Exploring Malawi 2020 - Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve

Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, located further to the north, was our next destination during our August 2020 overland trip through Malawi. From Kasungu National Park you have to link up with the M1 at a relatively large town called Kasungu, located in the Central Region of Malawi. The M1 meets the Zambian border at a small village called “Jenda”. So, in order to stay true to our strategy to trace the border, we turned left on an unmarked gravel road going west towards the Lundazi Border Post. From the border post the road is marked as the M10 and later also continues as the M9, passing thru numerous villages, underneath massive trees and across many locally made wooden and steel bridges all the way along the South Rukuru River.

It was a long day on the road and we only managed to reach Vwaza Wildlife Reserve after sunset. But we were soon rewarded with the serenity of this remote location as the night became alive! The reserve is located directly on the Zambian border north-west of Mzuzu nestled against Lake Kazuni and has a wonderful mix of vegetation including forest and grasslands, thin woodland and marsh. The perfect habitat for bird and animal life….and….we were not disappointed!

The location of the reserve also makes it a perfect stop-over on your way to Nyika National Park or the northern parts of Zambia.

We will most certainly be back!