Lengwe National Park, National park in Lower Shire Valley, Malawi

Lengwe National Park is an 887-square-kilometer protected area in the Lower Shire Valley of southern Malawi where hardwood forests and thick thornbush cover the landscape. The park stretches from the Shire River toward the Mozambique border and creates distinct habitats across its terrain.

The area became a game reserve in 1928 to protect large mammals, gained national park status in 1970, and reached its current size by 1975. Each expansion marked growing recognition of the need to safeguard this landscape.

The park is managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, and Jambo Africa Ltd runs Nyala Lodge for visitors. The lodge is the base for vehicle or walking safaris, and an armed guide accompanies walks. The name Lengwe comes from the local word for the thickets that cover much of the park.

You can explore the park by vehicle tour or on foot, though an armed guide is required for your safety and is always provided. Wildlife viewing is easier during the dry season when animals gather around water sources.

The park holds the northernmost population of Nyala antelopes anywhere in Africa, representing the species' farthest reach from its typical range. This unusual grouping draws researchers curious about how the animals adapted to this location.