Things to do near
Hlane Royal Reserve
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Farms
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Siteki (23.5 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Mabuda Farm is a historic working farm on the Swaziland Lebombo plateau. The dairy has been in operation since 1940 and some dwellings on the farm are close to 100 years old.
Nature Reserves
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Ndumo Game Reserve (80.7 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Situated near Tembe Elephant Park on the Mozambique border, Ndumo Game Reserve is celebrated for its magnificent bird life and is home to a staggering 430 bird species.
Not only does Ndumo boast the highest bird count in South Africa, the reserve has a variety of habitats with many beautiful pans fringed by yellow fever trees, vast wetlands, acacia savannah and unique sand forest. The Pongola River flows through it to the confluence with the Usuthu River on the park’s northern boundary.
Birders should keep a keen lookout for Pell's fishing owl, the broadbill, southern banded snake eagle and a variety of tropical East African birds at the southernmost limit of their range. The wetlands are home to an astonishing range of waterbirds including pelicans, black egrets and pygmy geese.
Suni antelope, nyala, bushbuck, impala, red duiker, black and white rhino, hippo and crocodile are regularly spotted. Entomologists find Ndumo particularly exciting with a fascinating array of insects including 66 recorded species of mosquito!
Guided day walks or morning and afternoon drive tours can be arranged at the reception office. Certain areas of the reserve can be explored by visitors in their own vehicles.
Popular Attractions
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Malkerns (83.2 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) From humble beginnings in an old dairy cowshed, Swazi Candles has gained a reputation for producing amazing candles, attracting visitors from far and wide.
Today the industry employs over 200 local people and exports candles all over the world. The principles of Fair Trade are strongly upheld and Swazi Candles are members of World Fair Trade Organization. Their candles have been accepted into the ‘Wereld Winkel’ Fair Trade group of stores in The Netherlands.
Visit the workshop to see an astonishing array of patterns, shapes and designs that are all unique.
Nature Reserves
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Malolotja Nature Reserve (83.8 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Glide through the forest canopy in one of Swaziland’s mountain wildernesses. Close to the famous Malolotja Falls and set within the forested Sihlotswane gorge, the Malolotja Canopy Tour offers a three-hour thrilling adventure.
The tour takes guests zipping across ten slides and a 50m long suspension bridge that crosses the Majolomba River. Eleven elevated forest platforms provide stopping points to enjoy the view and spot birds and forest animals.
The Malolotja Nature Reserve is home to a numerous mammals and birdlife including the rare Forest Canary and Ground Woodpecker. The tour starts with a long drive in an open game vehicle blesbuck, eland, impala and zebra can frequently be seen. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Golf Courses
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Komatipoort (91.8 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) With prominent wildlife frequently spotted in the river, a round of golf at Komatipoort Golf Club can be an amazing experience.
This 9-hole course is a locally developed project, and welcomes everyone to come and enjoy a round of golf. Facilities include a restaurant, full stocked bar, pro shop and practice area.
Bars
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Malelane (94.4 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Duck 'n Dive is a great pub with friendly locals, attentive staff, great service and effective air conditioning. Grab an ice-cold draught with a steak, snails or pizza – reputedly they are the best in the Onderberg! Pizzas are freshly prepared and baked in a wood-burning oven.
Poker, pool and dart competitions take place every second Tuesday and Wednesday. The pub has Big Screen TV and Wi-Fi. Open from 11:00 until late. The kitchen closes at 22:00.
Golf Courses
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Malelane (96.7 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Malelane Golf Club is situated 2km from the entrance to the Malelane gate to the Kruger National Park. It is a full 18 hole golf course running alongside the Crocodile River. Due to the constant flow of of water the course is green all year round. There is also an amazing array of bird life on the course. I would suggest a cart so that you are not pestered by the monkeys that live on the course but other than that it is a must for any golf fan holidaying in the area.
