PHOPHONYANE LODGE & NATURE RESERVE - SWAZILAND:
Discerning Travelers, seeking those magical little hideaways, come to the end of their treasure hunt at Phophonyane, for Swazi legend relates the romantic tale of a beautiful maiden and her love for a handsome warrior. For her hand he had to present her with the skin of a leopard which he had to hunt for on the rugged Gobolondlo mountain. While hunting on the mountain-side he was seized by resident witches who turned him into a white flower, condemning him for his trespassing to bloom and die among the mountain grasses.

When after many days the warrior had still not returned, the lamenting maiden sat on the river's edge where her inexhaustible tears flowed to form the Phophonyane waterfalls. T.V. Bulpin in his book "Lost trails of the Transvaal" as part of his description of the Piggs Peak area writes "As a final masterpiece the Phophonyane (little river of waterfall) went tumbling down nearby from the edge of the heights, in a spectacular rush that is one of the most beautiful cascades in Africa."
Phophonyane Lodge, Swaziland's own special little hideaway is quietly tucked away in it's own nature reserve in this place of legendary romance and breathtaking natural surroundings. The Phophonyane river runs through the reserve in a series of waterfalls and cascades with the sound of running water providing an ever present sense of calm at the lodge. A network of walkways lead one from the accommodation through the water gardens which finally merge with the rivers edge onto a spectacular display of one of the world's oldest rock formation (3.5 billion years).
The walking trails network within the reserve takes you through the riverine forest punctuated with designated viewpoints some of which command a view of the majestic Makhonjwa and Gobolondlo Mountain ranges and the Ntfonjeni valley. The Phophonyane Nature Reserve is home to small mammals such as red duiker, Cape clawless otter, bush buck and a remarkable 230 bird species including the elusive Narina Trogon, purple crested lourie and the wood owl.

Attracted by the rich natural vegetation and year-round water, birds and small mammals such as Red Duiker and Cape Clawless Otter are abundant within the reserve. Narina Trogan, Purple-crested Lourie, Wood Owl and a remarkable 230 other species of bird ensure the quiet melody of water is never without an orchestra of nature`s finest musicians. Phophonyane is situated high in the mountains with the rugged Gobolondlo and Makhonjwa ranges as a backdrop and those craving a natural environment for soul nourishment get body and soul reunited here.

ACCOMMODATION:
The water featured tropical gardens give privacy to the self-catering, fully furnished cottages and safari tents to ensure an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

Each unit is individually woven into the lush fabric of tall sub-tropical forest, and there is no place at the lodge where the soothing sound of the running water isn`t heard. All meals can be enjoyed at the lodge`s renowned and stylishly furnished restaurant ,where healthy home-cooked meals and fine wines are a feature and a roaring log fire lulls the senses and warms the heart.

Cottages have self-catering facilities for optional convenience and independence . Secluded viewing decks, refreshing natural rock pools, and a stunning hilltop swimming pool with views to the distant horizon are further enticing characteristics. A small library, Internet connection, conference room and team of friendly Swazi staff make every wish possible with a nod and a smile.

Cottage 1 & 2 - A double storey thatched cottage, which sleep a maximum of 5 people, upstairs there is a double bed and a single bed and downstairs there are 2 single beds. The cottages are very comfortably furnished, with a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, braai facilities and a large private garden.

Cottage 3 (Guest Suite)- A cozy one bedroom cottage with a double bed, en suite bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, covered verandah, braai facilities and a large private garden. This cottage is very popular with honeymoon couples.

Cottage 4 - A luxury thatched A-framed cottage sleeping maximum 5 people in two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. It has a very spacious lounge with a fireplace, a fully equipped kitchen, TV, telephone, a large private garden with one of the best views in Africa. Situated at the top of the nature reserve, it is 1km from the main lodge by foot through the nature reserve and 3km by road.

Tented camp 1 (tents 1 & 2) - Situated near the river, these tents are large, originally designed for 6 but accommodating 3. Each tent has a double bed and a single bed, carpeting and electricity. These tents share a stone-and-thatch fully equipped kitchen, which has a lounge area and a balcony overhanging the river.

Tented camp 2 (tents 3, 4, 5) - These tents are perched on stilts with their own private balcony overlooking the river. Each tent has a double bed and a single bed with the exception of tent 5, which has 2 single beds. They are fully carpeted and have electricity. These tents are non-self catering but there are braai facilities. A restaurant and a bar are available on the premises.

Both within the camp and spreading out across the 500ha nature reserve , a network of trails winds through the forest, crossing meandering waterways and finally culminating on the lip of the 80m high Phophonyane Falls. Exposed at this point are some of the world`s oldest rocks dated to 3.55 billion years.

