Travelogues and Other Memories

stevemiddlehurst

  • The Christmas Hyenas

    Despite visiting parks and wildlife reserves across four African countries hyenas have remained somewhat elusive. We’ve seen the occasional loner in the distance but until South Luangwa National Park our only worthwhile encounter was two spotted hyenas lying in a… Continue reading

    The Christmas Hyenas

  • The Imperial Zebra

    Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest species of zebra and the most endangered. It was once found across the horn of Africa but is now restricted to northern Kenya with possibly only 100 individuals left in a small area… Continue reading

    The Imperial Zebra

  • Malawi’s First Naturalist? Richard Crawshay and his Zebra

    There are three species of zebra, the Plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra and the Mountain zebra and then there are several sub-species of Plains zebra and two of Mountain zebras. There might be as many as nine different types of zebra… Continue reading

    Malawi’s First Naturalist? Richard Crawshay and his Zebra

  • Last Chance to See: Luangwa Giraffe

    With as few as 550 living in an isolated population in South Luangwa, Zambia Luangwa giraffe (previously know as Thornicroft’s giraffe) is classified by the IUCN as vulnerable. This places it in the IUCN’s overall “Threatened with Extinction” category. In… Continue reading

    Last Chance to See: Luangwa Giraffe

  • Last Chance to See: Cheetahs

    This is the story of a day my daughter and I spent in Liwonde National Park in April 2023 hoping to find cheetahs, perhaps the mother and cubs we had been hearing about, or a lone cheetah hunting on the… Continue reading

    Last Chance to See: Cheetahs

  • Liwonde National Park Map

    We have struggled to find a map of Liwonde NP so I’ve created this sketch map based on the picture on the wall at the main gate, a very faded photocopy kindly given to us by a ranger, Google Earth… Continue reading

    Liwonde National Park Map

  • Liwonde National Park: Malawi’s Hidden Jewel

    Malawi, the “Warm Heart of Africa” has set aside 11% of the country for the conservation of wildlife having established four national parks and four game reserves. Liwonde National Park is the smallest but arguably the most exciting. Lake Malawi… Continue reading

    Liwonde National Park: Malawi’s Hidden Jewel

  • Origins & History of Liwonde National Park

    The Liwonde National Park was established in 1973 but its origins are entwined with a story of exploration, exploitation and finally conservation. A story that starts with Doctor Livingstone and ends with the revitalisation of one of Africa’s finest parks.… Continue reading

    Origins & History of Liwonde National Park