Latest News

Support Us

Through your generous support, the Nyika-Vwaza Trust in Malawi works with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to improve the conservation of wildlife in the Nyika National Park and the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve.

The Nyika-Vwaza (UK) Trust will provide the funding for year on year operational costs and specific projects through the generosity of its supporters.
»» Click here to find out more

Our Projects in Nyika National Park

Early Controlled Burn Programme

Dry season hot grass fires cause considerable damage to both the flora and fauna of the Nyika plateau. The Malawi Trust now carries out a yearly programme of early controlled burning to prevent these late season fires from taking hold. Cool burns early in the year cause no damage to the plateau's forest areas. Small animals and reptiles can escape from slow moving fires, while grasses and plants recover quickly.

The Malawi Trust employs local Malawians to implement the programme. Throughout March and the beginning of April, firebreaks around the sensitive areas of the Nyika are cleared. From mid-April to the last weeks of May, the work gangs concentrate on clearing the roads and tracks of long grass. The cleared roads and tracks act as firebreaks preventing fire jumping from one section of the Park to another. From the end of May, the early burns are started. The start point and duration of the burns are dependent on the weather conditions. Generally, by the beginning of June, the frosts and sun have dried out the grass sufficiently for good burns. The burn programme continues throughout June and July. It has proved a great success. Over each successive year, the Malawi Trust has built a knowledge and skills base on the best and most effective ways to carry out the burns.

Find out more about how you can support our early controlled burn programme.

Bridge Building

Over the years the Nyika’s wooden bridges have fallen down or been burnt by poachers. This restricts the movement of game scouts and anti-poaching patrols around the park and makes general management of the park more difficult. It also limits visitor access to the Park. The Malawi Trust recognised that if bridges were rebuilt using a steel base structure they would be much more resilient to fire and damage by poachers. A generous donation from the British High Commission in Lilongwe of £14,500 kick-started the bridge building project, which continues to this day.

Find out more about how you can support our bridge building programme.

Signpost Construction

Over the years the old wooden signposts guiding the way across the Nyika plateau have fallen into disrepair. Park visitors need clear signs to assist them in moving around. Following a grant of £14,500 from the Malawi High Commission, the Malawi Trust began this project in 2006, and it continues to this day.

Find out more about how you can support our signpost construction programme.

Road Maintenance

In the rainy season, the Nyika’s roads suffer badly from erosion. Badly maintained roads restrict the movement of visitors in Vwaza and the Nyika and prevent rapid movement of game scouts across theses areas. The Malawi Trust has a programme of yearly road maintenance. The work is done using a combination of our local Malawian Trust workers and the Malawi Trust's tractor and road grader.

Find out more about how you can support our road maintenance programme.