Malawi: African Wild Dogs return to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve!

Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in cooperation with African Parks and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has succesfully reintroduced 14 African Wild Dogs from South Africa and Mozambique to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve*. A pack of eight animals were released into bomas in Liwonde National Park and a pack of six into bomas in Majete Wildlife Reserve, where they will remain for several weeks, allowing them to adjust to the new conditions before being fully released into the wider park areas. Each pack has been fitted with a mix of satellite and radio collars to facilitate the continual monitoring of their location and habitat use and ensure their long-term protection in the parks. According to Cole du Plessis, coordinator of EWT's Wild Dog Range Expansion Project, there have been no stable established packs of African Wild Dogs in Malawi for more than 20 years, possibly since the 1980s. [src.] 

All dogs safely released into their temporary boma to acclimatise after translocation,
Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi © Matt Moon

The African Wild Dogs were sourced from Gorongosa National Park and Karingani Game Reserve in Mozambique, and Somkhanda Community Game Reserve and Maremani Nature Reserve in South Africa.

*African Parks manages Liwonde and Majete protected areas in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

Malawi: African Parks reintroduced 17 black rhinos to Liwonde National Park!

African Parks, a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities, has re-introduced 17 endangered black rhinos into Liwonde National Park in Malawi. The animals were all succesfully released into the National Park on 12 Novmber 2019. The 17 rhinos were translocated from Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, into Liwonde National Park. Carried out in conjunction with World Wildlife Fund South Africa, Malawi's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, this is one of the largest international black rhino translocations to date.
African Parks is also moving two of Liwonde National Park's existing rhinos to Majete Wildlife Reserve, and another rhino from Majete to Liwonde, to improve genetic diversity and create a healthy population of rhinos for Malawi.

Black rhino after release in plains of Liwonde National Park, Malawi
© African Parks/Kelsey Green

• In 2015, African Parks assumed management of Liwonde National Park, in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).
• In 2016/17, a total of 336 elephants were moved from Liwonde National Park to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi to help restore that reserve.
• In 2017, seven cheetah, the first to return to Malawi in 20 years, were reintroduced to Liwonde National Park and the population has already doubled with the birth of eight cubs.
• In 2018, 10 lion were reintroduced to Liwonde National Park from Majete Wildlife Reserve and South Africa after they were last seen in the park 10 years ago.

Malawi: Ulendo Airlink to launch flights between Lilongwe <> Blantyre! [update]

update (01 October 2019): Ulendo Airlink launched the new service between
Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) in Lilongwe and Chileka International Airport (BLZ) in Blantyre today!

Ulendo Airlink, a local charter airline based in Malawi, is set to introduce scheduled flights between Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) in Lilongwe and Chileka International Airport (BLZ) in Blantyre. Effective 23 September 2019, the airline will initially operate 14 return frequencies per week on board a 15-Seater Dornier 228. The schedule of the new domestic service will be slightly adjusted as soon as the runway reconstruction at Chileka International Airport (CLZ) in Blantyre is completed.
Ulendo Airlink also plans to launch a four-weekly return service from Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) in Lilongwe to the Southern Lakeshore (Lake Malawi) and Liwonde National Park in April 2020.
Back in July 2019, the airline introduced a new triangle service between Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) in Lilongwe, Mzuzu Airport (ZZU) in Mzuzu in the Northern Region of Malawi and Likoma Airport (LIX) on Likoma Island in Lake Malawi.

Cheetahs reintroduced in Malawi after a 20 year absence!

A small founder population of four cheetahs has been successfully relocated to Liwonde National Park in Malawi. The relocation of the cheetahs follows a 20-year absence of the species in the country. The four predators were translocated from four South African game reserves: the Phinda Game Reserve and Welgevonden Private Game Reserve each made a male cheetah available, while Mountain Zebra National Park and Amakhala Private Game Reserve each made a female cheetah available.

Liwonde National Park is located in southern Malawi, about 160km north of Blantyre. It is situated on the left bank of the Shire river between Lake Malombe and Liwonde. Although only about 580km² is size, the national park is perhaps the most popular of all the game parks in Malawi.

The translocation of the four cheetahs was led by African Parks, a conservation non-profit that manages national parks and protected areas on behalf of governments across the continent, in partnership with South Africa's Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Malawi's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

Malawi: African Parks takes over the management of two more protected areas!

Update (28 Jan 2016): African Parks just announced that they have been awarded €2.6 million by the Dutch Postcode Lottery for the restoration of Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi!

The non-profit park management organisation African Parks has taken over the management of two more of Malawi's reserves. African Parks, which already manages the 700km² Majete Wildlife Reserve, has concluded an agreement with the Government of Malawi to manage and operate Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve for 20 years.

Liwonde National Park is located in the southern Malawi. The National Park is 548m² in size and consists of woodland, floodplains, grasslands, and lagoon. It supports the largest remaining population of elephants in the country as well as one of two populations of black rhino. Liwonde National Park is also home to hippo, hyena, buffalo, warthog, several antelope species and more than 400 bird species.
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is located in the central region of Malawi. The Reserve is 1,800 km² in size, lying within the Miombo woodland zone. It is a major catchment area for Lake Malawi. Although a depleted park, it still has remnant populations of elephant, warthog, baboon, and various antelope species as well as 280 bird species.
African Parks will invest $18 million into the two parks over a five-year period.