Orange Cap Cichlid Safari: Summary
Orange Cap Cichlid Safari in a nutshell
Start your Malawian adventure with a boat ride along the Shire River to the comfortable Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, perhaps getting an introduction to elephants, crocodiles and hippos as you go. Lush and tropical, with palm-dotted floodplains and towering mopane woodlands, Liwonde National Park has a wonderfully wild ambience, which you’ll explore on day and night game drives, walks and river excursions.
Liwonde’s natural beauty is timeless, but its wildlife struggled against poaching in recent decades until NGO African Parks stepped in at the request of the Malawian government in 2015 to turn things around. Thousands of snares were removed, rangers were trained, and advanced technology was introduced to protect the area’s wildlife. Hundreds of elephants have been reintroduced, as have black rhino, lion and cheetah. The park also grew in size and now people living on Liwonde’s borders benefit from the park and development programmes. While a safari here isn’t up to Zambian standards in terms of sightings, it is improving annually and by being here you are supporting its resurgence. The birding is world class.
Following your safari, you’ll then be driven along roads following the Shire River to its source in Lake Malawi, where you’ll hop aboard a boat to Mumbo Island, your eco-retreat home for the next three nights. Uninhabited except for the small hand-built lodge, the island offers snorkelling and diving in clear fresh water, where colourful cichlid fish dart between giant boulders, along with kayaking from the beach and spotting varied birdlife on the island. It’s also a great place simply to relax in the warmth of the sun and take in the views.
At a glance
| Starts: | Lilongwe International Airport | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 nights | Mvuu Lodge - Liwonde National Park, Malawi | Full Board |
| 3 nights | Mumbo Island - Shore of Lake Malawi, Malawi | Full Board |
| Ends: | Lilongwe International Airport |
Mvuu Lodge
Liwonde National Park, Malawi
Mumbo Island
Shore of Lake Malawi, Malawi
Highlights
Our thoughts on five of the top experiences of this Orange Cap Cichlid Safari.
- Exploring Lake Malawi by kayak
- Experience a safari mix of drives, walks and boat trips
- Support an inspiring conservation story
- Absorb Liwonde National Park’s wild atmosphere
- Amazing snorkelling around a rustic island retreat
Activities
Some activities which can be included in the Orange Cap Cichlid Safari: talk to us about those which interest you.
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports
Key species to see on the Orange Cap Cichlid Safari
Based on our travellers' observations, we’ve estimated the likelihood of seeing these species during the Orange Cap Cichlid Safari. Click on the animals and our wildlife surveys page for more info.
100% chance
100% chance
100% chance
100% chance
73% chance
73% chance
55% chance
39% chance
39% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
Let us help you customise your trip
Like all of our holidays on this site, this is just an idea. All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you.
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Prepare for your trip
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When you return
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