Mkhaya Game Park, Swaziland

Booking

Luckily my last minuite was handled very quickly using the Big Game Parks website.

I was not 100% sure that the booking was made but decided that, being in the neighbourhood (> 2 hours away), I'd risk it.

Arrival

All went to plan more or less. Being 'picked up at the gate' was a little unclear. The meeting point was a non-descript mud-hut shop beside the well sign-posted turn-off. A bumpy ride with creek crossing to the gate under 4WD escort to the gate and the secure parking.

Stay

Very very good. Unique, high-quality partly open stone huts. No power - but that's a good thing too. Nothing to disturb the bush ambiance and the omnipresent antelope (nyala and impala) warthog, guinea fowl and so on.

Food: good camp tucker. Fresh and well presented. Friendly faces everywhere.

Game drives

As they should be, a mixed bag. Some very hectic and others requiring more patience. Plenty of big game for the patient. The new hide across the creek from the stone camp is a great asset - an hour or three spent there should be worth the time. The walking safari was excellent - within a few 'safe' meters of all sorts including a curious white rhino cow and calf. Guides all well informed and talkative and enthusiastic (apparently all going to the same school for Mkhaya guides with some of the patois a little repetitive).

Departure

Fast, efficient, (well as much as umpteen receipt forms would allow - all in hardcopy)

There are so many hidden gems in the word and Mkhaya is certainly one of these things! Situated in the hot country of Swaziland, this game park had it all.

When a friend and I went there we were luckily enough to have the whole game park to ourselves (possibly due to the low tourist season). We had a tour in an open 4X4 in which we saw Rhinos up really close. In fact several of them even nudged our car, which to be perfectly honest was a little nerving. The other animals we saw included: giraffe, elephants and many more.

For lunch we had a choice of either game meat (impala) or chicken. Of course we chose the impala stew! The tour and lunch lasted a total of about 6 hours and at the price of about GBP40.00 it was really good value.

The only problem is of course the distance from the UK to Swaziland. However if you ever found yourself far down in the Southern parts of Africa I'd strongly recommend seeing this game park out.