Eswatini’s Lubombo Region moves closer to a new Big Five safari reserve

Eswatini has taken a major step toward reshaping its future safari tourism landscape with the official launch of an ambitious five-year biodiversity project in the Lubombo region.

The initiative aims to support the development of a connected Big Five nature reserve spanning roughly 87,000 hectares across northeastern Eswatini. For travellers, the project signals more than conservation progress — it points to the emergence of a stronger, more sustainable safari destination focused on wildlife protection, habitat restoration and community-based tourism.

A major conservation investment

The project was officially launched in Mbabane in May 2026 and is being implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) acting as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) agency.

According to UNDP, the project has secured direct GEF funding of USD 5.23 million as part of a wider programme valued at approximately USD 48 million (around E805 million) over five years. More than USD 43.5 million in co-financing has already been mobilised from government, conservation organisations, development partners and private sector stakeholders.

The initiative focuses on tackling some of the biggest environmental pressures facing the Lubombo landscape, including:

• Habitat degradation
• Invasive alien plant species
• Fragmented wildlife corridors
• Climate-related environmental stress
• Human-wildlife conflict
• Poverty in surrounding rural communities

At the same time, the project is designed to create economic opportunities linked to conservation and tourism development.

Why Lubombo matters for safari travellers

The Lubombo region already ranks among Eswatini's most ecologically important landscapes. It forms part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area as well as the UNESCO-recognised Lubombo Biosphere Reserve, giving the area significant international conservation importance.

For safari travellers, the region offers something increasingly rare in Southern Africa: a quieter and less commercialised wildlife experience.

Rather than competing directly with larger safari destinations, Lubombo appeals to travellers seeking smaller reserves, scenic landscapes, community interaction and lower visitor densities. Existing reserves and protected areas already support a growing eco-tourism sector, but the new project aims to connect these landscapes into a more coherent Big Five conservation area over time.

The long-term vision includes improving ecological connectivity for elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo populations while strengthening conservation management across adjoining protected areas and community land.

Community tourism and local livelihoods at the centre

One of the most important aspects of the project is its strong focus on local communities.

UNDP officials have repeatedly emphasised that conservation success in Lubombo depends on ensuring nearby communities benefit directly from tourism and environmental protection initiatives. More than 827 community members were reportedly consulted during the planning phase, with women representing the majority of participants.

The project aims to support:

• Community-based tourism enterprises
• Eco-lodges and local guiding opportunities
• Sustainable harvesting initiatives
• Skills development and conservation jobs
• Improved grazing and land management systems
• Gender-inclusive tourism and conservation programmes

This approach builds on earlier conservation programmes in Eswatini that helped expand protected areas, improve eco-tourism infrastructure and create livelihood opportunities through conservation-linked projects.

Previous UNDP-supported initiatives in Eswatini have already assisted community eco-lodges, wetland protection schemes and locally managed tourism projects that generate income while protecting biodiversity.

What this could mean for travellers

For visitors considering Eswatini as part of a Southern African itinerary, the Lubombo project could significantly strengthen the country’s safari appeal over the coming years.

Potential long-term benefits for travellers include:

• Better wildlife conservation outcomes
• Improved Big Five viewing opportunities
• More connected safari experiences across multiple reserves
• Expanded community-led tourism experiences
• Stronger sustainability standards
• Enhanced conservation tourism credentials

Importantly, Lubombo is still evolving as a destination. Travellers visiting now are seeing a region in transition — one investing heavily in balancing biodiversity protection with tourism growth and local economic development.

A growing eco-tourism destination to watch

Global travel trends increasingly favour destinations that combine authentic experiences with meaningful conservation impact. Many travellers now actively seek safari destinations where tourism revenue contributes directly to wildlife protection and community development.

That is precisely where Lubombo’s new biodiversity project has strong potential.

If implementation succeeds, Eswatini could position itself as one of Southern Africa’s emerging eco-tourism success stories — offering a more intimate and conservation-driven safari alternative within a globally important biodiversity landscape.

For now, Lubombo remains an emerging destination rather than a mainstream Big Five circuit. But with substantial international backing, growing conservation momentum and a strong community tourism focus, the region is becoming one of the more interesting safari developments to watch in Southern Africa.

 

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