Trip Info
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Self-drive
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Suitable for solo travelers and groups
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Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
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Can start any day
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This tour starts and ends in Pretoria
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Guided self-drive
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English
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Meals included
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5
Overview
Malolotja ranks among the finest highland reserves in Southern Africa because its 18,000-ha of rolling hills and thickly forested river gorges provide a true wilderness feel. Inside the reserve, the Malolotja River flows down through 95-metre Malolotja Falls and into the Nkomati River. Some of the rocks at Malolotja were laid deep into the world’s oceans over 3.5 billion years ago, making them some of the most ancient on earth.
Highlights
- Can start any day
- Guided self-drive
- Mid-range tour
- Can be customized
- An airport transfer is not included. You can use an airport taxi, request your hotel to arrange a transfer or prearrange a transfer yourself
Itinerary
The start of the tour is in Pretoria where you meet your guide. The meeting location and time will both be decided on ahead of the tour. You go with your guide in your own car as part of a convoy directly to the Malolotja Nature Reserve. Waverley/Lundzi Border Post is the point of entry into Eswatini. Crossing Eswatini through one of its smaller border points means you’ll get a more relaxed and friendly experience. Small gravel roads in the countryside take the convoy through some villages in Eswatini. This is your first chance to experience Swazi country life.
Having a 4x4 vehicle or one with good ground clearance will help you on the roads and trails this tour takes you to. Don’t worry, your guide has the expertise to help you overcome any issues you can face in your 4x4.
Please review our company profile to learn more about the opportunities driving your own vehicle brings you. A quote for renting your vehicle will be sent to you independently.
Main Destination:
Malolotja Nature Reserve (Eswatini)
Best Time To GoMay to September (Dry season)
High SeasonDec to Jan (It never gets very busy)
Best Weather
Accommodation:
Malolotja Nature Reserve has some beautiful Log Cabins.
- Self catering properties are available inside the Malolotja NR.
Meals part 1:
- Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
- Your drinks are not included.
You will observe at the Ngwenya Glass Factory how a small group of local craftsmen and women create inspiring artistic representations of the wildlife in Africa. From your seat in the overhead balcony, you’ll experience glassblowing up close.
The Ngwenya Mine is considered to be the world's oldest mine. In the Middle Stone Age, the haematite deposit was worked for its red ochre, while afterwards the ore was mined to make iron and export it outside. Ngwenya means "crocodile" in siSwati. The name was given because the mountains above the mine were in the shape of crocodiles, though this shape was ruined by mining from the 1960s onward. Scientists used radiocarbon dating to find that the first mining began as early as 41,000 to 43,000 years ago.
Main Destination:
Malolotja Nature Reserve (Eswatini)
Accommodation:
Malolotja Nature Reserve has some beautiful Log Cabins.
- Self catering properties are available inside the Malolotja NR.
Meals part 1:
- Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
- Your drinks are not included.
The Nkomati River is fully underground in the gap and then comes up some metres further on. That way, it appears that there is a gap in the river. Scattered among the boulders between them are some impressive carved out potholes.
Enjoy the beautiful nature in the Malolotja Nature Reserve. A number of shy leopards hide in the hills and gorges and serval, aardwolf and baboons can be found on the grasslands and ridges. You may see signs of aardvarks digging, as well as left-over quills of porcupines. Birders will find plenty of interesting experiences at Malolotja. What attracts people most is the endangered blue swallow. Notable specials in Gurney include the sugarbird, ground woodpecker, Denham’s bustard and southern bald ibis – the latter breeding on the cliffs above the falls. Reptiles like the Swazi thick-tailed rock gecko live only in local areas of Malolotja.
Main Destination:
Malolotja Nature Reserve (Eswatini)
Accommodation:
Malolotja Nature Reserve has some beautiful Log Cabins.
- Self catering properties are available inside the Malolotja NR.
Meals part 1:
- Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
- Your drinks are not included.
After Malolotja, the road from Mbabane (MR1) heads down a steep slope and you enter a valley where the Nkomati River – the second largest in Swaziland – runs east through the country to the Indian Ocean.
You will see the impressive waters of the Maguga Dam during your travel. Swaziland’s main reservoir is Wilkloof Dam and its wall, rising to 115m, is the fourth largest in southern Africa. You will get to see different views of the dam as we continue.
