Home » Malawi Afghanistan » Day 22. Sun 8th May. Liwonde National Park

After breakfast we get everything packed up, then I teach Ken to play backgammon.
Chris gets back about 9:45 with her two faithful guides having thoroughly enjoyed herself, apart from being annoyed by families with kids who have cheated and taken the plane up to the top. (Shona has decided to spend Sunday taking the plane up, and sure enough we see her plane go over at about 9:30). It took Chris about 5½ hours to make the climb, and she said it wasn't has hard as she expected. I really wish I had gone now, I feel a complete wimp for having bottled out.
Chris grabs a quick shower and a cup of tea, and we jump into the Disco and head north again for Liwonde.

Day 22. Sun 8th May. Liwonde National Park

DaveMidgley
2005-10-22 19:10:11

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After breakfast we get everything packed up, then I teach Ken to play backgammon.
Chris gets back about 9:45 with her two faithful guides having thoroughly enjoyed herself, apart from being annoyed by families with kids who have cheated and taken the plane up to the top. (Shona has decided to spend Sunday taking the plane up, and sure enough we see her plane go over at about 9:30). It took Chris about 5½ hours to make the climb, and she said it wasn't has hard as she expected. I really wish I had gone now, I feel a complete wimp for having bottled out.
Chris grabs a quick shower and a cup of tea, and we jump into the Disco and head north again for Liwonde.

It's only about 3 hours, but we're too late for lunch.
Liwonde National Park lies to the south of Lake Malombe, and is bordered on the western side by the Shire river. We are staying at Mvuu Lodge (Chichewa for Hippopotamus), which provides guests with a ferry across the Shire to the park, and, although we have to wait a while for the boat, a pleasant shelter next to the gangplank is provided.
This is a paradise for bird watchers, with cormorants, sea eagles, Lillian's Lovebirds and the rare Boehm's Beeeater in abundance and very tame.Weavers flit in and out of the bar area, and the Malawi Song Star Thrush (aka Black Collared Thrush) sings its 42 different songs. Hippos are grunting in the water and vervet monkeys are scurrying up and down the borassus palms, which are full of nesting cormorants.
At 4 we go for a boat safari and watch impala and waterbuck on the bank, and hippos and crocodiles in the water (from a safe distance) and drink sundowners. The boatman is Henry, who speaks excellent English and is extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife (although this doesn't deter Ken from imparting his wisdom!).
Supper is Chambo, the local fish, but filleted and very tasty. Ken gets stuck into the whisky and starts pontificating, so I resist his entreaties to stay for more drinks and retire to bed.