Places to Visit in Malawi National Parks

More than 10% of Malawi's land is set aside as national park. The variety of landscapes in Malawi means that visitors can enjoy different scenery, plants and wildlife in each of the main national parks.

Nyika National Park is in northern Malawi. It is the country's highest and largest national park and includes wide plains and valleys with steep cliffs and four large rivers. Ferns, heather, wild flowers and juniper and pine plantations are found in the mountains. Below, there are miombo woodlands and high grass plains. Over 100 different kinds of mammals are found in Nyika, including one of Africa's biggest leopard populations. Many birds and orchids are found in the park, which is crisscrossed by walking paths, horseriding and hiking trails. There are guided drives available, including night drives to see leopards. There are various camps in the park, ranging from luxury cabins and chalets to youth hostel and campsites.

Kasungu National Park is located in the central part of Malawi, near the border with Zambia.There are rolling hills, Miombo woodland and reed-edged rivers. A large number of elephants are found in Kasungu, as well as buffalo, zebra, lions and leopards and antelopes. There are many birds to be seen. There are good roads and walking trails, and a 10 km guided hiking trail. There is a luxury lodge or campsites for visitors, or cheap accomodation in Kasungu town, which is 38 km away.

Lake Malawi is the world's first freshwater national park. There are rocky shores, sandy beaches, sand dunes, swamps, reedbeds, wooded hillsides and islands. There are many birds, particularly waterbirds. On land there are few animals, mainly monkeys and baboons. There are over 500 different kinds of fish, nearly all of them found nowhere else in the world. There are boat cruises on the lake and Shire River, but snorkelling is the best way to explore this national park! There are two luxury hotels and a number of backpacker hostels and campsites.

Lengwe National Park is located in the hot, dry plains in the south, along the Mozambique border. This park was created in 1928 to conserve a small population of nyala. There are both mopane and miomo woodlands here, with baobab and palm trees. There are hyenas, leopards, warthogs, and many birds. There are 83 km of roads, with places to hide and watch wildlife near waterholes. There is a camp with chalets and huts.

Liwonde National Park is located along 40km of the Shire River and was established to restore wildlife that had been greatly reduced by hunting. Lake Malombe is part of the park. The river is edged with palms, papyrus and woodland but inland the vegetation is dry grassland with sections of mopane and baobab trees. There are about 3000 hippopotamus, many crocodiles and elephants, lions, four kinds of antelope (in particular the sable) and a few Black rhino. Nearly 400 kinds of bird can be seen in this park. There are many kilometres of roads, guided walks, and bird and game watching by boat. There is a luxury camp and lodge.