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 Malawi
is blessed with no less than nine
national parks and wildlife reserves. In
the north are the unique Nyika Plateau
and the Vwasa Reserve. These complement
each other, one a highland, the other a
lowland marsh area. The central region
has two vast game areas; Kasungu
National Park in the west and Nkhotakota
Reserve in the east, near the Lake. To
the south, the best known national park
is Liwonde, along the River Shire, but
there are also three game areas further
south in the Shire Lowlands: Lengwe
National Park and the wildlife reserves
of Majete and Mwabvi. Near the southern
end of Lake Malawi is the world’s first
freshwater national park at Cape Maclear.
The big five (lion,
leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino)
can be seen in Malawi as well as a
splendid range of antelope and other
smaller cats such as caracel and serval.
Hippos are to be found in large numbers,
so much so that they are almost symbolic
of Malawi’s prolific wildlife.
The variety of fish, over 600 species, to be seen in the Lake Malawi National Park is unequalled anywhere else in the world. Malawi's birdlife is renowned. Best known is the fish eagle to be seen at the Lake and along the River Shire but, as with the Lake's fish, the range of species is breathtaking.
A safari in Malawi is sure to be a memorable experience; plenty of game but none of those convoys of 4x4 vehicles characteristic of some other African game parks. Malawi offers all type of safari - walking, horse riding, by boat or in a 4x4.
In addition to Malawi's varied parks and reserves, not far from the country's western border lies one of the continent's greatest game reserves, Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. This park is most easily accessed from Lilongwe and Malawi's
tours & safaris companies offer
trips there.
One of Malawi's other neighbours,
Mozambique, also has a reserve most
easily accessed from Malawi. This is the
Manda Wilderness Community Reserve - a
genuine unspoilt wilderness which meets
the shore of the lake to the south east
of Malawi's Likoma Island.
Community-based conservation initiatives
are beginning to result in the return of
the big game.
Malawi Tourism Websites
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