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Malawi News
August 2014
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August has been a busy month at Wilderness Safaris. While Nyika remains cold and partly cloudy, the rest of the country is enjoying hot sunny days with cooler evenings, marking the beginning of
our dry summer season. Soon the temperatures will rise to as high as 34 degrees Celsius, followed by rains later in the year. This month, with the change in weather we have seen an increase in the popularity of black rhino sightings within the Rhino Sanctuary in Liwonde National Park. Don’t miss out on this opportunity of seeing these rhino - all proceeds go towards the conservation of this iconic species, so book now and be a part of the solution!
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Mvuu Lodge & Camp
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Weather / Landscape – Liwonde is getting warmer each day with cool mornings and evenings. Some days clear blue skies are rewarded with golden sunsets reflected on the Shire River enjoyed on a sunset boat safari. Most areas are dry as we approach summer, and while water is low in some places, the treees remain bare offering a better chance to spot wildlife.
Wildlife - Exciting sightings of herds of elephant within the camp grounds have been reported. They frequent the area in search of food and water due to the common reeds (phragmite) running low on the eastern side of the river. The rhino walks have been successful, ending up with very good close encounters with rhino in the Sanctuary. Crocodile are spotted frequently along the river banks as the males display dominancy prior to the mating season. As the water holes dry up, more wildlife, including buffalo, will be sighted along the Shire River. Other wildlife news include sightings of the side-striped jackal, civets, dwarf mongoose, Meller’s mongoose, porcupines, warthogs and white-tailed mongoose. Hyaena have been heard often and their tracks seen every day close to the camp,
Birds and Birding - Birdlife is in abundance, with sightings of more than 30 African skimmers all at once reported by our Guide McLoud. More sightings include the Pels fishing-owl, palm-nut vultures, Bohm’s bee-eaters, brown-breasted barbet, racket-tailed rollers, white-backed night herons, southern ground hornbills, speckle-throated woodpeckers, klass cuckoo, golden-tailed woodpeckers, lesser honey guide, greater honey guide and the yellow-billed egret, this particular one seemed to have a few markings of yellow on its right leg.
Bottom far right - The beautiful delicate Bohm’s bee-ater sits comfortably on its nest, well protected by the Mvuu Team at Liwonde National Park, with sticks, stones and white flags
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Other news - We encourage big groups of day visitors and campers to make use of the Chinguni Road through the park when accessing our camp. The road is graded and excellent for gravel travel.
FIGHT AGAINST POACHING! - Amanda Salb, from the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre was called in to look at a distressed elephant. They discovered that it had been caught in a snare that created a nasty wound on its hind right leg. After darting the cow, the wires were removed from the wound and it was cleaned and treated carefully. The Ministry of Tourism, Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), HELP Malawi, Children in the Wilderness (CITW), Black Rhino Monitoring and Conservation Program, Central African Wilderness Safaris (CAWS) - Mvuu Camp and Lodge, are working closely together against poaching within the Park. |
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Guest Feedback - “Patrick has made our stay very special spending time explaining everything to the kids. You should be very proud he is a member of your team. Max was also very attentive.” Jon Watts |
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Chelinda Lodge & Camp
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Weather / Landscape –
The temperature is still cold and partly cloudy, but there is a definite change in the air signaling warmer times ahead. Minimum temperatures are around six or seven degrees, getting up to 20 degrees Celsius when the clouds and wind vanish. Some days are windy, affecting bird watching, although it is still successful in forest patches. As the burning comes to an end with very few fires around, the landscape has a few dark patches that will be covered with fresh foder to the grazers in a couple of days.
Wildlife –
Game viewing has been excellent with regular leopard sightings, newly born roan antelopes and the eland herds slowly consolidating into larger groups and moving higher onto the grasslands surrounding Chelinda. The young will increase the numbers, and we are seeing herds of 50-60 antelope regularly now, especially as the new shoots of grass appear. We recommend morning drives from 09:00 when the landscape has had a chance to warm up and bring the grazers out. The migrating birds have started returning allowing our bird enthusiasts to enjoy an array of bird sightings such as blue swallows and bee-eaters. Nyika National Park is arguably the most significant blue swallow habitat on the planet.
