On The Ground in Malawi: Ecotourism

Promoting environmentally sustainable tourism

The two national parks in Mangochi Region have much to offer tourists who are interested in wildlife. However, since Malawi is not a very well known part of the world, the number of tourists are small, compared to the country’s clear potential for tourism.

A lone fisherman paddles homewards on Lake Malawi
© WWF-Canon / Sandra MBANEFO OBIAGO

One of the project goals of WWF Finland is promoting environmentally sustainable tourism in Mangochi Region.

The concept of ecotourism includes:

• taking the visitors to sites with unique wildlife and extraordinary biodiversity
• using trained guides with a very good understanding of biological knowledge 
• planning the activities in a way that saves energy and natural resources 
• planning the activities in a way that also benefits local communities.
  

For local people, getting trained as guides is a novel and important new source of income. One such training session was organized in February 2003 by WWF Finland, in collaboration with Malawi National Parks and with Hans Van der Heiden, Manager of Mvuu Camp. In November 2003, the Finnish travel agency Olympia Tours brought a group of tourists to Liwonde National Park and Lake Malawi National Park. Bolstered by the successful experience, the tours will continue.