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The Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Eswatini is a gem in the country’s crown. We came across this scene recently.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expedtions.    

When I was young the “experts” told me that a large campfire keeps lions and other wildlife away from camp at night as they fear fire.

This has been proven to be a myth on numerous occasions later in my life when camping in remote and wilderness areas across Africa. In my experience, a campfire attracts wildlife, especially lions and hyena on cold mornings in the Kalahari.

I could never get any footage to prove it, however, during a recent road trip through South Africa, southern Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini, I came across three warthogs loving the warmth of the boma’s campfire on a cool morning in the mountains of Eswatini.

Don’t always believe the experts      

The point is don’t always believe the “experts”. Get your feet on the ground and go and find out for yourself, especially if you’re a journalist. You’ll be surprised by what you’ll find on the ground compared to what’s been sold at large events, international conferences, in presentations and on some media and social media platforms.

Nevertheless, back to the campfire at the boma in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Eswatini. This fire has been burning for over 50 years. This is a fact and not a myth.

According to local community members, the tradition began in the early 1960s when Ted Reilly, the founder of Mlilwane, established the sanctuary and initiated a tree-planting program. The campfire has been a central feature ever since, providing warmth and a gathering place for guests, staff and wildlife.

Focal point for storytelling

The boma’s campfire is not just a source of light and heat; it also serves as a focal point for storytelling and community bonding. Over the decades, it has witnessed countless stories shared under the African night sky, becoming an integral part of the sanctuary’s cultural fabric.

And according to the experts at Mlilwane, animals do approach the campfire during cooler months. They told me that warthogs, impalas and zebras love lazing about in the boma on cold winter mornings. There are no lions in Mlilwane.

I do believe the experts at Mlilwane, as I saw it with my own eyes, and I even have footage to prove it.

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