Slackpacking in the Lubombo Mountains: Explore Without the Load

Slackpacking in the Lubombo Mountains is wildlife and culture focussed, held together by a landscape both wild and rural.

The range runs along the eastern side of Eswatini and into neighbouring parts of South Africa and Mozambique, and they have a very different feel from the high, chilly mountains of the Drakensberg.

Every 100m you ascend you can expect the temperature to drop about 1degree Celsius. So the lower lying Lubombo’s (an average height of around 600m) are warmer and softer and more welcoming-like a mountain hug.

And there is plenty to see. Birdlife is a big attraction, while the vegetation changes as you move through different elevations, bushveld, rocky ridges, forests... The mountains also provide excellent sweeping views towards the lowveld. Accommodation is rustic chic, super comfortable but fitting into and reflecting the environment.

Trails can be challenging, (though not technical) and days can be hot, so this is not a complete walk in the park, but slackpacking’s promise of a light pack makes Lubombo multi-day hiking so much more accessible. Slackpacking trails link protected areas like Mlawula Nature Reserve and Mbuluzi Game Reserve where hikers may encounter zebra, giraffe, kudu and wildebeest.

The Lubombo’s are also culturally rich landscapes, so using responsible operators matters. Knowing  which routes are acceptable to locals, respecting private and community land, and having local guides who are deeply embedded in the culture is very important.