Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is Eswatini’s (Swaziland) pioneer conservation area, a shining example of what is possible if passion, vision and action fuse. Once a highly profitable multi-purpose farm, and being labeled an “impossible dream”, Mlilwane was proclaimed in 1961 and it is now the kingdom’s most popular eco-destination for locals and internationals alike.
The name ‘Mlilwane’ (‘Little Fire’ in siSwati) was derived from the numerous fires started by lightning strikes on the Mlilwane Hill but now holds significance just as the little fire that ignited the conservation movement in Swaziland.
In the lovely Ezulwini Valley, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Eswatini’s (formerly Swaziland) first conservation areas and its most popular game reserve. It was set up by Ted and Elizabeth Reilly, who turned their farm at Mlilwane into a game reserve with the support of King Sobhuza II. The non-profit Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary has now grown to 4,560 Ha of wilderness surrounded by the Nyonyane (“Place of the Little Bird”) Mountains.
Originally animals and plants were introduced to the reserve from far away, but today the Mlilwane Sanctuary is home to over 400 species of birds and many animals, including zebras, vervet monkeys, crocodiles, hippos, warthogs, caracals, and antelopes.
The sanctuary is full of many activities including game drives, mountain biking, nature walks, horseback rides, a village cultural experience, and swimming in the rest camp’s pool. Accommodation is provided to campers and backpackers, also to those seeking a little more comfort with self-contained cottages, traditional Swazi-style beehive huts, and a luxury hilltop lodge.
