Our Story

PIONEERING SINCE 1987

The Journey

Over Thirty Years on Safari

Central African Wilderness Safaris was founded upon a passion for conserving wildlife, nature and the pristine wilderness environment we stumbled across in Malawi those thirty-some years ago. The core of our mission has always remained the same – to protect the natural world alongside the community, helping humans and wildlife to co-exist peacefully. Liwonde National Park is one of the most beautiful spectacles of nature and we cherish the opportunity to play a part in preserving it for the generations of tomorrow.

Over Thirty Years on Safari

Central African Wilderness Safaris was founded upon a passion for conserving wildlife, nature and the pristine wilderness environment we stumbled across in Malawi those thirty-some years ago. The core of our mission has always remained the same – to protect the natural world alongside the community, helping humans and wildlife to co-exist peacefully. Liwonde National Park is one of the most beautiful spectacles of nature and we cherish the opportunity to play a part in preserving it for the generations of tomorrow.

“the beauty, variety and of course friendliness of the people.”

“the beauty, variety and of course friendliness of the people.”

After running our first mobile safaris in Malawi between 1988 to 1992, including an epic birding trip that sighted 425 species, we developed a deep understanding of Malawi’s potential as an international tourism destination. Despite five years guiding in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, two years in the game parks of South Africa, and a year driving the length and breadth of the African continent, our founder – Chris Badger – was overwhelmed by what he discovered in Malawi – the abundance, beauty, variety of wildlife and, of course, the friendliness of the people.
After running our first mobile safaris in Malawi between 1988 to 1992, including an epic birding trip that sighted 425 species, we developed a deep understanding of Malawi’s potential as an international tourism destination. Despite five years guiding in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, two years in the game parks of South Africa, and a year driving the length and breadth of the African continent, our founder – Chris Badger – was overwhelmed by what he discovered in Malawi – the abundance, beauty, variety of wildlife and, of course, the friendliness of the people.

“deep understanding of Malawi”

“deep understanding of Malawi”

In 1993, in a ground-breaking move for the region, the government of Malawi through the Department for National Parks and Wildlife put out a tender for the tourist facilities at Mvuu Camp in Liwonde National Park. With a great deal of passion and enthusiasm, which was certainly not backed by any financial resources, the company put in a bid and was surprised and delighted in equal measure to be successful.

The first Mopane pole being laid at Mvuu Camp, 1993.

In 1993, in a ground-breaking move for the region, the government of Malawi through the Department for National Parks and Wildlife put out a tender for the tourist facilities at Mvuu Camp in Liwonde National Park. With a great deal of passion and enthusiasm, which was certainly not backed by any financial resources, the company put in a bid and was surprised and delighted in equal measure to be successful.

The first Mopane pole being laid at Mvuu Camp, 1993.

The Mvuu Team, 1994

The company’s founding principles were simply that, in a country such as Malawi with a large, rural population largely dependent on the vagaries of a weak economy alongside unpredictable climatic conditions, tourism offers a solution of employment, income generation and sustainable conservation. Now, more so than ever, our ambition is to offer Malawi’s premier safari experience for the benefit of not just wildlife, but also people. This remains the key pillar of our operation to this day.

The Mvuu Team, 1994

The company’s founding principles were simply that, in a country such as Malawi with a large, rural population largely dependent on the vagaries of a weak economy alongside unpredictable climatic conditions, tourism offers a solution of employment, income generation and sustainable conservation. Now, more so than ever, our ambition is to offer Malawi’s premier safari experience for the benefit of not just wildlife, but also people. This remains the key pillar of our operation to this day.

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