Hlane Royal National Park

Hlane Royal National Park

Hlane Royal National Park is located in Eswatini, about 67 km northeast of Manzini. Before the park was opened to the public, it used to be a private royal hunting ground. Hlane, meaning "wilderness", was given its name by King Sobhuza II. The park is the biggest protected area in Eswatini. Together with the surrounding dispersal areas, the park covers 30 000 hectares of Swazi bushveld. Hlane is the habitat of the elephant, giraffe, white rhino and the lions, who live in an enclosed area within the fenced park, but can be observed during game drive. They are protected well because they symbolize the rule of the king, whose mandate is to unite the people. Herds of wildebeest, zebra and impala are attracted to the waterholes from June to September, during the dry winter months. The cheetah population has been reintroduced to the park after an extended period of absence. The area is rich and varied in birdlife, including some of the highest densities of nesting White-Backed Vultures in Africa. Birds of prey include Martial Eagles, Bateleurs, Long-Crested Eagles, as well as several species of vultures including White-Backed, White-Headed, Lappetfaced and the Cape Vulture. The area is the most southerly nesting site of the Marabou Stork. Certain bird species, like the Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill, which is found here, is either endangered or extinct locally in the country.