Kasungu National Park
Overview
Malawi Parks
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, despite recent clampdowns, animal densities are low. The only lodge is well priced and located at Lifupa Dam, which has some resident hippos and attracts elephants in the Dry season. If wildlife viewing expectations aren’t too high, Kasungu offers a great bush experience.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
Kasungu still has a good variety of animals despite the poaching problem and four of the Big Five are still present. Elephants regularly come to drink at the dam and buffalo can sometimes be found too. Lucky visitors might see a leopard on a night drive, and lions may be heard but they are rarely seen. Antelope species include the rare Lichtenstein's hartebeest, greater kudu, 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. Those feeling energetic can climb Black Rock for views over the endless expanse of bush, and to see the sunset. There are several prehistoric sites in the park where you can see rock paintings and iron-smelting kilns.
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 3 hours*.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Health & Safety
Please read our malaria and vaccinations page for Malawi, and our general wildlife viewing safety precautions page for more info:
