Tanja
NL
Visited:
April 2018
Reviewed: Aug 6, 2018
Email Tanja
| 35-50 years of age
| Experience level: first safari
The review below is the personal opinion of Tanja and not that of SafariBookings.
3 / 5
3
/5
2 / 5
3 / 5
3 / 5
2 / 5
Not many animals due to poaching unfortunately.
Berthold
DE
Visited:
March 2019
Reviewed: May 3, 2019
Email Berthold
| 50-65 years of age
| Experience level: first safari
Georgeous, versatile, touching and lasting experiences in wildlife nature
5 / 5
5
/5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
We visited Liwonde National park in March, which means in the so called "Green Season" after the rainy season. Everything was really green and blooming, even the roads were moody. But we were rewarded for our efforts. We were nearly the only guests. We stayed there for three days and had a a boat safari across the scenic Shire River with all it's flowers, birds, hippos and even crocodiles. We mostly enjoyed th boat safari, because even on the Shire River we were nearly alone with all those hippos and birds. It was really awesome. We will never forget this tour. The river was so wide, surrounded with silence. Only the animals. And we saw a lot of them, even near our tent.
At the afternoon we had a game drive through the park. Even there was only silence. The animals, a lot of antelopes, monkeys, warthogs, elephants, hundreds of birds - smaller and bigger ones in all colors - were relaxed and even didn't notice us. We didn't see cats because of the green season,
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but we were impressed by tis green scenery. I was very impressed by the nests of the bayas and even by the richness of the vegetation. The safari trip took about nearly three hours and we had a very expertised guide for the park. Liwonde national park is worth seeing.
The weather was great, it rained the whole night, but when we starded our boat trip, the sun came out and it was a wonderful atmosphere on the river. The same in the afternoon during the game drive: fine weather with sunshine and clear air.
The accomodation was just wonderful: we stayed at Bushmans Baobab and were really welcome there. There were only a few guests and we enjoyed even again the silence. The staff was great, they pampered us! The food was really great and delicous! It's nice to eat outside, to have breakfast outside. The place there is a wonderful place, I would say the most beautiful place to stay in Malawi (for our trip). It was mysterious with all its pathes in beetween the bushes, trees and different accomodations. We booked one Ensuite Luxury Tent for three person, even a wonderful way to stay there. Thanks to all the people taking care for us.
The transportation was perfect and well organized, the guide (we had the same for the boat trip and the game drive) was really competent and knew everything about flora and fauna in the park.
One highlight was to sit at the raised hide, watch the warthogs, hear the hippos from the Shire River, and have some tea there!!!
We really enjoyed our stay there in the Liwonde National Park and at Bushmans Baobab! We won't miss it!!!
Owen
KE
Visited:
July 2018
Reviewed: May 26, 2019
Email Owen
| 50-65 years of age
| Experience level: over 5 safaris
An Unexpected Surprise
5 / 5
5
/5
4 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I loved Liwonde National Park. In fact it's one of my favorite national parks. It's truly beautiful and receives few visitors. The wildlife was also good. I saw plenty of elephants, hippos, sable,hartebeest and other wildlife. The birding was just outstanding. I was impressed by the wide range of activities available. The community was deeply involved.
MK M
GB
Visited:
August 2024
Reviewed: Aug 7, 2024
Email MK M
| 20-35 years of age
| Experience level: first safari
The review below is the personal opinion of MK M and not that of SafariBookings.
Alright
2 / 5
2
/5
2 / 5
1 / 5
4 / 5
2 / 5
Didn’t get to see any animals, other than your monkeys, elephants and impala’s, extremely disappointed after previously calling the day before and being told to come any time to see any animal, but the day of coming only seeing little and being told we should’ve come earlier, therefore ultimately given poor advise and wasted money.
Steve
GB
Visited:
December 2023
Reviewed: May 1, 2025
Email Steve
| 65+ years of age
| Experience level: over 5 safaris
A Beautiful Place
5 / 5
5
/5
4 / 5
3 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
I have now visited Liwonde three times and at different times of year April, October and December and am now organising to visit again this July. The Shire river gives this park a perfect setting, its wide blue waters are quite obviously the park’s life force and provide a focal point for wildlife viewing. The boat trips which any of the camps will organise are unforgettable and I think I’ve now embarked on four or five; on each occasion we have been up close and personal with elephants wading and feeding in the shallows. They ignore the boat and allow it to drift around them and the guides are good at keeping just enough distance so as not annoy the beautiful beasts. When on the boats watch for birdlife, there is a good variety of waders, divers, paddlers and raptors and when the river levels are low the sand banks become very cosmopolitan with all sorts of birds standing between the dozing crocs.
On land self driving is good unless the tracks are very muddy and there are plenty
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of birds to see including some very rare species, I sense the birds that hang out near the tracks are very accustomed to vehicles so bird photography here can be very rewarding.
Across my visits I’ve seen lions on all but one occasions and had one incredible cheetah experience watching a kill being devoured by a clan of young males. The antelope population is large and male elephants seem to often wander about on the flood plain but I can’t recall ever seeing a matriarch-led herd, I suspect they are deeper into the inaccessible parts of the park.
The beautiful setting, abundant wildlife and the fact that animals are drawn onto the flood plain where they are easily seen makes this a very special park; it is also an example of what African Parks can achieve when supported by the local community.
Malawi is a brilliant safari destination and Liwonde is the jewel in the crown