​Expert Reviews – Malolotja NR

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Expert
Ariadne van Zandbergen   –  
South Africa ZA
Visited: Dry season

Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.

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Pristine wilderness in the Swazi highlands
Overall rating
3/5

Malolotja is a beautiful hiking destination. On my visit, I wasn’t equipped for an overnight trail, but that is the way to really appreciate this pristine area. I went on a day hike and enjoyed looking at little grassland flowers – easily overlooked but stunning from close up. I visited in the dry season, so the waterfall wasn’t at its best, but worth checking out all the same. Although I’d chosen a short hike, I’d taken my time looking at birds, flowers and a troop of baboons, and I found myself some distance from the end as sunset loomed. The walk/run back was less memorable, but my last glance over my shoulder as I got safely back to my car took my breath away: endless rolling hills at dusk with a shimmer of orange at the horizon. I knew I’d have to come back for an overnight expedition.

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Expert
Lucy Corne   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: November

Lucy is travel writer for a range of publications, including Lonely Planet's guides to Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa.

Soar like a bird in a birder’s paradise
Overall rating
3/5

Malalotja Nature Reserve is more for fans of flora than fauna, boasting some of the most rugged and unspoiled scenes of nature in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). That said, it should be every birder’s first stop in Eswatini and those who want to find some excitement after a day in Mbabane can traverse the Malalotja canopy via 10 zip slides and a 50m-long suspension bridge. If your reason for visiting Eswatini is to seek out large mammals, then this is not the park you’re looking for: head instead to Hlane or Mkhaya. But if you want to escape the game vehicle and spend some quality time with some fresh air, scenic views and 280 species of bird, then Malalotja is the park for you.

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Average Expert Rating

  • 3.0/5
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

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