Mkhaya Game Reserve

Black and white rhino on foot in Eswatini

  • Country Eswatini
  • Type Game Reserve
  • Size 100 km²
  • Established 1979
  • Best months May–Oct
  • Malaria Low
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Park guide

Mkhaya Game Reserve guide

Overview

Mkhaya Game Reserve is a small, private reserve in Eswatini’s southeastern lowveld, covering about 100 km² of acacia and broadleaf woodland. It was established in 1979, originally to save the country’s pure Nguni cattle, and has since become one of the most important sanctuaries for endangered species in the region.

Mkhaya is managed by Big Game Parks, the trust that also runs Hlane and Mlilwane. It is best known for its black and white rhino, which visitors can often see on foot with rangers.

The reserve takes its name from the mkhaya tree (knob thorn), which is common across the area. To protect its wildlife and its peaceful atmosphere, Mkhaya is not open to casual visitors. All visits are pre-booked and guided, either as an overnight stay or on a guided day tour, and there is no self-drive.

Because numbers are kept low, Mkhaya feels exclusive and wild despite its small size. It is easily combined with Eswatini’s other reserves or with a safari in Kruger.

Wildlife

Mkhaya protects black and white rhino, elephant, buffalo, hippo and Nile crocodile, as well as rarer antelope such as sable, roan and tsessebe. Giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, kudu, nyala, eland and impala are also present.

The reserve has no lion, so it is not a Big Five reserve, but its rhino encounters are among the best in southern Africa.

Birdlife is rich, with raptors, hornbills, rollers and many bushveld species, as well as the Narina trogon in the riverine forest.

Key wildlife

  • Black rhino
  • White rhino
  • Elephant
  • Buffalo
  • Hippo
  • Nile crocodile
  • Sable
  • Roan
  • Tsessebe
  • Giraffe
  • Nyala
  • Narina trogon

Best Time to Visit

Short answer: May–Oct. Also good: Nov–Apr.

JangoodFebgoodMargoodAprgoodMaypeakJunpeakJulpeakAugpeakSeppeakOctpeakNovgoodDecgood

Peak Good Quieter

Mkhaya can be visited year-round. The dry winter months, from about May to October, offer the best game viewing, as the bush thins and animals gather near water.

Summer, from about November to April, is hot and green, with afternoon storms, newborn animals and excellent birding.

Malaria risk in the area is low but present, mainly in the rainy season. Speak to a travel clinic before you travel.

Getting There

Mkhaya lies near Phuzumoya in southeastern Eswatini. King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) is about an hour away. Visitors meet the reserve’s rangers at an arranged meeting point outside the reserve at a set time and are driven in, because private vehicles are not allowed inside.

From Johannesburg, allow about five hours to the meeting point. Visits must be booked in advance, and children under 10 are not permitted.

Fees & Access

Entrance fees

Mkhaya does not sell gate entry. The conservation fee is included in the price of an overnight stay or a guided day tour. On the current rates, day tours cost R1,375 per person. Children under 10 are not allowed.

All visits must be booked in advance. The current rates run from 1 December to 30 November, so check for changes from December 2026.

Gate hours

Pre-booked guided visits only; no self-drive

Health

Malaria risk: Low. Ask a travel clinic about antimalarials before you go.

Fees and gate times change. Check the latest rates with the park authority before you travel.

Rhino Conservation

Eswatini’s rhino were hunted out by the mid-twentieth century and later reintroduced, but a wave of poaching in the late 1980s and early 1990s again put them at risk. In response, the country strengthened its game laws, with tough penalties for rhino poaching, and gave its reserves’ rangers a strong mandate to protect wildlife.

Mkhaya, with its controlled access and dedicated anti-poaching teams, has been central to that effort. Its black rhino, in particular, are a critically endangered species, and seeing them in this setting is a privilege. Your visit, and the conservation fee included in it, helps fund this protection.

Things to Do

Guided game drives in open vehicles, with a focus on rhino, elephant and buffalo.

Guided walks with rangers, often in search of rhino on foot.

Day tours, which include a game drive and lunch, for visitors not staying overnight.

White-water rafting on the nearby Great Usutu River, which can be arranged separately.

Birdwatching in the woodland and along the river.

Explore Eswatini’s other reserves, such as Hlane and Mlilwane, browse all safaris, or plan your safari with us.

Location

Where is Mkhaya Game Reserve?

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Good to know

Mkhaya Game Reserve FAQs

How much does it cost to visit Mkhaya?

There is no separate gate fee. The conservation fee is included in overnight packages and guided day tours, which cost R1,375 per person on the current rates.

Can you self-drive in Mkhaya?

No. All visits are guided. You meet the reserve’s rangers at an arranged meeting point and are driven in.

Can you see rhino on foot at Mkhaya?

Yes. Guided walks with rangers often focus on black and white rhino, which makes Mkhaya one of the best places in southern Africa for rhino encounters.

Are children allowed at Mkhaya?

Children under 10 are not permitted.

Does Mkhaya have the Big Five?

No. Mkhaya has rhino, elephant and buffalo but no lion.

How do you get to Mkhaya?

Mkhaya lies near Phuzumoya in southeastern Eswatini, about an hour from King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) and about five hours from Johannesburg. Visits must be booked in advance.

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