Although most of the accommodation is self-catering, for those not wishing to self cater there is an a la Carte restaurant that offers a variety of home cooked meals including a number of vegetarian dishes.

RESTAURANT:
In the evening the gardens are adorned with a warm gentle glow from a network of pathway lights that lead you to the stylishly furnished restaurant where you are treated to home cooked meals.

One can enjoy a sundowner on the restaurant veranda overlooking the valley. For those chilly wintry nights one can enjoy a romantic evening in front of an open log fire.

The Nsangwini Bushman Paintings:
Overlooking the Maguga dam and the lower Komati River, these awe inspiring rock paintings are located in one of the hills in the Nsangwini area. Ancient figures meticulously drawn on the rock in the cave portray the dance, fight and hunting of a period naturally lived.

The spectacular "birdmen" painting especially provokes the mind, as one wonders whether this was the portrayal of the spiritual component of life in the Nsangwini Rock Shelter. Through human beings quest for lucid detail, these paintings have been outlined but still remain a prehistoric artistic display of an ancient way of life written on the rock by our fore runners.

GETTING THERE:
Situated in the northwest of Swaziland, 14km North of Pigg`s Peak, Phophonyane Lodge and Nature Reserve is easily accessible from routes passing north-south between Mpumalanga and Zululand, as well as east-west between Maputo and Johannesburg.

You may use any of Swaziland's borders to reach us. The opening and closing times for the border gates are listed below.

Border Gate Opening Time Closing Time
Bulembu 8am 4pm
Lomahasha 7am 7pm
Matsamo 7am 8pm
Oshoek 7am 10pm

SWAZILAND:
Within the small area of the Kingdom of Swaziland, a wealth of experience awaits your discovery. We have so much to offer and invite you to share the beauty and rich heritage of our country and its friendly, welcoming people.

Our Culuture and Traditions are unique and very much alive. Witness the spectacular Reed Dance performed by thousands of maidens in traditional dress; watch parts of the sacred Ncwala Ceremony in which the king actively participates; thrill to the sight of energetic Sibhaca Dancers. All these events are brought to life with our colourful traditional dress and regalia.

The smallest country in Africa is also one of the most easy going - laid-back Swazis are more likely to celebrate for fun than demonstrate for reform. A progressive and hands-on attitude towards wildlife preservation has endowed it with a striking bunch of national parks.

The independent Kingdom of Swaziland lies between Mozambique and South Africa and forms part of the Southern African region. The capital city is Mbabane. The other principal town is Manzini.

The official language of Swaziland is SiSwati but English is widely spoken in business and commerce. Swaziland has a free market economy which is dominated by the private sector. It has a small but active stock market. The local currency is the Lilangeni (plural Emalangeni).

Most visitors to Swaziland do not require visas for stays of less than 30 days.

A landlocked country in southern Africa, Swaziland is bordered by Mozambique to the northeast and by South Africa to the southeast, south, west and north.

The country is divided in three well-defined areas of roughly equal breadth and extend north and south and are known locally as the high, middle, and low or bushlands. The highland on the west rise to an altitude of above 6,000 ft, and has an average altitude of 3,500 ft. The middleland averages about 2,000 ft and the lowland or bushland to about 1,000 ft. The entire country is traversed by rivers or streams.

CLIMATE
The highland regions has a humid near temperate climate with 40 to 90 inches of annual rainfall. The middleland is sub-tropical and somewhat drier, with 30 to 45 inches of annual rainfall and the lowland is almost tropical and definitely sub-humid, receiving 20 to 35 inches of rain annually. Rainfall tends to be concentrated in a few violent storms. Temperatures range from about -3.4°C (26°F) in the winter to over 29.4°C (85°F) in the summer.

NATURE RESERVES:

MALOLOTJA NATURE RESERVE:
Malolotja Nature Reserve is situated in the north-west of the country approximately 30km north of Mbabane on the road to Pigg's Peak. It covers an area of 18 000 hectares of spectacular mountainous scenery making it a prime highveld conservation area. The altitude in the reserve ranges from Ngwenya Mountain, Swaziland's second highest mountain to the deep Nkomati River Valley.

The wildlife in the reserve consists mainly of antelope species but is more renown for its variety of birdlife with over 280 species being recorded, many of them rare and the variety includes Southern Bald-ibis which can can seen nesting on the cliffs near the Malolotja falls, Blue Swallows, Blue Crane, Striped Flufftail, Stanley's Bustard, Blackwinged Plover, Knysna Lourie, Narina Trogon, Blue Swallow, Buffstreaked Chat, Chorister Robin, Broadtailed Warbler and Gurney's Sugarbird.

