Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve, Game reserve in northwestern Malawi
Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve is a protected area in northwestern Malawi combining open woodlands, denser forests, and extensive wetland zones. Multiple water sources dot the landscape, including Lake Kazuni, which anchor the ecosystem and support different groups of animals throughout the year.
The area was established as a buffer zone between Malawi and Zambia, allowing migrating herds to cross the border freely. This unrestricted movement supports natural migration patterns for elephants and buffalo that need to roam across both countries.
Local people use traditional grazing lands and fishing areas at the reserve's edges while living alongside wildlife. This way of sharing the landscape has been practiced for generations and shapes how the community relates to the land today.
Visitors explore the reserve on foot, usually accompanied by experienced guides who know the best routes and where animals gather. Wildlife viewing is easiest during the drier months from July to October, when animals concentrate around available water sources.
The reserve holds one of the largest gatherings of African buffalo and elephants in central Africa sharing the same habitat. Many of these animals are drawn to the waters around Lake Kazuni, where they coexist with large populations of hippopotamuses.
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