Sibebe Rock in Mbabane, Swaziland
Sibebe Rock in Mbabane, Swaziland
Sibebe is a granite mountain in Eswatini, located 10 km from the capital city Mbabane. It is the second-largest monolith in the world and the largest exposed granite pluton, rising 350m above the valley of the Mbuluzi River. It is also known as 'Bald Rock'.
Sibebe Rock, just north of Mbabane, is one of southern Africa’s most impressive geological features. This immense three-billion-year-old volcanic slab, which rises to a height of 1,488m and covers some 16,500ha, is the world’s largest granite dome. Only Australia’s Uluru pips it to the title of ‘world’s largest rock’. Uluru is actually an eroded sandstone inselberg – in other words, formed of layers of sediment. Sibebe, by contrast, is a batholith: it welled up through the earth’s crust in one great molten bubble before cooling to form a massif of sheer granite.
It is hard to appreciate the scale of Sibebe from below. That’s partly because there is no single spot from which the whole rock is visible. The best way to see it is, of course, to climb it.
On top, you will find a wonderland of huge sculpted boulders and gleaming slopes of exfoliating granite. Trails radiate in all directions, leading to caves, waterfalls and hidden pockets of indigenous forest. There is even a large meadow where – amazingly – a small population of wild horses roams the lush grazing. The flora is impressive, with orchids and other wild flowers carpeting the grasslands from October to December, and wild bananas (Strelitzia nicolai) fluttering their tattered, flag-like leaves in the forested clefts. You might also spot highveld birds, such as jackal buzzard, buff-streaked chat, ground woodpecker and – if you’re lucky – even a Verreaux’s eagle or blue swallow. But remember that this is Swazi Nation Land, not a nature reserve. You will also meet wandering cattle and their herdboys, and on the eastern slopes you’ll spy the small homesteads of those who live up here.
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Swaziland and Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
I was sitting in my hotel room in Johannesburg trying to decide where I should spend the last week I had in Southern Africa. When I looked, Swaziland stuck out to me like a sore thumb. I was so close to the country, I had to go. Thus, I set off on a super quick 3 day trip into Swaziland.
I spent most of my time in Mlilwane Wildelife Sanctuary which is a fairly humble national park in the heart of Swaziland. Though it doesn't have any big animals, it does have lots of antelope including some very rare ones. The part is great because unlike other major national parks in Southern Africa, you can actually get around and do some walking, cycling, and hiking here. With no big predators, there is little risk.
Anyways, after visiting Mlilwane, I headed straight down south across the entire country in a couple hours.
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