​Expert Reviews – Liwonde NP

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Expert
Harriet Nimmo   –  
South Africa ZA
Visited: July

Harriet is a zoologist with more than 20 years’ experience. She has the privilege of working with the world’s top wildlife photographers and photo-guides.

2 people found this review helpful.

Birder’s paradise.
Overall rating
3/5

Liwonde feels the most “African” of Malawi’s national parks with its beautiful setting along the Shire River, grunting hippos and easy to see herds of elephants. With its variety of habitats, including Borassus palm-studded floodplains, mopane woodlands and lagoons, Liwonde is a birder’s paradise. Specialities include the brown-breasted barbet, Boehm’s bee-eater, Lillian’s lovebird and Livingstone’s flycatcher – and we managed to see both the Pel’s fishing owl and African skimmer on the same boat trip. Most predators have been hunted out – but Liwonde still has a heavily protected population of black rhino.

Liwonde faces big conservation challenges, as it is a relatively small park surrounded by huge numbers of impoverished people. Thankfully the inspirational African Parks took over the management of the park in 2015. They are making a very positive impact, empowering the local communities, training rangers, preventing illegal fishing and removing snares. I have high hopes for the future of this beautiful national park.

Average Expert Rating

  • 3.9/5
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Rating Breakdown

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  • 4 star 6
  • 3 star 1
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