This interesting site, called Nsangwini Rock Art, looks after the top Swazi bushman artworks. Paintings show
You’ll find these shelters beneath rock overhangs next to a hiking trail and they might date back thousands of years to when San hunter-gatherers lived here.
At one time, the mining town of Bulembu was home to 10,000 people. Because asbestos is harmful to health, the mine had to be shut down. Today the home has room for about 1,000 orphans and a country lodge. We pay a visit to the Bulembu Mining Museum.
Main Destination:
Bulembu (Town, Eswatini)
Accommodation:
Bulembu Lodge
- Budget lodge located in Bulembu (Town)
Meals part 1:
- Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
- Your drinks are not included.
The pass between the Josefsdal Border Post and Barberton is the drive's highlight. Many think the mountain pass is among the most beautiful drives in all of southern Africa. People describe it as "jaw-droppingly
beautiful".
We travel back to Pretoria meeting in a line of vehicles.
After spending time with our friends, we leave them and return home. You are free to set off whenever you feel it’s time to head somewhere new. We wish that you will look back fondly on your time with us and be able to share lots of lovely pictures with your nearest and dearest.
Main Destination:
Pretoria (City, South Africa)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (Last day of the tour)
Meals part 1:
- Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
- Your drinks are not included.
Last day of the tour
- More space can be added at an additional fee.
- You will need to arrange your own airport transfer on your own. A taxi, hotel transfer request or prearranged transfer are all ways you can get to the airport.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- • Park fees (For non-residents)
- • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All Taxes/VAT
- • Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Cost Excludes
- • Rental vehicle (US$ 100-150 per day)
- • International flights (From/to home)
- • Service that brings you back to the airport when you are ready
- • The tour includes accommodation before and after your travels.
- • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- • The government chose to raise taxes and/or fees for visiting national parks
- • Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- • Drinks
FAQs
During this guided self-drive tour, you’ll explore the country’s sights with a guide and still enjoy heading off on your own for some stretches. You’ll have the chance to see Malolotja Nature Reserve and Bulembu and you’ll also get advice from experienced guides. You’ll use your vehicle and stop when recommended, staying at planned hotels along the route. You enjoy exploring the area by car on your own, plus have knowledgeable guides point out interesting places along the way, all running at a nice mid-range standard.
You will start and finish the 5-Day Eswatini Malolotja NR Guided Self-Drive Mid Range tour at Pretoria, South Africa. Day 1 sees you driving from Pretoria to Malolotja Nature Reserve in Eswatini which takes between 5 and 6 hours, depending on any necessary stops and crossing the borders. To make your trip easy, you receive clear driving instructions, maps and help from the people supporting the system. You will journey from Malolotja to Bulembu, where you’ll spend the night on Day 4, then return to Pretoria the following day on Day 5. You can set your own speed when you go on a road trip by yourself.
Mid-range lodges and camps are booked for you in Eswatini as part of the 5-Day Eswatini Malolotja NR Guided Self-Drive Mid Range tour. You may use these places, as they have bathrooms in each bedroom, dining areas and beautiful locations. You will find beautiful views of mountains and valleys from your lodges or chalets in Malolotja and enjoy friendly service and a nostalgic design in Bulembu. All places to stay are organized ahead of time when you book the guided self-drive package.
On the 5-Day Eswatini Malolotja NR Guided Self-Drive Mid Range tour, you’ll go on guided walks in the Malolotja Nature Reserve to see scenic mountains, cascading waterfalls and plentiful wildlife. Apart from hiking, you might visit some cultural sites, go birdwatching and stop at beautiful spots. In Bulembu, visitors can discover how the town was founded and the work being done by the community. Learning by making discoveries on your own and with others provides a full experience.
For this guided self-drive tour, it is important to bring sturdy sneakers, clothes that can be easily swapped for the weather, a rain jacket, something for sun protection and insect repellent. Having a dependable map or GPS is useful for navigation, while it’s best to have snacks, water and a small first-aid kit for the times you drive yourself. Remember to bring travel documents for leaving and entering the country and take along things you can use to admire the scenery more closely or take photos.
Families and small groups who appreciate adventure and nature will find this tour perfectly suited to them. With a self-drive hire, families can travel as much or as little as they want and guided activities add interest to the trip. You’ll find family-friendly places to stay and the trip provides hiking, nature viewing and cultural experiences for everyone to enjoy. It lets you both remember and talk about something special.
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