Malawi Parks
By Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Malawi.
Kasungu is Malawi’s second-largest national park. Once teeming with wildlife, the park has been heavily poached and animal densities are low. There is only one lodge, well priced and located at Lifupa Dam. The dam has some resident hippos and is a magnet for animals, especially elephants, at the end of the Dry season. Morning and night drives are offered. If wildlife viewing expectations aren’t too high, Kasungu offers a great bush experience.
Pros & Cons
- Off-the-beaten-track destination
- Well-priced lodge and campsite overlooking Lifupa Dam
- Morning and night drives offered
- Good variety of wildlife
- Activities include community visits, walking safari and hikes
- Poaching is an ongoing problem
- Low wildlife densities, and animals are very skittish
- No choice of lodging, only mid-range and budget accommodation
Wildlife
Although ongoing poaching has depleted wildlife numbers, Kasungu still has a good variety of animals. Though black rhino and cheetah are extinct in the park, four of the Big Five are still present. Elephants regularly come to drink at the dam. Buffalo can sometimes be found as well. Lucky visitors might see a leopard on a night drive, and lions might be heard but they are rarely seen. Antelope species include the rare Lichtenstein's hartebeest, greater kudu, puku, sable and roan antelope, and reedbuck.
Scenery
The lodge and campsite are located in a beautiful spot overlooking Lifupa Dam. Sunrise over the lake is particularly evocative with rising mist, hippos snorting, fish eagles calling and waders bobbing around the shore. The rainy season brings a variety of flowers including different orchid species. Those feeling energetic can climb Black Rock for the best views of the endless expanse of bush, and to see the sunset.
Weather & Climate
The weather and climate of Kasungu is comparable to that of Malawi in general. More information:
Best Time to Visit
Kasungu can be visited throughout the year, but the best time for wildlife viewing is July to October, from the middle to the end of the Dry season. At this time, animals are drawn to Lifupa Dam to drink.
Getting There
Kasungu is quite accessible, and Lifupa Lodge can usually be reached in any type of vehicle. The park is about 170km/100mi from Lilongwe, and the drive takes about three hours.
Health & Safety
Please read our malaria and vaccinations page for Malawi, and our general wildlife viewing safety precautions page for more info:
