By Larry Mhlanga — Southern Africa Correspondent
For Mr. Isaac Magagula, the dream of Sibebe Resort began in 2018, on a journey home from a holiday at South Africa’s Sun City Resort. Driving through Mpumalanga’s mountain scenery, he recognised something familiar: he had grown up amid equally striking landscapes in Eswatini.
The journey sparked a question that would shape his family’s future: could the mountains where he once herded cattle become a tourism destination?
It was an ambitious vision. The rocky terrain had hiking paths but no access road to the proposed site. Where others might have seen obstacles, Magagula saw the possibility of a mountain retreat.
Today, Sibebe Resort stands near Eswatini’s imposing Sibebe Rock, combining accommodation, recreation and panoramic views with a story of family enterprise and community opportunity.
Directors Isaac and Xolile Molly Magagula describe the wholly black-owned family business as the fulfilment of their ambition to create an integrated tourism and hospitality destination.
According to Mr Lizwe Nkosi the CEO of Sibebe Resort, the resort records more than 6,000 visitors a month during peak season, including day visitors. Additional rooms have expanded its accommodation capacity to approximately 200 overnight guests sharing, across chalets and modern hotel rooms.
The mountain setting provides the backdrop to a waterpark featuring adult waterslides, children’s slides and an infinity pool. Hiking, quad biking and ziplining add outdoor adventure to the visitor experience.
Beyond its leisure facilities, the resort has become an important local employer. Management reports more than 100 staff members, approximately 80 per cent drawn from the surrounding Dlangeni and Mbuluzi communities.
Maphevu Gama, one of the resort’s earliest employees, says its presence has changed how young people view opportunities close to home. Local students studying tourism and hospitality now aspire to work there, while some parents approach the resort seeking employment opportunities for their children.
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For Gama, the development is a blessing rooted within the community itself.
The directors say that responsibility extends to the surrounding environment.
“We preserve the environment and support the community,” they said.
Through the Sibebe Foundation, they report monthly visits to monitor habitat protection, with additional checks following the rainy season. The foundation’s wider mandate includes education and cultural preservation.
At the Sibebe Cultural Village, visitors can learn about siSwati culture and traditions, connecting the tourism experience with living heritage.
Recognition has followed the resort’s growth. Inside Biz reported that Sibebe received the Resort of the Year accolade at the 2024 Eswatini Customer Excellence Awards. In July 2026, the Times of Eswatini also reported Molly Magagula’s nomination for the Canada Legacy Honours Awards.
From a holiday-inspired idea to a growing hospitality enterprise, Sibebe’s story shows how local ownership can connect tourism development with livelihoods, cultural identity and a family’s enduring connection to the land.
