Liwonde National Park Safari Trips & Tours

Explore Malawi’s safari highlight on game drives, walks and lazy boat cruises on the Shire River

For a dose of traditional safari in the "Land of the Lake", make a beeline for Malawi’s most famous wildlife area, Liwonde National Park. An eccentric mix of classic Zambia (think stout sausage trees, palms and baobobs) and a little bit of southern Tanzania (swampy lagoons and pretty reed-beds), the park is not a tick-off-the-Big-Five sort of place. Instead, you’ll find yawning hippo and snoozing crocs on the banks of the Shire River, and sable, oribi, zebra and kudu roaming the plains. Leopard and lion make up the predator quota and excitingly there’s an excellent number of elephant, and even black rhino. And the icing on the cake? Liwonde is a birding paradise.

Trips

Liwonde National Park Safari Trips & Tours

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An adventure through the hotspots of Malawi

14 nights from $6.8K per person

Lilongwe Majete Wildlife Reserve Mulanje & the Highlands

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12 nights from $4.4K per person

Blantyre Mulanje & the Highlands Zomba Plateau

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Bush & beach, Malawi-style

10 nights from $4.7K per person

Lilongwe Liwonde National Park Lake Malawi

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Things to do

What to do in Liwonde

Straddling the languid waters of the Shire River, this rejuvenated wilderness offers an intimate safari experience where conservation success stories unfold before your eyes. Drift silently past wallowing hippos on boat safaris, track black rhinos on foot through fever tree forests, or venture out on game drives to spot the recently returned predators - from majestic lions to swift-footed cheetahs. The park's transformation is nothing short of remarkable, with thriving elephant herds and a notable absence of snares, thanks to one of Africa's most effective anti-poaching units. Beyond wildlife, visitors can engage with local communities through the innovative Spicy Farmers project, where chilli barriers create harmony between elephants and farmers. Whether you're photographing some of the 400+ bird species or tracking wild dogs in the golden light of dawn, each day promises authentic wilderness encounters in what has become one of Malawi's most compelling conservation victories.

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