Liwonde National Park – Part 1
Malawi | Anno 2026
Liwonde National Park – Early Morning Jeep Safari
Liwonde National Park – Early Morning Jeep Safari
Liwonde National Park is a relatively small national park, covering an area of 548 km² (212 square miles) on the banks of the Shire River, Malawi’s largest river
Waterbuck (m)
The African openbill owes its name to the gap between its upper and lower mandibles. This enables it to grip prey such as freshwater snails with ease
African openbills are also known for the beautiful iridescent feathers on their backs
The morning glory takes its name from the fact that its flowers open only in the early morning
As a waterbird, the little egret lives in and around wetlands. In shallow water, it stalks its prey or shuffles its feet to flush out small fish. Sometimes it stands perfectly still, waiting for an unsuspecting victim to pass by
The hadada ibis is notable for its beautiful iridescent wings
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The woolly-necked stork owes its name to its fluffy white neck
Its feathers show a coppery-purple iridescence. It is a solitary bird and is rarely seen in large groups
The plumage of this juvenile little heron serves perfectly as camouflage
Lovebirds are named for the strong, lifelong pair bond between partners. They weigh between 40 and 60 grams and are the smallest parrots in the world
Lovebirds are usually red and green, although they can also be blue and yellow. They are found only in Africa
Weaver nests
The candelabra tree gets its name from its growth form, which resembles the arms of a candelabrum |
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When damaged, the candelabra tree releases an extremely poisonous, milky-white sap that can cause irritation and blindness |
The branches of a baobab sometimes take on very unusual shapes
However bare it may look, the baobab bears large, oval fruits containing seeds embedded in a dry, fleshy matrix
The racket-tailed roller, like its relative the lilac-breasted roller, is proud of its colourful plumage. From a mid-height perch, it scans for prey – grasshoppers, beetles, scorpions, lizards…
This juvenile bateleur has not yet developed the beautiful reddish-brown mantle of an adult bird. Its name – “tightrope walker” – comes from the way it uses its wings in flight, much like a tightrope walker uses their arms for balance. At the top sits a fork-tailed drongo
The southern red-billed hornbill is monogamous. The female incubates the eggs, while the male brings food
Nesting takes place in a tree cavity. The female seals the entrance, leaving only a small opening through which the male feeds her. If anything happens to the male, she may ultimately starve inside
The pied kingfisher is a familiar sight south of the Sahara. Worldwide, it is the third most common kingfisher species
Like the pied kingfisher, the African pied wagtail has striking black-and-white plumage. It does not shy away from human settlements
With white, pearl-like spots on their bodies and a helmet-like protrusion on their heads – hence the name helmeted guinea fowl – these birds are often found in dry, open landscapes with scattered trees or shrubs
Helmeted guinea fowl are omnivores. With their strong claws, they scratch through the soil in search of food
Warthogs are diurnal animals. They shelter in burrows they dig themselves or take over from aardvarks or porcupines. An abandoned termite mound is also sometimes used
By contrast, the side-striped jackal is active only at dusk or in darkness. At night it may even venture into villages and towns, but it will not attack people
The African bush elephant is the largest living land animal. A bull weighs 4 to 6.3 tonnes, and a cow 2.2 to 3.5 tonnes
When walking, three legs are always in contact with the ground
The trunk can almost be considered a fifth limb
The bush elephant does not see very well, but its hearing and sense of smell are excellent. Its memory is also legendary
Jaak Palmans
© 2026 | Version 2026-06-10 14:00