Liwonde National Park

A park brought back to life through wildlife reintroductions

Liwonde National Park is Malawi’s most famous national park. Located south of Lake Malawi, it stretches along the Shire River, a tributary of the Zambezi. The landscape is remarkably diverse, with a succession of wetlands, forests, hills and savannahs. This variety supports an extraordinary level of biodiversity, both in terms of flora and wildlife.

Particularly significant has been the work carried out to protect and restore wildlife populations. For many years, Liwonde National Park suffered from neglect, and poaching severely reduced several animal populations. In 2005, the conservation organisation African Parks began working alongside local authorities to remove thousands of snares and reintroduce lions, cheetahs and the black rhinoceros, a protected species threatened with extinction.

Today, visitors to Liwonde National Park can see lions and cheetahs, as well as elephants, buffalo, zebras, numerous antelope species, impalas, baboons, hippos, crocodiles and hyenas. Liwonde is also recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Hundreds of bird species have been recorded here, including the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl and the African Fish Eagle, alongside many other rare or threatened species. Thanks to its exceptional wildlife and natural diversity, some of the most rewarding experiences in the park include traditional game drives and boat safaris along the Shire River.