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Malawi News
September 2014 |
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| September marks beginning of the hot dry season. Even the Nyika has experienced warm days accompanied by occasional windy evenings. While it remains dry and dusty in most areas, Liwonde and Chintheche reported a few sprinkles of drizzle, giving us a taste of the coming rains. The traditional patterns of the late dry season are evident everywhere. On the high Nyika the larger herbivores, most particularly the roan antelope and eland are slowly gathering into ever larger herds. By late October we hope to see eland in herds of up to 300. In Liwonde, the Shire River is now the parks only source of water other than a couple of pumped waterholes in the rhino sanctuary and this brings the large herds of elephant down to drink daily. It is common now for boat safaris to see up to 200 elephant. Migrant birds, both regional and from farther afield are starting to arrive with the first blue swallows being seen at Chelinda, we believe that the Nyika has perhaps the world’s most significant population, and that most graceful of birds, the iconic African Skimmer settling on the ever increasing sandbanks of Liwonde as the river recedes in the heat. |
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| Mvuu Lodge & Camp |
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Weather / Landscape – Enjoy an ice tea while lounging around the pool deck area at Mvuu Camp/Lodge in the Liwonde National Park, as we experience hot sunny days and blue skies. Our high ceiling thatch roof chalets offer a cool atmosphere during this time of the year. While the trees remain bare during the dry season, game viewing and birding is at its best, during a drive or boat safari. Boat safaris are still enjoyed capturing wildlife along the river for a drink followed by the golden sunsets that just never get old. |
Wildlife – During the dry season, more wildlife is spotted around the river banks. 2 weeks ago more than 50 elephants were seen crossing the Shire River from west to east in search of food and water. The lead cow will wait for the herd to gather for a couple of minutes and signal when it is safe and ready to cross. This process can take a while and is a breath-taking sight when encountered. The Black Rhino have been spotted often in the past few weeks, promising a once in a lifetime experience for many guests seeing them for the first time. The fee of $50 will allow you a 90% chance of seeing Black Rhino and this fee goes towards the Black Rhino Project. Other notable sightings were a baboon snatching a catch from a fish eagle, 2 elephant bulls fighting over a cow (inevitably) and a Martial Eagle grab a young warthog from under its mother’s nose.
Birds and Birding – Be it a boat, walking or drive safari, the park displays an array of birdlife. Recent notable sightings have included the Narina Trogon, trumpeter Hornbill, ospreys,Grey Penduline Tit, speckle throated woodpeckers, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Bat Hawk, Western Banded Snake Eagles, African Skimmers, , African Hawk Eagles, and Pearl Spotted Owlet in broad daylight. |
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Other news (Mvuu) – Voluntary, Counseling and Testing (VCT) week is between the 22nd September-28th September. Mvuu Camp/Lodge staff, as part of the initiative in educating members in HIV / AIDS started their meetings from the
16th September. Every year members of the VCT club, within our staff congregation meet up to offer lifestyle and special nutritional advice, as well as counselling to those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. Our Mvuu Camp team supported by their spouses, led by Danger, our expert guide, volunteered to go to the Machinga District Hospital for the campaign.
See Photo: VCT team on their way to the hospital. |
| Message to our guests – Chinguni Road is still in good shape for those wanting to access the camp through the park road. Should you come across a herd of buffaloes while accessing the camp via Chinguni Road, don’t panic, stay in your car, take pictures and wait for the herd to depart. |
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WORLD RHINO DAY – 22SEPTEMBER2014!
In honor of International World Rhino Day, 22 September 2014, our Mvuu Camp Team organised a joint snare sweep with DNPW scouts and collected a bundle of snares made from barbed wire from the Makanga airstrip to the nearby area at the back of our camp. The snares were pulled apart and used to create a rhino figure that has been displayed at the camp grounds where our informal market day is held. |
Guest Feedback
“River cruise was the best for birds and mammals that we have experienced anywhere in the world. Bravo!! Excellent drives also. Well done Samuel!!” Hedda & Alas Hunter-ROCKJUMPERS
“Wonderful Elephant sightings and crossing of nearly 30Elephants including Babies on Boat Safari with McLoud.”Trien Morse |
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| Chelinda Lodge & Camp |
Weather / Landscape – Very suddenly, Nyika has seen high temperatures accompanied by sunny blue skies and windy chilled evenings. Although dry and dusty, in some areas, the green patches have sprouted out and there are larger herds coming closer to enjoy the grazing on new shoots. This season brings an array of birdlife and closer encounters of wildlife.
Wildlife – Game viewing has been exciting in the month of spring, with several sightings of leopard, hyenas, jackals, serval cats and porcupines. Large herds of elands with calves, roan antelopes, reed bucks gnawing away at the dam reeds, the Red duiker is often seen on forest walks and small groups of zebras have been spotted regularly. |
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Birds and Birding - The male Mountain Marsh Widowbird are in all their glory at the moment – entertaining alongside the road as they flit about in large groups.
