Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

  Mlilwane, Swaziland
Sunday, January 28, 2007

Making an early start we drove from Kruger to Swaziland. As we drove along we spotted giraffes, impalas, warthogs, crocodiles and other game but no lions. Although we altered our route to once again pass by areas where lions had been spotted, they remained recalcitrant and unwilling to face the cameras.
 
We stopped for breakfast at Tshokawane where we were amused by a monkey and her baby playing in the picnic area. During breakfast, Kristal, our vegetarian put an apple and banana down on the table for a moment while she went to get a cup of tea. The monkey swooped down and stole the banana right from under my nose.

04_Mischievous monkey

 
Just before we left Kruger to continue our drive to Swaziland, we spotted a white rhino, an endangered species, about 20 meters away, near the Malelane Gate. He was lying under a tree to cool down while impalas sought shade nearby.
 
We then continued our drive to the border with Swaziland. Our guide, Michelle, flirted a bit with the immigration officer, who quickly allowed us to complete border formalities. We came in through beautiful hilly country with pine plantations. Lotta thought that it looked like Sweden.
 
Swaziland is an absolute monarchy in which political opposition is discouraged. The people are very friendly and go out of their way to be helpful. We headed for the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland's pioneer conservation area, a beautiful, secluded sanctuary situated in Swaziland's "Valley of Heaven." Our accommodation in the sanctuary was in ample beehive huts. They reflect the local style of building and decoration. The frame is made of curved wood lashed together and then covered with straw. The furnishings were simple: two beds, a table and a fan. We had an en-suite bathroom. The dome-shaped huts are arranged in semi-circles and are semi-enclosed by traditional Swazi kraal fencing.  This is  a wonderful place to stay.

09_Warthogs as neighbors

An amazing feature is that families of warthogs wander around the enclosures and are often joined by impala. When the warthogs need to get closer to the ground, they kneel down to feed. From the warthog as a wild animal to the warthog as a neighbor right outside your front door, the African adventure continued.