Liwonde National Park

A revitalised park, with reinstated key species, promising a new chapter in Liwonde’s conservation journey.

Liwonde National Park has a troubled past with extreme poaching but since 2015, it has thankfully been transformed back into a thriving sanctuary for Malawi’s wildlife. African Parks, partnering with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, tackled the park’s challenges head-on: thousands of wire snares and heightened human-wildlife conflict. Through robust conservation enforcement, advanced technology, and removing over 40,000 snares, the park reclaimed its territory. It also achieved historic wildlife reintroductions, including cheetahs in 2017 after a century-long absence, lions in 2018, and wild dogs in 2021. These efforts have revitalised the park, reinstating key species and marking a promising new chapter in Liwonde’s conservation journey.

The abundance of birdlife here is prolific and time spent here will involve a mixture of game drives, boat cruises, and bush walks, providing a multifaceted experience. Amidst the plethora of bird species, there are a few sought-after targets such as the Pel’s Fishing Owl, Green Malkoha, Brown-breasted Barbet, Böhm’s Bee-eater, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, and Collared Palm Thrush. Additionally, the Lilian’s Lovebird graces the wooded expanses across various parts of the park, which is a lovely sighting.

Expected bird count
100+

Birding difficulty
Easy – birding via vehicle, boat rides, and on-foot bush walks.