Bar-tailed trogons have been spotted on forest walks, while the beautiful European bee-eaters are also being spotted often along the road. Smaller residents are much more visible, enjoying the sudden warmth returning to the plateau. Augur buzzards, kites and herons are the more common larger birds in sight. |
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Other news (Chelinda) - Chelinda Camp Community – Last month we shared the exciting news with the Chelinda Camp community that the German Embassy has committed funds to renovate the school at Chelinda.
Renovations and constructions underway. Watch this space for more on this exciting news. |
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Guest Feedback
“Very friendly management and staff. By far the best holiday experience in Malawi.” Norihide Hittoni
“Keep going like this! Quality of service and accommodations, kindness of people. Amazing landscapes and diversity of colours! Plenty of animals and very close to us. Dominics food and kindess (were a highlight). A lovely night in the silence of Nyika. Our night drive: 3 leopards in 20 minutes, 1 hyena, elands very close! Unforgettable!” Anabelle Clerc |
Chintheche Inn
Weather / Landscape – As the afternoons get warmer, the inviting golden sandy beaches and turquoise blue waters sparkle under the sun at Chintheche Inn. This makes for great outdoor games, volley ball and a relaxed time well enjoyed snorkeling, kayaking or swimming in our pool and warm lake water. |
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Wildlife – Our resident wood owl, a bird with one of the most haunting calls of all the owls, now has young chicks!
See photos – African Wood Owl chicks, at Chintheche Inn. |
Other news (Chintheche Inn) – Ripple Africa a UK based NGO, operating in the northern district of Malawi in empowering the community within the rural villages, have started a campaign in the area to re-educate the community and chefs on the situation of the depletion of fish in Lake Malawi. A ban on small Usipa (Engraulicypris Engraulicyprisardella – this is one of the non-cichlid fish) has been issued due to the decrease in numbers. Be part of the solution!
Guest Feedback
“Staff are great, friendly and efficient, Thanks” Riaan Roest |
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| Other News |
| LILONGWE WILDLIFE CENTRE – TOURISM SHOWCASE – MALAWI – Together with the private sector within the tourism industry of Malawi, the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre hosted Malawi Tourism Day where the local tour operators showcased their products, on the 12th September 2014. The event was visited by the Director of the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, Patricia Liabuba and the Principal Secretary, Hon Elsie Tembo. It started at midday throughout the afternoon and evening, with over 20 establishments showcasing their products. It was held to promote the highlights of Malawian Tourism for the local market and a successful social fun day with great prizes up for grabs. |
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CITW – Children in The Wilderness Alumni Visit to Parliament On the 23rd September 2014, 12 members of the CITW Alumni Group (Alumni group are those children who have been in the CITW program since primary school have are now either working or in tertiary education) visited parliament alongside the Principal Secretary (Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture), Elsie Tembo and the Honourable Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, Kondwani Nankhumwa. The 12 candidates were shortlisted from over 70 members that applied for this opportunity. The day started off early at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Lilongwe where the group was prepped and briefed, led by the Directors of National Parks and Widlife, Mr Brighton Kumchedwa and Sam Nyanyale. The youth observed how the deliberation, discipline and protocol of the house is managed. Based on their feedback, they felt a sense of ownership and representation to their local communities. |
| From Left: Patuma Banda Primary School teacher - 2005 CITW Camp, Janet Chikadewa Primary School teacher - 2006 CITW Camp, Ireen Nkwamba form graduate - 2009 CITW Camp, Mercy Chitete works with WS Mvuu Lodge - 2007 CITW Camp, Principal Secretary Miss. Elsie Tembo Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, Eneles Chisale Form graduate - 2010 Camp, Chifundo Nyambalo Safari Guide working at Mvuu Camp and Lodge - 2008 CITW Camp. |
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Feedback
“It was a life assuring moment. Now I have a picture of how I can effectively contribute to the sustainable conservation and development in our country. I learned that the voice and the business in that House drives the Nation of Malawi. When I become an M.P. and a Minister one day, I will push for the direction of conservation of natural resources in Malawi. I will make it!” Patuma Banda a qualified primary school teacher, formally CITW child |
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FUN FACT: The Martial Eagle is the largest of the African eagles and incredibly powerful; these birds are capable of knocking an adult man off his feet. They have enough power in one foot, to break a man's arm. You can thus see how it was not hard for it to snatch a warthog piglet. Martial eagles have a slow breeding rate, laying usually one egg (rarely two) every two years. The martial Eagle is one of the World’s most powerful avian; Liwonde National Park is home to these powerful majestic eagles, a marvel to see. |
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