The Best Safari Experiences in Eswatini: Get Up Close on a Giraffe Walking Safari
Among the best safari experiences in Eswatini, walking alongside towering giraffes stands out as a truly unforgettable adventure. This unique encounter lets you get close to one of Africa’s most iconic animals in their natural habitat, creating memories that last a lifetime.
Imagine stepping into the wilderness, guided by a local expert, as gentle giants graze just a few feet away. It’s an experience that goes beyond the typical safari, offering an intimate connection with these remarkable creatures.
Ready to embark on a safari like no other? Join us as we explore why Eswatini’s giraffe walking safari is a must-do for any wildlife enthusiast.
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📍 Where is the Giraffe Walking Safari in Eswatini?
While most of the best safari experiences in Eswatini lie in the bigger parks, the giraffe walking safari is located in KaMsholo. This park is home to smaller game, and is situated in the south east of Eswatini.
How to Get to KaMsholo: Home to One of the Best Safari Experiences in Eswatini
There are two different options for experiencing in the giraffe walk in Eswatini which are:
- Renting a car and driving
- Taking public transportation
🚗 Renting a Car in Eswatini
Having a car is hands down the easiest way to explore the best safaris in Eswatini, and honestly how we would recommend going all the way to KaMsholo.
Since we flew into Johannesburg, South Africa, we decided to rent a car at the Johannesburg airport. However, if you are flying into Eswatini directly, you can also rent a car from the airport there.
The drive is easy, and doesn't require a 4x4 or a high clearance vehicle. There is plenty of parking on site, and there is no extra charge for leaving your car there while you go on your giraffe walking safari.
Driving in Eswatini is easy and a great option for getting around the country.
🚌 How to Get to KaMsholo Via Public Transportation
If you don't have a car, there are certain places that are a bit more difficult to explore around the country. However, the good news is that KaMsholo is one of the few parks you can get to on your own!
First you'll have to get a bus to Manzini, which is one of the biggest cities in the country. If you are in in Mbane, you can easily find plenty of buses that go to Manzini.
After making it to Manzini, you'll have to take a bus to Matata. From Matata there are buses that you can find that will pass by KaMsholo. Just make sure to tell the driver that you'd like to get off there.
Experiencing One of the Best Safari Experiences in Eswatini: The Giraffe Walking Safari
The giraffe walking safari is one of the best safari experiences in Eswatini, and definitely one that we will always cherish!
The tour is two hours, and you are given a private guide for your group. We were just two people, and were able to customize our experience to whatever our preferences was. Once we got ready for our tour, our guide asked us which animals were the ones we'd like to see the most, and if there was anything we weren't particularly interested in.
We honestly think that because of the giraffes, it was one of the best safari experiences in Eswatini, and it was the number one animal we cared about. That being said, we were also able to see a lot of other animals as well!
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🦒 The Giraffe Walking Safari at KaMsholo
Our tour was two hours, with lots of walking, so make sure to get your walking shoes on!
We started side by side with our guide who was looking for tracks to find different animals. He explained to us which animals we could find, how to find them, and how to act when we see them.
As soon as we found giraffes, we had to get low and walk slowly. As soon as we were up close and personal, we all sat down and simply marveled at these gorgeous giants, while taking an endless amount of pictures and videos. Our guide even helped us get a few of these of the two of us!
We also got to witness a ton of wildebeest, ostriches, and warthogs, as well as a lot of interesting birds.
There is a lot of wildlife to explore at KaMsholo.
Our guide brought us all over the park, showing us the different campsites available, where we also found some ostriches!
There is also a special birdwatching area in the park, which you can access for more time if you plan on spending a night at KaMsholo.
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Experiencing One of the Best Safaries in Eswatini: Amenities at KaMsholo
Now that you know how much is costs to do one of the best safari experiences in Eswatini, we're going to let you know a bit more about what you can expect at KaMsholo Park.
🍴 Food & Drink at KaMsholo
KaMsholo has a big restaurant right behind the lobby where you can which offers both indoor seating, and a large deck which combined seat up to 200 people.
Here you can find delicious local and traditional dishes which are served a la carte or prepared as takeaway, with pizza and umcwembe being two of the top to-go options.
For those that want to cook, there are also Braai facilities available, so that families and friends can prepare their own barbecues at KaMsholo.
🚽 Bathrooms & Showers at KaMsholo
You can find bathrooms right next to the lobby of KaMsholo. Make sure to go before your giraffe walking safari, as you won't find any out in nature!
As far as showers go, these are reserved for those that are spending the night at KaMsholo.
