Jilobi is an indigenous forest shared by three Chiefdoms on the Lubombo Plateau, South of Siteki in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The forest lies on the border of the three communities, though a bigger portion is under the Maphungwane Chiefdom. The forest is of importance for the communities as they are old burial sites for the Magongo, Maziya and Dlamini’s of Tikhuba, Maphungwane and Lukhetseni respectively. Moreover, they are sites for rainmaking prayers from all the communities in times of drought and disasters, a practice which has been passed on through oral tradition.

This spiritual tradition, as well as the cultural and biodiversity significance attached to the forest needs to be documented and preserved to protect it from threats. Fencing the forest in stages will provide additional protection and allow for an entrance reception to be established as well as an education / interpretation centre to highlight the significance of the site. In addition by developing further ecotourism, the preservation of the history and cultural importance of the forest can be further enhanced.