Mkhaya Game Reserve, Wildlife reserve in southeastern Eswatini.
Mkhaya Game Reserve is a wildlife reserve in the lowveld region of Eswatini featuring acacia savanna, sandy soils, dense thickets, and semi-deciduous forests. The varied environments within the reserve support different animal species across distinct habitat types.
The reserve was established in 1979 to protect indigenous Nguni cattle as its primary focus. Its conservation mission later broadened to include other endangered animal species in the region.
The reserve takes its name from the knobthorn tree, called mkhaya in siSwati, which dots the landscape and creates a distinctive character throughout the protected area. This tree defines much of what visitors see when moving through the land.
Visits require advance reservations since the reserve operates only through guided tours with limited accommodation that has no electricity or internet. Planning ahead is essential to secure a spot on a guided excursion.
Stone Camp offers semi-open accommodations where guests sleep behind low stone walls, providing direct contact with surrounding wildlife. This unusual lodging setup creates an immediate connection to nature that is uncommon in most other reserves.
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