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We crossed over to Swaziland in the afternoon and when I believe nothing would astound me I found myself at the Mlilwane Rest Camp located within the premises of the Wildlife Sanctuary bearing the same name.We were placed in individual "beehive" huts which were in fact grass dome huts with en-suite shower, basin, toilet and every other possible commodity. Dinner was served at the Hippo Haunt restaurant located in the complex, and which we found after strolling area as if in circles because of the sparse lights leading the way. In no time we were back in our charming huts, whose detailed characteristics I only managed to really appreciate the next morning.
The brief and quite impressive history behind Mlilwane is mainly due to the efforts of Ted Reilly who in the early 20th century recognized the urgent need of conserving what had been plundered in the name of development. His initial proposal to set up a National Park system was considered extravagant by the Colonial Government but following his resilience in transforming his own family farm turned into a high productive one (beet, citrus, maize, timber and sorgum). With strong support from King Shobhuza II the Kingdom's wildlife and habitat is said to have begun in 1959. Mlilwane was officially opened in 1964, having become a non-profit Trust.
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