Kasungu National Park

Kasungu National Park is a protected area in Malawi’s Central Region that conserves miombo woodland and savannah landscapes. The park provides habitat for elephants, antelopes and a variety of bird species.

Visitors come for game drives, birdwatching and remote safari experiences; facilities are limited and the park is less developed than major southern African reserves. Wildlife sightings include large herbivores and associated predators in seasonally variable concentrations.

The park was created to protect wildlife and remaining natural woodland in the central plateau of Malawi and is managed by Malawi’s wildlife authority. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection and anti-poaching.

Geographically the park sits in Malawi’s Central Region, inland from Lake Malawi and within driving distance of Malawi’s population centres; it occupies a mix of plateau and riverine terrain.

• Wildlife: Supports miombo woodland and savannah habitats and is home to elephant, various antelope species and a range of birds, making it a noted wildlife area in central Malawi.
• Visitor notes: Visited as a less-developed safari option with basic accommodation and guided drives rather than high-volume tourist infrastructure.

Kasungu National Park is about 110 km north of Lilongwe by road along the M1. The usual approach is via car or organized transfer from Lilongwe (roughly a 2-3 hour drive). The park headquarters is close to the M1 and serves as the starting point for trails and accommodations.

• Drive the main M1 route to Kasungu and use the park headquarters as the starting point for trails; local guides are inexpensive and knowledgeable about elephant corridors.
• Visit the botanical walk early morning to catch sun striking the miombo trees and to see bushbucks and vervet monkeys before mid-day heat.
• Avoid late afternoon alone on unmarked tracks - elephants frequent the park and their movement is unpredictable.