Nkhotakota Game Reserve

The oldest and largest of Malawi’s game reserves, Nkhotakota is located in the centre of the country. The terrain here is varied and fertile, with large rivers and streams meandering through on their way to Lake Malawi. The vegetation is dense and comprises mainly miombo woodland and brachystegia, with tall grasses and clusters of evergreen forest dotted throughout. Nkhotakota has very few roads, making it perfect for those who enjoy walking, birding, fishing and river safaris.

As Nkhotakota has seen so few visitors in recent years, the game is scarce and still quite skittish – not helped by the dense vegetation! With luck, however, you can see elephant, kudu, eland, hippos, bushbuck, vervets, baboons, leopard, sable antelope and lion. Birding is excellent with some rare species such as giant kingfishers and palm-nut vultures present within the reserve. Birdlife International has classified Nkhotakota as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

There are plans to reintroduce black rhino, cheetah and giraffe to the reserve. With the recent opening of Tongole Wilderness Lodge and the involvement of African Parks in managing the reserve, Nkhotakota is on the cusp of becoming a viable big 5 safari destination. The best accommodation here is the new and lovely Tongole Wilderness Lodge.

In and around Nkhotakota Game Reserve, Malawi
Though it is Malawi’s oldest game reserve, until recently Nkhotakota was removed from the main safari circuit, due to difficulty of access and a lack of a good accommodation. This is changing.

There are still very few safari lodges in Nkhotakota Game Reserve. On the eastern boundaries of the park, the small owner-managed Bua River Lodge offers basic accommodation and a pleasant atmosphere, while a number of the lodges on Lake Malawi’s central shores are close enough to Nkhotakota to allow for day visits and short game drives.

The recent opening (2011) of Tongole Wilderness Lodge has made Nkhotakota Game Reserve a much more viable safari destination, particularly for those on extended tours of Malawi and with a desire to travel off-the-beaten path.

From Tongole, it is possible to explore the park on foot (guided walking safaris), by 4x4 and by river boat. Other activities include canoeing safaris and river fishing.