Hawane Resort in Swaziland

When I first looked into a trip to Swaziland, the first thing that came to mind was a recap by fellow travel blogger RTW in 30 Days about her two-day trip to this small country. Back when she first posted it, I remember pinning one image to Pinterest: a photo of the bright yellow thatched-roof chalet where she stayed. This HAS to be part of my Swaziland itinerary.

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It’s called the Hawane Resort and it’s located within the general radius of all the activities I did in Swaziland. In fact, it’s not too far from the Ngwenya glass factory, which is closed during the hours I plan to visit, but it’s worth a stop if you find yourself here. (For point of reference: the previous night I stayed at Legends Backpackers in Manzini, located just above the “w” in Swaziland on the map below — it only takes about 35 minutes to drove between there and the Hawane Resort.)

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The Hawane Resort is not fancy but it’s definitely unique and affordable, two aspects of accommodation that appeal to me. A night in one of these chalets costs about $60, plus $15 per person to join the buffet dinner, as there are no other dining options in the area. They do have a backpackers area on-site for about $10 per night, but I think it’s not open / available during my visit — I remember briefly looking into it but then deciding I’d rather stay in a thatched-roof chalet instead.

Here is the landscape as I drive up to the Hawane Resort:

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Here we are… please show me to my chalet!

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I walk around the property. It’s perched on a hilltop with rolling green hills in every direction. They have a pool and spa, plus activities like horseback riding and quad biking. I’m just here to relax though. (Note: you can purchase wifi at the front desk, but it’s pricey and slow.)

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Quick look inside the on-site restaurant — I’ll be back later for dinner:

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I take my time photographing these chalets from different angles. After eyeing this place for a year or two, it’s neat to actually see it in person.

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Here is the inside of my chalet — it’s one giant room, with an attached bathroom. It’s cozy and simply decorated.

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The statement piece inside the room is an elaborately carved chair, upholstered with the fur of an animal. It is SO HEAVY. Really unique piece.

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The bed is comfortable. It gets cold outside at night but I stay nice and toasty in my little chalet (that white panel on the left wall is a heating unit).

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Greetings from your friendly travel blogger!

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Yup, I took a bath. A rare occurrence on the road since I typically stay at hostels.

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A few more shots around the property…

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Loved photographing this place at night. The air is chilly so I don’t stay out too long, but the glowing chalets are pretty against the navy blue backdrop.

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Time for dinner…

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My plate from the buffet:

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A wider shot — there’s a tour group of about ten people here tonight, plus maybe two other couples and myself. I sit with the tour guide of the other group and he gives me suggestions of places to visit in his hometown of Joburg, where I’m headed in a few days.

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The next morning I depart after breakfast (which is included in the stay) and drive northeast back into South Africa for a day of exploring at Kruger National Park. It’s a lovely drive through this part of Swaziland.

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More on Kruger National Park soon!

2 thoughts on “Hawane Resort in Swaziland

    • I just looked at their prices (as of August 2016) and it looks like the chalets are 648 rand for one adult ($44 USD) or 1012 rand for two adults ($68). Hope that helps!

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