Authorities at Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve in Nsanje say the reserve is fully prepared to welcome visitors as Malawi commemorates Tourism Month this September.
Wesley Kawaye, Division Manager for the Shire Valley in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, said Mwabvi offers visitors a peaceful wilderness experience featuring wildlife, scenic landscapes, unique rock formations, diverse birdlife and cultural heritage.
“Mwabvi offers game drives across the reserve, allowing visitors to explore its natural landscapes and observe wildlife in its natural habitat,” said Kawaye.
He said visitors can spend time at the waterhole watching animals come to drink, providing an opportunity to observe wildlife behaviour in a quiet and uncrowded environment.
John Erick, a regular visitor to the reserve from Blantyre, noted that Mwabvi’s distinctive rock outcrops and geological formations offer attractive sites for sightseeing, photography, and nature exploration.
“Mwalawamphasa, about 300 metres from Migudu Campsite, is a prominently huge flat rock that offers panoramic views of the Thangadzi riverine vegetation and the adjacent Matandwe Hills to the south,” he said.
He also expressed his admiration for Mwalawankhunda, also known as Dove Stone, which was named after traditional beliefs that doves once nested in its rock depressions.
Established in 1953, Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve is located in Nsanje District, approximately eight kilometres west of Bangula, and covers about 135 square kilometres.
Species recorded in the reserve include African buffalo, nyala, greater kudu, suni, impala, common duiker, bushpig, and warthog. Carnivores such as spotted hyenas are also present, along with 350 terrestrial bird species.
The name Mwabvi comes from the Mwabvi tree found in the reserve, which is associated with traditional beliefs concerning the identification and killing of suspected witches and wizards.
This year, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife is using the commemorations of the Tourism Month to encourage Malawians to explore protected areas within the country, noting that such visits help raise conservation awareness and generate revenue for wildlife management.
