Visiting Malolotja National Park
There are two easy hikes to do while visiting Malolotja National Park that can be combined together for a great day of hiking. We visited as part of our 5-Day Eswatini Itinerary
Getting to Malolotja National Park
It’s easy to drive to the entrance of the park. We had a sedan that we rented from Joburg. There were a lot of crevices in the road, so a 4×4/SUV would have been more comfortable, but we made it! If you’re visiting in the rainy season then I wouldn’t recommend a sedan to drive into the park. The combination of dirt roads plus potholes will surely get you stuck.
You’ll pay the entrance fee of E70 per person. I suggest you bring cash as backup.
Malolotja National Park boasts some of the very best highland reserves in southern Africa. It has 18,000ha of soft rolling hills, jagged mountains, forest gorges, and waterfalls. Upon entry, there are blesboks, small ground-hog-type animals lounging on the rocks, zebras, and warthogs. Blesboks are the world’s largest antelope and the most common animal to be seen in the park.
Also interesting were the huge boulders jutting out of the earth. The rocks in Malolotja are some of the oldest in the world. The Lochiel Granite can be dated to 3029 million years old and the Swaziland Supergroup (which once included sandstones, mudstones, and surface volcanics) is about 3500 million years old!
Hiking to Malolotja Falls
The Malolotja Falls hike begins at the Logwala Viewpoint: an uphill, rough battle for a sedan. The Malolotja River plunges over the 95m Malolotja Falls on its way to the Nkomati River, which cuts east towards the Indian Ocean. The falls viewpoint is a steep (again: both uphill and downhill) out-and-back hike.
The trail is slippery at times due to the dry, grassy path. It takes about an hour to hike (at a moderate pace) to the viewpoint. Have a snack at the viewpoint.
The return trip will take about an hour and 15 minutes, depending on how many breaks you take!
Majolomba Gorge Walk
Add this gorge walk to your Maloltja Fall hike by taking the junction on the left as you reach the car park. You can also start directly from the Logwala Viewpoint or from Silotfwane. If you attempt from Silotfwane, beware that you need a 4X4 to access the road.
You can choose to do an out-and-back trail option from either location or take a loop.
If you’re hiking from Logwala, you can fill up your water bottle from the stream in the valley and continue.
This trail is also a steep hike down the gorge where you can take a dip in a small, natural pool. The gorge is created by a long, thin waterfall that “cuts like a knife” through the rock. The natural pool has a small trail leading to it on the left (if coming from Logwala) before you cross the river. It’s FREEZING, though refreshing because it can get hot on the hike!
An out-and-back hike from Logwala will take about 2 hours and 15 minutes, not counting any stops at the natural pool.
Where to get food
Bring your own groceries from town in a cooler bag and don’t plan to rely on the two shops if you have a self-catering option. One hut had some beer, onions, and chips. The second grocery store is near the entrance of the park, though we didn’t go inside.
Where to stay in and around Malolotja National Park
You can choose to stay in Malolotja National Park. There are 10 self-catering cabins and a restaurant on-site. You can also camp inside the park.
Many people visit the park on a day trip from the capital, Mbabane. If so, there are plenty of hotel and Airbnb options there.
There are 3 Airbnbs near the park. The closest is Highveld Rural Charm, where we stayed. I highly recommend it!
The trails are safe and residents say they don’t lock their doors around the area.
Getting from Joburg to Malolotja
Rent a car from Johannesburg (if you don’t have one!) and drive the 4.5 hours to Malolotja, crossing at the Oshoek Border Post. You’ll do this as part of my 5-Day eSwatini Itinerary. It may be possible to take South African bus and van services across the border. You may want to splurge for a 4×4 if you are not comfortable with lots of potholes and steep inclines/declines. If you’re in a sedan, drive slowly and keep your eyes on the road.
Give yourself enough time to drive in daylight. I don’t recommend driving around either South Africa or eSwatini in the dark mostly because it is SO dark due to little to no street lights and the abundance of potholes. Read my South Africa Driving Tips.