine forests
and enjoy an ice-cold drink under the giant sausage tree
or retire to the comfortable stone and thatch open style
accommodation and sit back and enjoy real nature.
 Mkhaya is staffed and patrolled entirely by Swazis from
neighbouring communities and currently boasts what is
arguably Africa's most effective anti-poaching unit.
Mkhaya is totally self-financing through visitor revenues.
Your support is greatly appreciated as a means of sustaining
this unique international conservation effort.
A trip to Mkhaya is a trip into Real Africa – a
soul enriching, quality experience you’ll never
forget!
Please Note: All visits to Mkhaya require pre-bookings
through our Central Reservations office. Due to logistical
limitations, pick up times are strictly 10h00 or 16h00,
as arranged.
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