Important Bird Areas
The western highveld zone has pockets of forest which support five restricted range species of the South African forests Endemic Bird Area (EBA). The eastern lowveld supports two restricted range species of the South-east African coast EBA. As a result of the extensive altitudinal variation, Afrotropical Highlands biome with 12 of its species in Swaziland, East African Coast biome with 5 species and Zambezian biome with 3 species are represented.
The 3 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) designated by BirdLife International in Swaziland cover 580 km2 or 3.3% of the area of the country. The IBAs are as follows.
| Important Bird Area | Administrative Region |
| Malolotja Nature Reserve | Hhohho |
| Hlane and Mlawula Game Reserves | Lubombo |
| Mahamba Mountain | Shiselweni |
Malolotja Nature Reserve is one of only a few sizeable areas of pristine high-altitude grasslands remaining in the country supporting regular populations of Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea. Mahamba Mountain also covers an area of high-altitude grassland and Mahamba Gorge is the site of the largest Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus colony in Swaziland. Hlane and Mlawula Game Reserves are situated in north-east Swaziland and are the only breeding sites in the country for Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus and White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis with Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres seen regularly.
Further information on the IBAs and EBAs of Swaziland can be found at BirdLife International.
Last page update 20th March 2007
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
