Majete Wildlife Reserve
Malawi's first Big Five reserve. Once poached out, Majete now protects black rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant across 700 square kilometres of miombo woodland along the Shire River.
The Big Five
Malawi's parks have undergone one of Africa's great conservation turnarounds. Lions, rhino, cheetah and hundreds of elephants have been returned to reserves that were nearly emptied a generation ago — and today you can watch them with barely another vehicle in sight.
Liwonde National Park
Boat safaris on the Shire River pass pods of hippo, enormous crocodiles and elephant herds drinking at the bank. Liwonde is also home to reintroduced cheetah and one of Africa's densest concentrations of raptors.
Nyika Plateau
Rolling montane grassland at 2,000 metres, dotted with orchids and roan antelope. Nyika is best explored on horseback or mountain bike, with cold, star-flooded nights that feel a world away from the lake.
Practical notes
The dry season, June to October, concentrates wildlife around water and gives the clearest sightings. Guided game drives, walking safaris and river safaris can all be arranged from lodges inside the parks.
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