Nyika National Park
Without any doubt this ist he most interesting of the Malawian parks. Most of the park´s area is covered by a mountain plateau at 2,00 to 2,400 meters altitude. The landscape is unexpected for Africa but nonetheless it is amazing. It is often compared with Scotland, Canada or even Mongolia. Rolling grassland, deep valleys, rock formations, patches of evergreen forest, pine forest, excellent views over the plateau and the game make this park special.
Accommodation is in rustic chalets or en suite double rooms, all with open fire places. The mammal species on the plateau include some species that are rarely seen in other places, such as roan and eland antelope; reedbuck and klippspringer. Side-striped jackal nowadays is very common. Spotted Hyena; Burchell´s Zebra; bushbuck; common duiker; warthog and bush pig; honey badger and porcupine are commonly seen. Leopard and serval cat are both noth not uncommon on the plateau and best seen on night game drives. The evergreen forests hold such rare specials as blue monkey; chequered elephant shrew; Tanganika mountain squirrel; red and forest duikers. Outstanding is the avifauna: the list of specials is long. Wattled Crane; Denmahm´s Bustard; Bar-tailed Trogon and the large number of raptor species are just some specialities.
We recommend a stay of at least two days on the plateau. On our tours we usually include two game drives and a game walk.
Especially from June to August the nights get cold and night temperatures can be as cold as 0°C.

Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve
This rather unknown and therefore rarely visited park is situated in the north of Malawi not far from the Nyika Plateau. Since it differs from the Nyika in terms of landscape as well as mammal species, it is ideal to combine these two parks in a tour. And this park is more than a mere stop over place. From June to the onset of the rains in November this should be the best park to see elephants and hippos. The park covers an area of about 2,000 sqkm, most of the vegetation is miombo and mopane forest and fllod plain around Lake Kazuni.
At the tip of this small lake the lodge is situated. From there one has got an excellent view over the lake and animals coming to the water to drink can be seen at any time. The view on the lake can be enjoyed from the verandas of the chalets as well as from the dining area. Having breakfast or dinner while elephants are passing by just a couple of meters away is not an uncommon situation.
Other mammal species of the park include the only pukus within Malawi; Greater Kudu; Impala; Sharpe´s Grysbuck; roan Antelope; Sharpe´s grysbuck; African buffalo; warthog; porcupine; African civet; large-spotted genet; lesser and greater bushbabies; four-toed elephant shrew; yellow baboon; vervet monkey; several species of mongoose and others.
Our one day visit to this park includes an afternoon game drive. A walking safari in the morning is optional.

Liwonde National Park
This park is situated in the south of Malawi and the one that offers the best game viewing options. Since an extension some years ago the size is just under 1,000 sqkm. It is situated at the Shire River, the only outlet of the Lake Malawi. Good numbers of game are found in the flood plains along the river. A highlite of a visit to Malawi is the boat safari on the Shire River, where hippos, crocodiles and drinking or even bathing elephants can be seen. Our described tours refer to the Mvuu Camp, if not stated otherwise. This camp offers comfortable en suite chalets in safari-style, just a couple of meters away from the main river. Meals are excellent. Other options are the more luxurious Mvuu Wilderness Lodge or the cheaper Chinguni Hills Lodge. Other animals in the park include the shy and rare sable antelope; greater kudu; impala; waterbuck; bushbuck; reedbuck; common duiker; African buffalo; yellow baboon; vervet monkey; warthog and bush pig. And within the Rhino Sanctuary, a fenced area within the park, there are found Liechtensteins Hartebeest; eland and roan antelopes; Burchell´s zebra and black rhino, but rhinos are seen only very occasionally. Lions are present most of the time but here they are very shy and usually not seen.
Our tours include two activities per day: usually a morning boat safari and a afternoon/ night drive, starting after tea at 4pm.

Lengwe National Park
This park is situated in the lowland area of the very south of Malawi. It is famous for its large population of the shy and beautiful Nyala Antelope. Within the park there are a couple of hides from where the animals can be watched at the water holes. This can be fascinating especially towards the end of the dry season. Accommodation is in comfortable en suite chalets at Nyala Lodge. The meals from the Italian-run restaurant are excellent.
Mammals of this park include buffalo; impala; kudu; bushbuck; warthog; common duiker; yellow baboon; vervet monkey and the rare blue monkey as well as African civet; large-spotted genet and several types of mongoose.
Our tour usually includes an afternoon game drive and a visit of the main hide in the morning.

Majete Game Reserve
This park is situated along the Shire River in the very south of Malawi at an altitude of only 50 meters. You will not find much about this park in older travel guides, since it has gained attention only recently. It has benefited from an aid project that includes the re-introduction of game to the park as well as improving the infra structure. There is a sufficient network of good dirt roads within the park now and a camp with comfortable accommodation and excellent meals. Now this is one of the parks with the highest variety of mammal species. Most special is definitely the realistic chance to see black rhino. And there is quite a number of rather rare antelopes, as roan, eland, hartebeest, sable and reedbuck. Other species include elephant; hippo; buffalo; zebra; kudu; common duiker; yellow baboon; vervet monkey; civet; genet and several mongooses. Accommodation is in the comfortable safari-style en suite walk-in-tents at Thawale Camp. We recommend a two-days-visit to this park. We usually do an afternoon and a morning game drive on our visit here. From September to April it can get hot in this park.