Liwonde National Park
Liwonde is a park in southern Malawi where you can see elephants on game drives, and hippos and crocodiles from a boat on the Shire River.
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Liwonde National Park sits in southern Malawi, with the Shire River running through it. Elephants are the park's best-known animals, and game drives on its tracks often find them in the woodland and near the water. Hippos and crocodiles are easier to see from a boat on the Shire, where the banks sit close to the water. Birds along the river add interest for slow wildlife watchers.
The park suits a short safari and pairs well with a longer trip to Lake Malawi. June to September is the best window, the dry season when animals gather around water and the vegetation thins. Plan at least two nights so you can take a game drive, a boat trip on the river and a walk. Pick a lodge near the river if the boat trip is your priority.
Liwonde National Park in five
- Carry kwacha cashCards may not be accepted outside lodges and the larger towns, so bring kwacha for tips, drinks and small purchases. Ask your lodge which cards it accepts before you arrive.Money and costs
- Set up an eSIM before you travelMobile signal can be weak around the park, so download offline maps before you leave the main towns. Buy the eSIM before departure, while you still have a stable connection.Phones and eSIM
- Book the Shire River boat safariThe boat trips are a good way to see hippos and crocodiles up close. Ask your lodge about morning and evening outings and book before you arrive.
- Take malaria prevention as your clinician advisesMalaria is present in the park area, so ask a travel clinician about prophylaxis for your dates before you fly. Use repellent from dusk, and check that your insurance covers evacuation to a hospital with the care you need.Travel insurance
- Stay with your guide in the boat or vehicleHippos and crocodiles can be dangerous near the water. Stay in the boat or vehicle with your guide, and do not swim or wade in the river.
Things to do in Liwonde National Park
See all attractions in Liwonde National Park
Need to know
- Currency
- Malawian kwacha (MWK)
- Entry
- Visa rules depend on your passport; check before you book flights
- Emergency
- Ask your lodge or guide to contact emergency services and an ambulance
- Tipping
- Customary for guides, boat staff and lodge staff
- Time
- UTC+2, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRainy season
- FebruaryRainy season
- MarchGreen, wet
- AprilRains ending
- MayDry season starts
- JuneCool, dry
- JulyCool, dry
- AugustAnimals at river
- SeptemberHot, dry
- OctoberHot, dry
- NovemberRains start
- DecemberRainy season
Right now in Liwonde National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 27°
- Humidity
- 43%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Liwonde National Park
12:38 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today36°22°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 36°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed37°24°6%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 37°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Thu36°25°18%Thursday: Drizzle. High 36°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Fri36°26°6%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 36°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat36°25°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 36°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun37°26°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 37°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 11:50 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,734 MWK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Liwonde National Park
Rules for Liwonde National Park, checked
- Park entry fees are set by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW); check current rates on its official site before you travel.
- Drones need permission to fly in Malawi; check with the Malawi Civil Aviation Authority before you pack one.
- Malawi restricts single-use plastic bags; check the current rules with the Environmental Affairs Department before you pack.
Plan around Liwonde National Park
Entry, money and getting around Malawi
Read the guideGetting around MalawiRoad transfers from the airports and main towns
Read the guideWhere to stayLodges and camps near the park and the river
Read the guideMoney and costsKwacha, cards and what to tip, and where
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa rules by passport and nationality
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical cover and evacuation from remote areas
Read the guideLiwonde National Park FAQ
Do I need a visa for Malawi?
It depends on your passport. Check the official immigration rules for your nationality before you book flights, because visa-free and visa-on-arrival rules can change.
Can I see rhinos in Liwonde?
Black rhinos were reintroduced to Liwonde, but they are rare and sightings are not guaranteed. Ask your guide about recent sightings before you plan a day around them.
Is a boat safari worth it in Liwonde?
Yes, if you want hippos, crocodiles and water birds at close range. Animals gather at the river in the dry season, so a boat trip often gives the best views.
When is the best time to visit Liwonde?
June to September, in the dry season. Animals gather at the river and the vegetation is thinner, so sightings are easier.
How many days do I need in Liwonde?
Two nights covers a game drive, a boat trip and a walk. Three nights gives you more time for the morning and evening outings.