Located in Swaziland's south east region lies the  Mkhaya Private Game Reserve, an unspoilt wilderness in the heart of the lowveld and a sanctuary for endangered wildlife. The reserve was established in 1979 by the Swaziland government and pioneering conservationist Ted Reilly, with hopes of saving the pure breed Nguni Cattle of the region from extinction, and was later proclaimed a nature reserve. Mkhaya Game Reserve is named after the Acacia nigrescens tree, and consists mainly of thornveld dominated by acacia in the south, and tracts of broadleaf sandveld in the north.

The initial focus of the Mkhaya Game Reserve has shifted over the years, and now serves as a haven for such species as both black and white rhino, elephant, roan and sable antelope, tsessebe, zebra, wildebeest and various other endangered species. Visitors to 10,000 ha Mkhaya Game Reserve are almost guaranteed with sightings of game, either from an open 4x4 vehicle, or on guided hiking trails.

Mkhaya Game Reserve also has an in-depth and interesting history. The reserve houses what used to be the Red Tiger Cattle Ranch, which was once a sub-division of the famous Bar-R Ranch established during the First World War. Red Tiger Ranch was named after the vast expanses of red tiger grass in the area, and today that same rich grass veld supports an impressive diversity of game.