In November 2022, I (Garikai) took a trip through South Africa and Swaziland, together with my girlfriend (Irene). One of the highlights of the trip was bound to be the latter country. Why? Because you can mountain bike amongst zebras there, to name just one fantastic activity. And there's more: below are a number of highlights in summary.
The Big Five
In Swaziland lies Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary; a wildlife park which – unlike the wildlife parks in South Africa – doesn't house any animals that are part of the Big Five. This therefore also means you are allowed to walk around freely in this park, without having to be (very) afraid of being eaten by a lion or trampled by an aggressive buffalo. The only thing you need to watch out for are the hippos and crocodiles, which you might encounter here. That hippos cause more casualties annually than the Big Five combined, you should conveniently ignore.
Mountain biking amongst the zebras
We gratefully took the opportunity to go out ourselves in this truly beautiful wildlife park. We hired two mountain bikes from the accommodation - unfortunately not very well maintained - and with a map in our pockets we set off. What you find next is truly sublime. You cycle along red gravel paths, through a bright green landscape and encounter the most magnificent animals: zebras, impalas, wildebeests, Pumbas and yes... a crocodile.
Safari (by bike)
If you're going on holiday to South Africa, try to include Swaziland in your itinerary. South Africa is a beautiful country with impressive nature reserves, but for sports enthusiasts, it's a slight drawback that – during a Safari – you're not allowed to get out of your car to enjoy nature. The fact that you can go exploring in Mlilwane on foot or by mountain bike really adds value to your holiday. If only to sweat out some of the South African wines, amarula, and braais.
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