Mkhaya Game Reserve

Mkhaya Game Reserve is in Eswatini (Swaziland).

Understand
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.

Get in
Unlike other nature parks, Mkhaya does not have a reception office. Visitors will be picked up in the town of Phuzumoya (on the MR8, follow the signs to Mkhaya). When entering this town you will see a small yellow grocery store with some signs of Mkhaya next to it. As strange and barren as it may look, this is the pickup point.

For people who booked the (expensive) accommodation in Mkhaya, pickup times are as arranged (but mostly around 16:00). For people who do a day tour, pickup times are around 10:00 and 16:00. Tours are arranged by internet Big Game Parks or by phone (+268) 528 3943 / 4.

Don't expect to take your car into the reserve, even if you have a 4x4. The reserve is only accessible by crossing a river which floods quite often when it has rained, making crossing the river impossible. So be prepared to leave your car in the village instead.

If the river floods, the guide will take you on foot over a nearby railway bridge to cross the river.

Fees and permits
There are no permit costs to enter the park since all entries have to be arranged prior to arrival. The permit costs are usually included in the arrangement price.

Do
Guided jeep safari, Day tours including lunch and guided walks (only for persons staying overnight in the game reserve) are available at the park and all have to be arranged prior to arrival

Buy
Stone Camp (within Mkhaya game reserve, where the lodges are) has a small camp store and bar where you can buy souvenirs and campsite accessories.

Sleep
Cottages must be booked prior to arrival at Big Game Parks. Or, you can stay in Manzini which is not far from Mkhaya; some backpackers and guest houses can be found there, such as Myxos Backpackers, which costs E100 per night per person in a dorm, and E250 per room for 2 people per night.