In 1960,Ted Reilly, Swaziland's pioneer Nature conservationist, tried but failed to persuade the colonial government to create even a single park for Swaziland, much less a park system. The reason given that Swaziland did not need its own parks was because Kruger National Park was to the North and Hluhluwe Game Reserve to the South (both in South Africa) and were within easy reach of Swaziland and could therefore service the people of this kingdom!

As a direct consequence of that response, Mlilwane, up until then the Reilly’s private farm, was set aside by the Reilly family as Swaziland's first game reserve.

Farming ceased; so did income. Game-proof fences were erected and animals of all description, large and small, were captured from where they were being persecuted, and taken to refuge at Mlilwane.

King Sobhuza II saw this rebirth of the Swazi natural heritage and he defended it. He became the patron of Mlilwane and consequently the father of nature conservation in his kingdom.

Petrus Ngomane - "Mabulane" - he who walks in dangerous places- has given over 40 years dedication defending The Kingdom's wildlife heritage.

In 1966 King Sobhuza II, encouraged by the idea and the emerging success of Mlilwane which he himself had supported so strongly, relieved Chief Mlimi of his custodianship of Hlane and appointed Machobane to protect and build the game populations there. The proclamation of this magnificent area, held by the king in trust for the nation, followed in 1967 and Hlane became the second protected area in Swaziland.

By 1975 - a mere eight years later - the Hlane and Mlilwane conservation partnership had proven so successful that many species of animals had blossomed to surplus numbers. Swaziland’s natural heritage was restored!