Hawane Nature Reserve
A small wetland reserve above Mbabane protecting the source of the Black Mbuluzi.
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Hawane is the smallest reserve in Eswatini, a patch of marsh and dam at the head of the Black Mbuluzi river northwest of Mbabane, set aside to protect the wetland and the Kniphofia umbrina, a red hot poker that grows nowhere else in the world. Waterbirds use the dam and the marsh behind it. A short trail runs around the water and the reserve adjoins Malolotja to the north. The dam also supplies water to Mbabane, so the reserve does practical work as well as conservation.
What you actually see
- The wetland - marsh at the head of the Black Mbuluzi river.
- Kniphofia umbrina - a red hot poker found nowhere else on earth.
- The dam - the open water used by waterbirds.
- The Malolotja edge - the larger reserve adjoining to the north.
When to go
September to April is the growing season and when the Kniphofia flowers. Winter is dry and the marsh recedes. Birdlife is best after summer rain.
Honest expectations
The reserve is very small and the visit is short. Facilities are minimal. The rare plant is not conspicuous outside its flowering period.
Nearby
Malolotja is north, and Mbabane is southeast.
What to pack for Hawane Nature Reserve
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.