Central Africa awaiting rain

Central African Wilderness Safaris, one of Malawi's long-standing tour operators which also operates the iconic Mvuu Lodge in Liwonde National Park and four other hotels in Malawi, has released its latest newsletter. Read on to hear everything they've been up to over the past few months, in their own words.

Typically, October is the hottest and driest month of the year in Malawi. We expect the feeling of lightness, satisfaction and relief that comes after the first storm - the vegetation seems thick and heavy, and many buzzing insects come back to life. Not to mention the smell of petrichor - rain falling on dusty ground that has been baked by the sun for months. During October and November, lions lounge lazily in sporadic spots of shade, elephants use their impressive large ears to keep cool, and warthogs wallow in the few remaining pools of murky water. For safari enthusiasts, a dip in the pool between walks, drives and boat safaris offers refuge from the sweltering October and November heat. It's safe to say that we've been prepared for rain for a long time - just like the wildlife!

A promising sign that the rains are on the way is that we saw our first impala lamb! By far one of the most common antelope species in the park, impala is a guaranteed sighting while on safari. Because antelope are both herbivores (when grass is plentiful during the wet season) and nomadic (when the fertile floodplains bake and crack during the dry season), the species tends to be found in high densities in areas that allow a varied diet of grassland and shoots at a convenient distance from the water. This ability to graze allows this antelope to lead a sedentary lifestyle - that's why there are always a lot of them around Mvuu!

On the topic of young animals, we also welcomed new litters of both lion cubs and cheetah cubs. At least one new cub from the southern pride has been spotted, and there are signs that there may be more - it's too early to give a detailed overview of the pride's dynamics, but as the juveniles from last year's litter mature over the next few years, the story of the Liwonde lions will be told interesting to document. One of the most exciting events this month in Mvuu, luckily captured on video by guests! – the southern pride tried to kill a male buffalo. It was an epic confrontation between the dominant male of the southern pride, accompanied by four females who hunted with him, and a male buffalo who was part of the herd drinking from one of the tributaries of the river in the Mwalasi floodplain. After failing to pounce on the old bull's back, a small herd of buffalo retreated into Mopane, creating an impenetrable wall to keep the pride away - it was a hunt gone wrong.

Lions eat a variety of foods and would rather find something to eat than go hunting. However, their size and herd habits are specially adapted for hunting large ungulates. While both lion and lioness can successfully hunt smaller prey, cooperative hunting (as prides become larger) is used to take down larger prey. Lions that hunt cooperatively have a fairly high success rate, and they feed on large prey communally - it is likely that we will start to see more of this behavior as Liwonde prides continue to become stronger! The latest lion event last month saw a teenager from the southern pride decide to take advantage of the little shade provided by Chifundo's car, offering guests an incredible close-up encounter!

In 2017, cheetahs returned to southern Malawi for the first time in decades (they were last recorded in Liwonda almost a century ago). We are pleased to announce that the recent birth of three new cubs represents the third generation of cheetahs born at Liwonda, a tribute to the conservation success of large carnivores in the park. Special thanks to African Parks, IFAW and Malawi National Parks and Wildlife Department for making this happen! Not to mention the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, which plays an integral role in monitoring these dangerous species in Liwonda.

In addition to the unusual sightings this month - we have had multiple interactions with Liwonde's growing black rhino population - we feel extremely privileged to offer one of the few wild places where these magnificent creatures can be encountered in the wild!

Back in November 1987 we recorded 425 species in 17 days across Malawi, many of which were recorded at Liwonda on Mvuu! The journey continues and we welcome bird watchers from all over the world at any time of the year. This month we are highlighting the African Darter - the African Darter uses its webbed feet to dive underwater in the Shire before impaling a fish with its beak. Gliding through the water more slowly than cormorants, they travel through the water with only their necks showing - they move stealthily, barely making a ripple.

From above we can capture the intricacies of play trails woven into the mopane of the cathedral, how small tributaries of the Shire enliven and color the dry and sun-scorched floodplains, hundreds of shades of emerald green forest thickets. We've created a small collection of cards featuring these stunning prints, which are now available to purchase in our Mvuu store.

Solar Promise in Malawi

Earlier this year, Simon Tshibaka - a knowledgeable guide in Mvuu, a graduate of our Children in the Desert program and now director of an NGO in Malawi - put forward a proposal to Zuwa Energy, based in Lilongwe. In early November, Simon's successful proposal came to fruition - the photographs below document the presentation of a donation of 20 household solar panels made by Zuwa Energy to Nantomba School, located on the edge of the park. Research by the NGO Watts of Love, which we have hosted at Mvuu on several occasions, has long recognized the social, economic and environmental benefits of solar energy in countries like Malawi. Solar lanterns are replacing dangerous kerosene lamps and opening up opportunities for the world's poorest households. Amid nationwide fuel shortages, solar energy could allow for reinvestment in livestock and cash crops, education or business infinitives. Overall, solar energy holds great promise for the future of many rural livelihoods, and it is good to see both international NGOs and Malawi-based companies working to bring solar energy to the rural population of Malawi - those where the benefits will be felt the most .

Recognizing the historical ties between Malawi and Scotland, the Scotland-Malawi Link exists to develop partnerships between the two countries to facilitate and coordinate multi-sectoral projects. Their work permeates many aspects of Scottish civil society, including a wide range of members from Scotland's universities, colleges, over 200 primary and secondary schools and dozens of hospitals, businesses, charities and non-governmental organisations.

Malawi is very proud of its thriving wildlife and the role our protected areas play in sequestering carbon, preserving ecological diversity and instilling in visitors a love and respect for Malawi's natural world and heritage. As part of their trip to Malawi in 2022, we were thrilled to welcome George Watson College to Camp Mvuu. This year their work has focused on collecting and distributing items that are difficult to obtain in Malawi, while being careful not to disrupt local entrepreneurship. An impressive 43 suitcases were removed and distributed to schools and hospitals. We're glad this group had a very enjoyable safari and saw lots of game - we look forward to your next trip!

That's all for this month's stories from the wild - we're ending this letter just as the monsoons have begun and we're looking forward to sharing with you the fresh life they bring to the bush!

Yendani Bwino (Go Well) and we look forward to seeing you in the upcoming green season

Central African Wildlife Safari Team