Lengwe National Park

Lengwe National Park – Game wiving in Malawi

Lengwe National Park, about 50 km from Blantyre, is different from most parks in Malawi as it consists of dense woodland. Man-made pools assist game viewing as wildlife congregate around the water catchments, especially in the dry season. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with over 300 bird species. Guests on game drives can easily spot Livingstone’s suni, bushbuck and impala as well as baboon, monkey, warthog, bush pig and buffalo. At the entrance of the park is the ‘Tisunge!’ heritage centre (meaning ‘Let us preserve!’ in Chi Chewa), formed to preserve Lower Shire culture. Various artefacts are on display at the centre’s museum.

Birds of Lengwe

The park has over 330 bird species that habitate in the park and although most of them are indigenous, you will be able to see some of the migratory birds and some of the bird species include the banded snake eagle, the African paradise flycatcher, the Bohm bee-eater, the woolly necked stork, the Rudd’s Apalis, the green backed wood pecker, the crested guinea fowl, the mouse colored sunbird and many more others.

Wildlife of Lengwe national park.

Game viewing is good during the dry season as you’ll see many of these animals visiting the waterholes. Lengwe National Park is the most northerly habitat to find indigenous Nyala in Malawi. 2,000-3,000 beautiful antelopes like the magnificent kudu roam the park. Guest on game drives can easily spot Livingstone’s suni, bushbuck and impala as well as aardvark, yellow baboon, blue monkey, warthog, bush pig, vervet and buffalo. There are also predators in the park in the form of leopards and hyena, the former often being very vocal, but neither is often seen.

How to get to Lengwe national park.

You will most likely enter the country via Lilongwe International Airport (LLW). It is about 26km/16mi from the capital, Lilongwe. Some international flights fly to Chileka International Airport (BLZ), located 16km/10mi from Blantyre.

Lengwe NP, in the south of the country, is 433km/269mi from Lilongwe and 80km/50mi from Blantyre. The drive from Lilongwe takes about six hours, and about 1½ hours from Blantyre.

Where to stay in Lengwe national park.

-Nyala Lodge.

-Vasco Milinyo Lodge.

-Cappadonna Lodge.

-Thawale Lodge.

-Fishermen’s Rest.

Best time to Visit Lengwe national park.

Game viewing in the Lengwe  is best done during the dry season as this is the time when the animals move around the park and towards the man-made water walls for water and also in search of food