Golf Courses
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Malelane (96.7 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Just a stone's throw away from the Kruger National Park, Malelane Golf Club offers a real challenge on a beautiful 9-hole course.
Visitors are welcome everyday. Facilities include a pro shop, caddies, restaurant, halfway house, and other sport amenities including lawn bowls, tennis, and squash.
Nature Reserves
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Tembe Elephant Park (98.6 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Situated in an area that was once the ancient ‘Ivory Route' linking Mozambique and Zululand, Tembe Elephant Park is renowned for having the largest elephants in Africa – and the planet!
The park is remote, lying deep in the sand forests and wetlands in northern Tongaland, right on the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique. You will need a 4WD vehicle to negotiate the sand tacks and only ten vehicles are allowed into the park daily, but it’s definitely worth the effort. This is where you can meet over 220 of these elephants thriving in their ancestral birthplace.
Along with seeing these gentle giants, you can also spot the rest of the Big Five – lion, leopard, black and white rhino and buffalo. There is also the tiniest antelope, the Suni, and a spectacular variety of animals and over 340 bird species. The park consists mainly of closed woodland but offers a great diversity of vegetation, lying within a transition area between tropical and sub-tropical forms.
Popular Attractions
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Jeppes Reef (99 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Visit Matsamo Cultural Village for the day or spend the night in a traditional Swazi custom-built 'hive'. In this traditional Swazi village the colourful Matsamo people tend their cattle, cultivate their crops and produce beautiful crafts. You'll be entertained to rousing dance and song performances and traditional cuisine, and allowed to wander where you will.
Matsamo is named after Chief Matsamo, a prominent Shongwe chief and contemporary of King Mswati II. He was the first Swazi Chief to reside permanently in the area, and as a reward for his loyalty in defending the territory against invaders from the north, Mswati II allowed Chief Matsamo to remain in charge of the region as an eminent member of Swazi royalty. Today the region is still under the control of the Matsamo Tribal Authority.
Visitors to Matsamo Cultural Village are treated to age-old folk songs, rhythmic dance performances, including the famous ‘Rain Dance', and music using authentic African instruments, as well as traditional Swazi cuisine. They can also wander on a tour through the village with its many huts and seclusions, interacting with the villagers as they go about their daily activities, cultivating their crops, preparing traditional food and fashioning beautiful craft works. Also at Matsamo is a well stocked curio shop with local crafts, and a spacious restaurant with a stunning panoramic view.
Matsamo cultural village near Kruger Park first opened its doors in 2001 and enjoys great support from the broader community. Each staffer has shares in the owning company and it provides an income to more than 100 people, making it an award-winning responsible tourism project (Imvelo Responsible Tourism Award).
Golf Courses
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Malelane (99.2 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) A Gary Player design, the scenic Leopard Creek Country Club boats innovative architectural landscaping, incorporating the surrounding nature into the course itself.
As a result, wildlife is common either on the course or in the river which runs alongside several holes. The club is reserved mainly for members and guests, but arrangements can be made for visitors staying in nearby lodges.
The clubhouse is located on the banks of the Crocodile River and features lovely views of the 9th and 18th hole. A fully stocked bar also is available, along with a pro shops for all your golfing needs.
Nature Reserves
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Crocodile Bridge Gate (99.3 km from Hlane Royal Reserve) Crocodile Bridge Gate provides the most eastern entrance into the Kruger National Park and is in close proximity to the border post between South Africa and Mozambique.
Named after the Crocodile River, Crocodile Bridge Gate is the most direct route into the southeastern section of Kruger.
Wildlife is plentiful and viewing opportunities are awesome; white rhino is often seen in woodlands while the shy black rhino hides in dense thorn thickets.
Predators you might see are lion, spotted hyena, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. Some of the grazers and browsers include giraffe, kudu, impala, hippo, and white and black rhino.
Need to know? The Crocodile River frequently floods over the bridge. Contact SAN Parks before travelling to find out if this entrance is open.
www.sanparks.org