Lengwe National Park

Lengwe sits in the hot lowland of the Shire valley south of Chikwawa, thicket and woodland rather than open savanna, and it was created to protect the northernmost population of nyala, a shy antelope whose range otherwise lies further south. Hides at waterholes are how the game is seen here: buffalo, kudu, bushbuck, warthog and the nyala come to drink through the late dry season when there is nothing else.

Background

Lengwe began in 1928 as a Game Reserve to protect the big mammals of the Lower Shire Valley, the nyala above all. It then measured 520 square kilometres, was later cut to 120 square kilometres to free land for farming, and reached 887 square kilometres when an extension area was added in 1975. National park status came in 1970. Rain is the only reliable water source, and four artificial water holes were built in 1964 and 1970. Besides nyala the park holds giraffe, spotted hyena, leopard, impala, Samango monkey, reedbuck and suni. Birds include the Yellow-spotted nicator, shrikes, rollers and bee-eaters. The park lies near the town of Chikwawa, about 40 miles (64 km) to the southwest of Blantyre.

Source: Wikipedia, "Lengwe National Park"

The landscape

• The nyala - the antelope at the northern limit of its range.
• The waterhole hides - the built points where game is watched at the water.
• The thicket - the dense vegetation that makes game viewing here different.
• The Shire valley setting - the hot lowland the park sits in.

When to go

August to November is the late dry season when game concentrates at the waterholes. The rains disperse everything and make roads difficult. The valley is extremely hot in October and November.

Practical notes

The thicket makes game hard to see away from the hides. Heat in the lower Shire valley regularly exceeds forty degrees late in the dry season. Facilities are basic.

Nearby

Chikwawa is north, and Majete is northwest.

Key facts