Malawi is not traditionally a prime safari destination, but this is changing rapidly as wildlife numbers increase. An ambitious program of reintroductions has led to both of Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve becoming Big Five destinations where elephant, buffalo and lion are quite easily seen. You might also encounter cheetah and African wild dog. Nyika National Park has the country’s highest concentration of leopards, and giraffes were recently introduced to Majete.
Wildlife Highlights
Malawi has a great variety of antelope, and some species considered quite rare in other countries are remarkably easy to spot here. The heavyweight eland and roan antelope are both easily seen in Nyika National Park. The graceful sable antelope is quite common in Liwonde, Majete and Kasungu National Park. Other interesting antelope species include klipspringer, nyala, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and puku. Following a series of translocations between parks, Malawi is now home to more than 2,000 elephants, up from just a few hundred at the turn of the millennium.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife viewing is best during the middle and end of the Dry season, from July to October. At this time, water is scarce and animals gather around and rivers. The bush is also less dense, making animals easier to spot. From October until the rains, it can be very hot. Some roads might become impassable during the Wet season (November to April).
Wildlife Rating per Major Park
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Liwonde NP
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Majete WR
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Nyika NP
Recommended Wildlife Books
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Stuarts' Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa
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Stuarts' African Mammals (app)
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The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals (book and app)
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The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals
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Tracker Manual: A Practical Guide to Animal Tracking in Southern Africa
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