A brief trip report.
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We entered Swaziland at ‘Jeppes Reef’ border post. As it was Friday we expected that the customs of both RSA & Swaziland would be busy, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that we were the only travellers. We did not have to fill in any forms at all. The customs offices on both sides were spotlessly clean and the officials friendly, polite and efficient. Went through without even a cursory inspection of the Hilux and contents. Swazi road tax R50 – has been this for many years.
Swaziland is a pleasure to drive in. The roads are excellent and very little traffic and intimidating behemoth rigs. We encountered one road block and fully expecting to be stopped I started to slow down but the police waved me though with a friendly wave and a broad smile.
The country was clean with very little litter and most noticeable of all was NO POTHOLES. I lie, counted 6 - but by our standards they hardly qualify as potholes.
The overall ambience of Swaziland felt good – and we agreed it could be a nice country to live in.
Next time round we plan on exploring more of Swaziland!
Petrol price R12.05/litre – 80,27 lt cost R967.35 SA credit card acceptable.
Mlilwane:
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Weird to find Impala, Zebra, Nyala, Warthog, etc wondering in pine, gum and some scrub wattle plantations. But mostly it is grasslands of which some had recently been mowed, presumably to make hay.
They have a serious problem with ‘wild guava’, which is highly invasive and spreading throughout the reserve. There seems to be no action in eradicating it.
Similarly little seems to be done to curb the wattle jungle. There are notices saying that no plants may be removed. I would have thought they would be pleased to see folk getting rid of the exotics.
The area is well stocked with game and there is an area where a breeding and propagation program is underway to restore the Roan antelope to the game parks in Swaziland, which became locally extinct in 1961. Rhone have been obtained from ‘Marwell Wildlife’ near Winchester in England and the ‘Dvur Kralova Zoo’ in the Czech Republic. Onderstepoort Veterinary Facility have been involved in controlling the dreaded Theileriosis, a trick borne disease and major killer of Roan and Sable antelope.
They have a small herd with young and we can only wish them well in their efforts. Everything about the reception, offices and lodges at Mlilwane is very quaint.
Very African – a tad run down but clean and the staff friendly and helpful.
The wildlife have right-of-way and Impala, Nyala, Warthog and Zebra are everywhere.
There are two camp areas one with and the other without electricity. As I wanted to keep my Engel running we choose a site with electricity. (No extra charge.)
In spite of it been a Friday there were only two sites occupied of the 16 sites available and no one else arrived.
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They would not be my choice as there are no windows. The back of the two hives is attached to an ablution facility.
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Wlilwane would be a great getaway for active families.
There is a sparkling swimming pool that had a few shapely bodies languishing about.
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There is also a dam but fishing is NOT allowed and it does have crocodile. The one I saw would make and easy meal of a hiker cooling his blistered feet in the water.
Thankfully there are no lights in the campsite other than your own and the camp was quite being far enough away from the bar.
Would I go back to Mlilwane? Yes (a small yes):
I’d prefer Hlane – no luxuries, pretty close to bush camping.
Next morning we set off for home taking the route to Piet Retief via Sicunusa border post. Once upon-a-time the RSA side was called ‘Houtkop’ grenspos.
Again we were though in a flash without any hassles. Then within 100 meters of the gate the potholes began. Mean, destructive potholes. There was one section of about 5 kilometres that was horrendous, the worst I have ever encountered. Impossible to dodge the pits. First gear and almost zero speed.
Possibly made by the SADF to slow down an invasion by the Swazi army?
More likely to prevent the SADF escaping to Swaziland!
WELCOME BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA! (pity)