🛖 Staying a Night at KaMsholo
There are a number of camps that you can stay at at Kamsholo which include:
- Tinsele Rest Camp: 8 thatched cottages with a pool, and common dining area
- Bushveld Backpackers: located just behind reception are 12 traditional beehive huts which are 540, and accommodate 2 people
- Nguni Ranch house: ideal for businesses and big groups
- Bhekilanga Guesthouse: located in Nsoko village, this is also ideal for bigger groups
| Self catering family cottage Sleeps 2 From 1,490 | ||
| Double Cottage Sleeps 2 From 1,040 | ||
| Bushveld Backpackers Sleeps 2 From 270/person | ||
| Camping From 240/person |
One thing that is unique about KaMsholo is being able to stay in the beehive huts!
📶 Cell Signal & Wifi at KaMsholo
We didn't have any cell signal while at KaMsholo. 500 mb of Wifi is included for those that are staying at KaMsholo, or you can purchase while for 30 Swazi lilangeni.
🎠 Other Amenities
Have kids? Don't worry! There is a playground on site for those with kids, as well as a pool to take a dip in.
There are plenty of amenities you can enjoy at KaMsholo park in Eswatini.
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Prices & Timetables at KaMsholo Park
Now that you know all about what to expect for one of the best safari experiences in Eswatini, we're going to break down the prices and operational hours of the park.
💸 How Much Does KaMsholo Park Cost?
- Entrance to the park is 85/person (conservation fee)
- The Giraffe Walk is 2 hours and is 285/person
- Accommodation is from 240- 1,490/person
- Game Drives are 455/person
* Accommodation includes conservation fee
While it is certainly better to book in advance, you can also book the giraffe walks and game drives at the reception upon arrival.
🕘 What are the Hours of KaMsholo Park?
KaMsholo park runs on tours. There are two game drive time slots available, which are for sunrise and sunset. If there is a lot of demand though (or large groups), other hours may be scheduled.
The walks don't have specific times, since they are for private groups. They come on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are available between sunrise and sunset.
We showed up around noon, and were given a guide right away!
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Safety at KaMsholo
As one of the best safari experiences in Eswatini, you can image that you'll be pretty close to the wildlife! With this, you'll need to be mindful about your safety while getting up close and personal to wild animals.
🦁 How Safe are the Giraffe Walking Safaris in Eswatini?
One of the reasons that people can not go walking on their own is due to safety concerns. Animals at KaMsholo (and all of the other national parks in Eswatini) are completely wild, and getting close to any of them can certainly put you at risk.
That being said, the big 5 cannot be found at KaMsholo, which is what makes doing a walking safari possible.
The local guides are experts, and are familiar with the behavior of the animals in the area, and know how to avoid any potentially dangerous scenarios. This is why it's crucial to always listen to stay quiet, walk slowly, and most importanty - always listen to your guide!
The guides will always keep you within a safe distance from the giraffes.
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Other Things to Keep in Mind for Enjoying the Best Safari Experiences in Eswatini
Now you're almost ready for one of the best safari experiences in Eswatini! But don't go just yet - we have a few other things to share with you about the giraffe walking safari.
☀️ Weather in Eswatini
This country has hot and rainy summers, and cool, dry, mild winters. We visited Eswaitini in the middle of their winter (July) and had beautiful, sunny and dry days, with temperatures dipping lower at night.
🧳 Preparing for the Best Safari Experiences in Eswatini
Now that you know what the weather is like, let's get you dressed and packed for the one of the best safari experiences in Eswatini!
👗 What to Wear for the Giraffe Walking Safari in Eswatini
The only requirement for doing the giraffe walking safari is to wear sneakers or closed toed shoes, due to the thorns, sticks, and branches that could potentially scratch your.
We'd also recommend wearing pants, and neutral colors so that you can camouflage better.
Finally, as the giraffe walking safaris are during the day, we'd recommend a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the strong sun.
Make sure to wear something to cover your legs, and proper footwear.
🎒 What to Bring for the Giraffe Walking Safari
- Reusable Water Bottle (they provide plastic water bottles but they're not as eco-friendly)
- Pants or long skirt/dress to protect your legs from the bush
- Sneakers or closed-toed shoes (they're mandatory)
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Jacket or sweater (if you go in the morning or late in the afternoon)
- Action Camera (we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & shoots 360 degree videos)
- Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
- Standard Lens that has a good variety in focal lengths (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
- Telephoto Lens to capture the animals up close (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
- Cash for tipping your guide