Mkhaya Game Reserve's Stone Camp

Stone Camp occupies a riverine forest beside a dry river bed at the centre of Mkhaya Game Reserve in eSwatini's Lubombo region. The camp runs entirely off-grid: paraffin lanterns provide the light, gas geysers heat the water, and a small solar installation covers what little else is needed. There is no mains power.

Twelve stone cottages are spread through the trees, each reached by a sand path that links them to the central camp. Every cottage is thatched and built to half-height in stone — no windows, no doors — so the bush is present in sound and on the air at all times. En-suite bathrooms face outward into the forest. Family units put all beds together in one open-plan room. Two further units are available for groups travelling with a guide.

Meals happen outdoors: under a large sausage tree or around a campfire. Game walks and drives go out from the camp itself.

The reserve runs a fixed entry and exit schedule — ten in the morning or four in the afternoon, as booked. Guests are met at a designated point outside the reserve before being escorted in, so booking ahead is essential before you travel.