The park is a botanist's paradise, with a great variety of wild-flower and rare plants, several of which are only found in this part of Africa, including six species of proteas, a pincushion protea and four species of heaths, where numerous species of orchids and lilies and many different types of tree.

There are limited roads, but a number of hiking trails ranging from one day walks to week-long hikes. You need to take with you your own food, water and cooking facilities - fires are not permitted outside the base camp. The reserve gates open from 0600 to 1800 during the winter season and 0630 to 1830 in the summer time and an entrance fee in payable.

HLANE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK:
Hlane is situated in the North-east, approximately one hours drive from Manzini. It is the largest protected area in Swaziland and borders with the Mlawula Nature Reserve and Mbuluzi Game Reserve. The park has an extensive network of roads, linking camps, waterholes and other features. For the most part the roads are passable by 2 wheel drive vehicle except after heavy rains, when 4 wheel drive is advisable.

The flat terrain of the Hlane and its hardwood vegetation and shallow pans attracts great herds of animals during the dry winter months. White rhinos can be seen here as well many antelope species. Lion and elephants have been reintroduced to the park but they are kept in an enclosure. Bird life is prolific with species including a nesting colony of Marabou Stork. Whitebacked Vulture, Whiteheaded Vulture, Lappetfaced Vulture and the occasional Cape Vulture, Redbilled Buffalo Weaver, Threestreaked Tchagra, Scimitarbilled Woodhoopoe, Longtailed Shrike, Martial Eagle, Bateleur, and Longcrested Eagle are just a few of the types of bird found here.

MBULUZI GAME RESERVE:
Located in northeast Swaziland, Mbuluzi is is low-lying reserve situated at the bottom of the Lebombo mountains. It is popular for its birdlife boasting over 400 different species including Narina Trogon, Dwarf Bittern, African Finfoot, Crested Guineafowl, Yellowspotted Nicator, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Blackheaded, Goliath and Whitebacked Night Herons, Cuckoo Hawk, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Pennantwinged Nightjar, Palm Swift, Crowned Hornbill, Dusky Flycatcher, Thickbilled Weaver, Redbacked Mannikin, African Broadbill, Black Sunbird, Woodland Kingfisher.

The park is easily accessible on sealed roads and has many hiking trails ranging from 2 to 5 hours.

MLAWULA NATURE RESERVE:
Lying in the northeast of the country with the entrance located about 10km north of Simunye. Mlawula covers an area of approximately 16,500 hectares, the terrain of which consists of flat plains and the Lebombo mountains. Antelope species can be seen but it's the bird life that makes it an attraction, with over 350 different species found here, such as the African Finfoot, Thickbilled Cuckoo, Lesser Blackwinged Plover, African Broadbill, Black Coucal, Yellowspotted Nicator,Scalythroated Honeyguide, Bearded Robin, Grey Sunbird, Redbilled Helmetshrike, and Pinkthroated Twinspot.

The reserve also has about 1035 plant species including 55 alien species.

MLILWANE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY:
Located near Lobamba, between Manzini and Mbabane and easily accessible from Ezulwini and Malkerns. Mlilwane is a private reserve and is the oldest (established in the 1950's) and most visited of Swazi parks.

Animals that can be found in this park include zebra, giraffe, many different antelope, crocodile, hippo and a variety of birdlife. Walking, cycling and horse riding is permitted in the reserve and there are many vehicle and walking trails

Accommodation
there is a range of accommodation on offer including camping, carvanning, rest camps, backpackers place. and an exclusive lodge

MKHAYA GAME RESERVE:
This small private game reserve is located in south eastern part of the country covering an area of approximately 7 500 ha. Black and white rhino, elephant, buffalo, roan and sable antelope are among some of the wildlife found here and well as the indigenous and rare Nguni cattle. Another park where many species of bird can be spotted including Melba Finch, African Green Pigeon, Whitebellied Sunbird, Redbilled Oxpecker, Plumcoloured Starling, White Helmetshrike, Brubru, Redbacked Shrike, Scalythroated Honeyguide, Grey Hornbill and Purple Roller, Greyheaded and Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Pygmy Kingfisher, Yellowbreasted Apalis, Goldentailed Woodpecker, Purplecrested Lourie, Yellowspotted Nicator, Southern Boubou and several varieties of Robin

The name Mkhaya is derived from the Mkhaya tree (a member of the Acacia family) which can be found throughout the park. Although guided walking in the park is allowed, travel by vehicle is restricted to guided game drives in open top landrovers.