Other news - The German Embassy in Lilongwe and Wilderness Safaris have come together to build a school within the Chelinda Camp compound at Nyika National Park this winter. The mission started on the 27 June 2014, together with Patrick Mfune, Chelinda CBO, the compounds ‘mother hen’ and our Camp Managers, Lauren and Richard Slater. Within six weeks of applying for the grant through the German Embassy, they responded and started the operation to accomplish the Chelinda Schools Creation and Restoration Project. Johannes at the Embassy approved the good news only four weeks later, the project is underway at the moment and the compound is in full construction, with the help of the Chelinda CBO volunteers, the community, Nyika Vwaza Trust staff and DNPW, the school will be up and running in the next couple months. More on this exciting news soon!
A Message to our Guests - Campers and self-drive guests – Please be advised that the last fuel stop is in Rhumpi when visiting Chelinda Camp, Nyika National Park. Have a pleasant journey!
Guest Feedback -
“Fantastic birding spot with knowledgeable and articulate guide Whyte. Loved the fires!” Lesley Palmer
“Well-planned mountain bike routes! Beautiful setting and scenery.” J Balcombe
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Chintheche Inn/Mumbo Island |
Weather / Landscape – The early mornings along the lake shore and islands of Lake Malawi are cool before it starts to warm up as the morning progresses. Sunrises are amazing especially when the fishermen are in their canoes chanting their catches of the day. The afternoon tends to get a little windy and the current changes, however this doesn't stop anyone from enjoying the fresh warm waters of the lake and sun bathing on the best beaches of Malawi.
Wildlife - While Chintheche Inn along the northern lakeshore offer beach fun and relaxation, we are often visited by the night genet, monitor lizards and an abundance of birdlife which includes the likes of fish eagle, paradise fly-catcher and tropical boubou to name a few. The fish eagle are often in pairs hovering around the edge of the lake shore.
A Message to our Guests - For the next few months we will be taking chambo off the menu at Chintheche. This is the breeding period for these fish and stocks in the lake are already dangerously depleted. Other less threatened species such as kampango and ncheni will be on the menu subject to availability.
Guest Feedback
“Thank you for the great Birthday!” Sir Christopher Kelly
“Perfect place to relax and energize after three days hiking in the Malanje Mountains” A.G Kies
Other News
CITW – Meetings with the Current and Prospective Donors, Sponsors and Partners
Rosemary Pencil Foundation (USA) – We are happy to report that the foundation approved the school sponsorship budget for 40 current students (from previous years) and 10 new students, for the 2014/2015 school year. After a successful kindle project in Malawi two years ago, when 60 kindles loaded with teachers text books and guides were sponsored to the Namalomba Secondary School, the foundation will be donating another 50 kindles to the Bandawe Girls Secondary School this year.
Techno Brain – Based on the USA Ambassador, Jeanine Jackson initiated a get together of the Public/Private Sectors and NGOs on the agenda of Sustainable Conservation through Partnership, which took place in April 2014. CITW and Techno Brain, one of the leading IT companies in Malawi, will join hands to support the CITW scholarship scheme, IT training and Internship.
Volunteers – CITW -
Marta Mota, one of our loyal guests, volunteered with CITW Malawi from the 16 - 19 August during her stay with Mvuu Lodge at Liwonde National Park. She contributed to interpersonal communication skills with children and local staff. |
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FUN FACT: The Lilian's lovebird, also known as Nyasa lovebird, is a small African parrot species of the lovebird genus. It is the ‘smallest parrot’ on mainland Africa. These birds are endemic to Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and specifically found in Liwonde National Park! |
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