A walk along the shores of the Shire

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 about everything they did in September, in their own words.

As September gives way to October, the park quickly dries out and we see the changing of the seasons... and the changes that come with it. The coming weeks, before the rains begin, offer exceptional game viewing. As the last of the inland waterways disappear, wildlife increasingly moves into the river floodplains, and we are reminded that the River Shire truly is the lifeblood of the park, and what better way to understand this unique and living ecosystem? take a walk along its banks!

We're walking again! The first Shire River trail appeared in 2019 and has since become popular. This is a 2 night/-3 day walking adventure through wide open floodplains, mixed mopane bushland and along the acacia groves surrounding the Shire River. This trail is all about feeling and understanding how river and park come together, how wildlife rely on and use this complex ecosystem - and getting back to nature... it's simple, convenient, authentic and perhaps one of the best safari experiences in the world .

Day 1 - We set out on foot with a guide and armed scout from Camp Mvuu to a beautiful riverside camp in a mature acacia grove. When up close and personal on foot, especially with elephants in the park, there are few things more humbling than walking with the giants. This is a walk of about 9 kilometers. Be prepared for incredible sightings, stories from our professional guides, and incredible photographic opportunities. We aim to arrive at camp by late lunch. After dark, take a safari or boat ride before enjoying dinner by the cozy fire.

Day 2 - the trail takes you inland to the Mwalasi River, where the terrain is completely different. This walk is estimated to be approximately 11 kilometers and is on level ground. Passing through the mopane forests for which the park is famous, from the vast floodplains of the Shire you can expect to see warthogs, elephants and buffalo, as well as large herds of impala, waterbuck and kudu. The first few kilometers walked on this day will be right along the river bank, where you can watch beautiful birds, flocks of hippos and crocodiles. A vehicle will be offered for the journey back to the camp. Life at camp is fun, the food is delicious and prepared on site, and the Bush shower and long drop eco-toilet are all part of this truly unique experience.

The remaining protected wilderness areas today offer landscapes in which wildlife conservation goals and alternative livelihoods can be brought together through tourism to create sustainable forms of development and environmental protection. With your continued support, after 35 years in Malawi, we truly believe that we continue to improve the lives of rural people through our ecotourism activities. Thanks to our entire team - from maids, mechanics, small farmers, safari guides - for making sure everything runs like a well-oiled machine that we are proud to share with visitors from all over the world!

We have so many stories we could tell about how tourism has changed people's lives for the better; Chifundo and Emmanuel graduated from our Kids in the Wild program in the early 2000s and are now both brilliant guides in Mvuu whose passion for wildlife and Malawi rubs off strongly on their guests; Danger, through the generous support of her safari guests, runs the Mtendere Nutrition Centre, which provides young children with nutritious food and a good, stable primary education; When she was Mvuu's favorite member of the team, we bought pumpkins from her farm across the river. It's always worth asking your guide about their history - and finding out for yourself how Malawi's tourism sector provides alternative livelihoods, nurtures new hobbies and supports families.

We've had an exciting month getting to know our new lion cubs - they've shown great interest in our safari vehicles, as demonstrated by the exciting close-up encounters! We were also able to spot a lion during several kills in the Mwalasi floodplain - pictured below! Particularly interesting on the lion front last month were the tracks found just outside Lodge Tent 1 - Mvuu seems to be attracting all the exciting game!

While the elephants especially enjoy the river grass when the park dries out, Mvuu Lodge now appears to have a permanent herd that frequents the car park and dining area most days. Leaving the lodge is not even necessary to fully experience the wildlife! Our local Pels Fishing Owl has been spotted several times, a Black Rhino has treated us and our porcupine numbers continue to grow. This month our birders have spotted African Cuckoo Hawk, Godwit, Swallowtail and Senegalese Lapwing.

Memories linger at Mvuu - a trip down memory lane for some guests last month revealed it was a special visit for them. Anna writes:

“Camp Mvuu holds many cherished memories for us, and what a pleasure it is to visit this park and your wonderful camp again with the older children. One of our daughters now wears the dress I was wearing when I was photographed on the steps of the restaurant. We took an identical photo of our daughter, who is now 25 years old. And I chose Mvuu to celebrate my 60th birthday - I couldn’t imagine a better place!”

What a pleasure to recreate that moment in time and what a tribute to Malawian tailors!

In the 1980s, Malawi's last recorded population of black rhinos disappeared from the Mwabwi Game Reserve in the Lower Shire Valley. In 1994, J&B Care for the Rare sponsored the translocation of two black rhinos, affectionately known as Justerini & Brooks, from Kruger National Park in South Africa to Liwonde National Park. A small reserve of just 40 km2 was built, and thanks to the efforts of many researchers, private donors and non-governmental organizations, the Liwonde black rhino population has been maintained. Thanks to the work of African Parks, the entire park has now essentially become their sanctuary. We are honored to share this corner of the world with these magnificent creatures and share them with our guests!