Zikomo Friday

Paul Taylor led the annual WESM visit to Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve 2 weekends ago. His report will be available in the next WESM Blantyre newsletter so I won’t steel his thunder! However before the visit, and following the successful conclusion of the legal agreement with the Malawi Government, PAW worked hard to make some improvements to the Reserve in time for the visit.

At the Migudu campsite just inside the Reserve we put in a borehole and water pump in January. We have now built a new access track and created several parking bays for 4×4 vehicles, with a braai and water point. We have also cleared the site and started to create trails through to the sandstone outcrops where you have the most stunning views across the Reserve trees to the hills and into Mozambique. The site is also cleared for more tents and overlander trucks.

This week we are starting work on the reception area which includes a small shop, ablution facilities and a second storey with open seated area. This is being constructed near the sand stone outcrops and next to an artificial waterhole.

Work on road maintenance has begun, and basic signage outside and inside the Reserve erected. We have also signed the PAW site, Chipembere Camp, just to the right before the main entrance. More importantly for conservation we currently have 3 gangs of workers clearing fiore breaks across the Reserve to prevent the major fire problems in previous years.

We have been working with the National parks game scouts to increase their resources, especially transport. The entrance now has a metal barrier to control access and prevent trucks going through at night. The game scouts have also put up a basic list of rules for entry. The better access control means improved enforcement of these – including the charging of US$5 per person entrance fees.

The WESM group went on several game drives and were pleased with their sightings including many sable, along with kudu warthog and the smaller mammals.

You can join us at Migudu, for now bring drinking water and all food etc but the reception with bar/drinks will be up and running later in the season. Campsite charges are USD5 per person per night. Please note that all game viewing excursions into the reserve, either on foot or with a vehicle, must be accompanied by a game scout for which a small charge is made.

Gaynor Asquith and Ken Smith, PAW UK and Malawi

Liwonde National Park, the premier wildlife park of Malawi, has rarely seen lions in the past few years. Lions were a common sight in the park up until the mid 90’s when their population rapidly declined, and eventually disappeared. This was due to a lot of poaching of the antelope which then drastically affected the lion and other large predator populations.

The Park has seen a tremendous recovery of the antelopes, which is a result of good management, but has also benefited from a lack of large predators. The environment in Liwonde is starting to be degraded by this imbalance of animals; the herbivores are eating more plants than the carnivores are eating herbivores. We are now seeing signs of overgrazing due to the improved populations of many of the park’s animal species, such as the impala, warthog, and waterbuck. The lions will assist in helping with this problem.

The Department of National Park’s and Wildlife, with the support of Chinguni Trust, has embarked on a mission to reintroduce lions into the park. A group of six lions are currently waiting in South Africa to be transported up to Liwonde. Of the six lions there is one male, two females, and three cubs.

Chinguni Trust is a Malawian registered, not for profit organization whose aim is the conservation of the biodiversity of Liwonde National Park. The reintroduction of lions to Liwonde will serve this aim by improving this important conservation areas ecological status. Also, poachers will be less likely to go into the park because of fear of the lions. In addition to environmental benefits, the lions will very likely have a positive effect on tourism in Malawi as the park will have finally regained its ‘Big Five’ status.

In order for the lions to be moved up to Liwonde, Chinguni trust must raise $45,000 USD to cover the costs of the lions themselves as well as transport, training park staff, vet fees and various other expenses. Contributions from sponsors over MK 100,000 (approx. $720 USD) will be awarded a place on our lion barometer and the six top commercial contributors will receive the honour of naming the lions. All contributions will be greatly received and smaller donors will be recognized at a later date.

Contact Information: Nicole Larson - Fundraising Manager 09648515 PO Box 1731, Blantyre.