​Overview – Nkhotakota WR

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Malawi.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Malawi.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Malawi.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Malawi.

Nkhotakota is Malawi’s oldest and largest protected area. This huge, pristine wilderness has seen some heavy poaching, and wildlife numbers suffered. African Parks Foundation took over the management of the park in 2015 and has started an ambitious program to restore its former levels of biodiversity, most notably the translocation of 520 elephants to the park from Liwonde and Majete.

Best Time To Go July to October (Dry bush, animals are easy to find)
High Season July to October (Never busy, but high season rates)
Size 1,800km² / 695mi²
Altitude 500-1,638m / 1,640-5,374ft

Pros & Cons

  • Great unexploited wilderness area
  • Two excellent lodges which cover most budgets
  • Camping is available
  • A chance to support a great conservation effort
  • Activities include game drives and walks, canoeing and fishing
  • Limited accommodation options in the park
  • Limited road network in the park
  • Wildlife viewing is difficult due to dense vegetation

Nkhotakota WR Safari Reviews

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Wildlife

Although hugely depleted of wildlife, there are viable and now growing populations of most large safari animals including elephant, buffalo, eland, sable and greater kudu. Predators are rarely seen, but lion, leopard and spotted hyena are present in small numbers. African Parks has relocated different species of antelope and 520 elephants from Liwonde and Majete to Nkhotakota.

Scenery

This large reserve stretches from the Great Rift Valley in the west of the country to just short of Lake Malawi in the east. The rugged terrain covers a range of habitats with vast patches of miombo woodland, grassland and pockets of rainforest. There are several scenic rivers in the park, and both lodges are situated on the banks of the Bua river.

Weather & Climate

Nkhotakota has a warm climate and defined Wet and Dry seasons. As is typical in the tropics, temperatures are quite consistent throughout the year, but it gets noticeably hotter in October, just before the rains. Heavy rainfall and high humidity can be expected from December to March. June and July are the coolest months, and early mornings can be quite chilly.

Best Time To Visit

The best months for wildlife viewing are July to October, when the bush has dried out and animals gather at predictable water sources. At this time, the bush is also less thick, which makes animal spotting easier. Bear in mind, however, that October can be incredibly hot. Nature is at its most beautiful in the Wet season from November to April, but roads can become difficult to navigate and animals are dispersed.

Want To Visit Nkhotakota WR?

Nkhotakota Safaris

Nkhotakota WR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • User Rating
    0.0/5
    0 Reviews
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

Malawi’s rising star
4/5

Spanning 1800km2, Nkhotakota was until recently a huge, empty reserve devoid of wildlife. However, once again conservation NGO African Parks has stepped in to protect the area. Despite its size, African Parks has fenced the whole perimeter...

Full Review