Mvuu Camp & Mvuu Wilderness Lodge
Liwonde National Park, Malawi
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MVUU
CAMP & MVUU WILDERNESS LODGE - LIWONDE NATIONAL
PARK, MALAWI
The 580 square kilometre Liwonde
National Park is situated in the south of Malawi
and is the country's
premier wildlife reserve. Liwonde incorporates the
huge, scenic Shire River as well as quiet backwaters
and lagoons, marshes, open savannah country, woodland
and hills in the interior of the park. As a result
of the wide variety of habitats, there is a great
diversity of plant, animal and bird life present.
Elephant, Sable and Black Rhino are the main game
attractions. The bird life is outstanding - it is
possibly the best birding location in Central and
Southern Africa. The record for a two-night stay
at Mvuu is 266 different species counted.
Mvuu Camp is situated
just south of Mvuu Lodge on the banks of the Shire
River in Malawi's Liwonde
National Park. Mvuu Camp offers a wide range of options
including camping, self catering and full board
rates with activities. The activities on offer are
the same as Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, but the camp is
better suited either to families or those on a budget
as rates are very reasonable. A particularly rewarding
way of arriving at Mvuu Camp is via the boat trip
from Liwonde Town. This river trip takes you 30 kilometres
along the Shire offering an excellent chance to see
game and birds en route and also the ever changing
scenery and vegetation along the banks.
Mvuu Camp and Mvuu Wilderness Lodge
are both operated by Wilderness Safaris. Accommodation  For
images of Mvuu Camp & Wilderness Lodge, click Mvuu
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Mvuu
Wilderness Lodge
Mvuu Wilderness Lodge
is a small and intimate lodge, stunningly situated
on a lagoon close to the Shire River in the north
of the park. Discreetly tucked away in thick riverine
vegetation, four large en-suite tents each have
their own private view of the palm-fringed
lagoon, which
abounds
with
exciting bird life. The tented rooms offer luxury,
en-suite facilities for only 10 persons and include
a unique canvas, stone and thatch honeymoon suite.
The main
dining room/pub/lounge area is raised under
thatch overlooking the Shire
River where Elephant, Hippos and Crocodiles are
often viewed. Enjoy meals on the deck or under
thatch. The dining area is connected to
the rest of the lodge by wooden walkways
and leads onto the swimming pool, which is
made of natural rock and is surrounded by
a deck of fragrant Mulanje Cedar. The entire
camp boasts a backdrop of indigenous Fever
Trees. Mvuu
Camp
Just downstream from Mvuu Lodge, this
28-bedded camp is an excellent option
for those who want to enjoy the same
bush experience in a comfortable, but
somewhat less exclusive atmosphere. There
are nine comfortable walk in tents
with shared
facilities
and five
en-suite
brick chalets.
The
thatched lounge looks out onto a broad
stretch of the Shire River. Hippo,
Crocodile and a profusion of birds are
always to
be seen on the sandbank opposite, and
during the dry months, large herds
of Elephant can be seen from the bar. There
is also a specially
constructed boma for dinners under the stars
and meals are also offered on the banks
of the river. Families are welcome at
Mvuu Camp but age restrictions do apply. Activities
Mvuu
is the only lodge/camp in the Park and is therefore
able to offer exclusive boat trips and game drives
both during the day and at night. Boat trips in stable
handmade wooden boats are the highlight and offer
the best opportunity for viewing the Park's large
herds of Elephant. Night boat trips are a specialty,
where with the help of spotlights, guests are able
to encounter the huge Crocodiles of the Shire River
up close, as well as look for two of the Park's 'special'
birds, the Whitebacked Night Heron and Pel's Fishing
Owl.
Walks with qualified
scouts are another recommended activity, as
the wildlife in the park includes large breeding
herds of Elephants, plenty of Hippo and Crocodile,
Sable Antelope, Impala, Reedbuck, Oribi, Leopard
and Serval. Bird life is prolific and the park
is justly regarded as one of the finest birding
locations in south and central Africa - not
just for the number of species, but for the
ease with which specials can be seen.
In
addition, guests can do great bicycle trips from
the boundary of Liwonde to the
local villages
outside
the park,
giving
one
a superb cultural experience. Guests
may also experience a night in Ligwangwa,
a typical rural Malawian village.
The activities offered and the
areas visited are the same for both Mvuu Wilderness
Lodge and Mvuu Camp. Wildlife
Elephant and Sable Antelope
occur in large numbers, as do Hippo, Crocodile,
Impala and Waterbuck. Leopard,
Serval and the rare Oribi may occasionally be seen.
Black Rhino have been reintroduced from South Africa's
Kruger National Park, as have Zebra, Lichtenstein's
Hartebeest, and Buffalo from elsewhere within Malawi.
Birds
are prolific, especially along the Shire River
where African Fish Eagle, Palmnut Vulture, African
Skimmer and Pel's Fishing Owl are fairly common.
Böhm's Bee-eater,
Lilian's Lovebird, Bat Hawk, Livingstone's Flycatcher,
Whitebacked Night Heron and Brownbreasted
Barbet are among the "specials".
The
Owners - Malawi's Parks Department
Mvuu (meaning Hippo) is owned by
Malawi's Parks department and is leased out to
Wilderness Safaris.
Liwonde was proclaimed in 1973 at a time when little
was done to ensure that quality accommodation was
available to complement such a wonderful park.
In 1992, plans were drawn up for Mvuu by Malawi's
parks, the South African park authorities and Wilderness
Safaris for a new camp at Mvuu. The new Mvuu was
built and it has made Liwonde a viable entity and
has
staved off threats to convert the park into arable
land for cash crops. The two new camps consist
of a 10 bedded, luxury tented camp (Mvuu Wilderness
Lodge), as well as a more rustic public camp,
Mvuu Camp, a little further downstream. The new
Mvuu Camp is a larger and slightly more budget-priced
camp
than Mvuu Wilderness Lodge. Both are run by Wilderness
Safaris.
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