The Kingdom of Swaziland is a country that is one of the few remaining Executive Monarchies in Africa and is very rich in natural attraction to tourist of which one of them is the Mountainous Malolotja National Park.
The Malolotja National Park is located at the northwestern part of Swaziland and shares border with the Republic of South Africa and covering some 4,447 acres of land, by far is the most impressive mountain parks in the whole of the Southern Africa Region. It is believed to be the largest proclaimed protected area in the Kingdom of Swaziland and the South Africa region.
The Swaziland National Trust Commission (SNTC) identified the area as an important place for tourist attraction in the 1970s, the place was by then used as sheep grazing land and much of the land was privately owned by individuals.
Geographers say the area joins the Songimvelo Game Reserve in South Africa, and together they form the Songimvelo-Malolotja Transboundary Protected Area or Peace Park, which in turn is part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area in the region.
The range in altitude from the top of the Ngwenya Mountain which is Swaziland’s second highest mountain (1829m), to the deep Nkomati River Valley (640m) accounts both for the mild temperate climate and great variety of habitats from short grassland, to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and moist Afro-montane forest transforming majority of the park into somewhat a canopy rain forest. It is believed to be last virgin forest left in Swaziland as poaching and hunting is highly forbidden in the park.
The spectacular scenery and the variety of rich diversity of fauna, flora, birds and animals in the reserve make it a prime high level conservation area. Birds include louries, sunbirds, sugarbirds, blue cranes and swallows are all found in the reserve park.
The animal species indeed dominate all the species in the reserve and it include zebra, wildebeest, reedbuck, blesbok, red hartebeest, oribi, leopard, serval, aardwolf, jackal and bush pig among many interesting and wonderful animals found in the park.
There are unique rock formations which are among the world’s most ancient; lush and fertile valleys, plus typical African bush and mountainous Highveld, though to be Midlevel to Lowveld in the park.
What makes the park different from other parks in Africa is that, it is situated deep within the pristine mountain wilderness and there is a canopy tour which offers one of the most dramatic scenery you will ever encounter with striking rock formations, towering cliff faces and views across the lush forest canopy towards the main Malolotja mountain peak which the altitudes around 21 to 1800 m (70 to 6000 ft).
The canopy tour is a whizzing long ropes made from strong material which is carefully tied to the big rocks in a technical manner and with high safety standard taken into consideration to provide comfort for people who walk on it. But we must add that walking on the canopy demands a great courage and zeal as it is not for the faint-hearted but it will be wonderful experience walking on it.
The meadows of wild flowers in springtime are beautiful and can be enjoyed without having to walk too far on the canopy but for to be able to discover more, some of the longer hikes involve up to 600m of climb and the dramatic ones are well worth the effort beyond the imagination of the human mind.
Apart from the canopy tour, there are other means by which the park can be viewed and one of them is the Nkomati viewpoint but note that this viewpoint is uttermost away and the road is full of sharp rocks but with Land Rover available, the park can be explored to its fullest capacity without difficulty.
The other viewpoints are also equally and much interesting to explore the park but those viewpoints topography are not covered with canopy trees and shades as it is on the canopy walk. These alternatives routes are somehow are for those individuals who might not be comfortable or fear walking on the canopy path.
There is a decent restaurant which offers some 13 self-catering chalets on a bed and breakfast basis and guest house that tourists can lodge in for the duration they stay there in the park.
The Malolotja Nature Reserve Park is one of the most impressive mountain parks in Southern Africa and it has maintain its standard from the time of its establishment by attracting tourists all over the world. There are cheap flights from the capital Mbabane to the area and visitor are treated with the best of hospitality in accordance with the International Tourism standard.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa Tourism News
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