Official African Parks rates
Liwonde National Park entry fees
The official sheet prices park fees per person per night, while most third-party sites describe them as per day. For a multi-night stay that wording matters, so confirm the basis at booking. Fees are prepaid with your accommodation by EFT or credit card; reports on what payment is accepted at the gate itself contradict each other, so do not rely on any single method there.
If you only want the answer
An international visitor pays $30, and the trap is the unit: Malawi prices the park fee per night, not per day, so a three-night stay is three fees. Vehicle $5 a day, camping $12 a person. Pay at the gate; carry kwacha and small dollars.
Updated 2026-07-26
Park entry fee (per person)
| International visitor, adult | $30 | child 7 to 11: $15 |
|---|---|---|
| SADC citizens and established SADC or Malawi residents | $15 | child 7 to 11: $8 |
| Malawian citizens | $5 | child 7 to 11: $2 |
| Children under 7 | Unstated | the sheet only brackets ages 7 to 11; ask when booking |
The sheet's own header reads per person per night. Virtually every other guide says per day. For a 3-night stay the difference is potentially $30 to $90 per person, which makes this the single biggest fee trap in Liwonde: confirm it at booking.
Updated 2026-07-26
Vehicle and aircraft fees
| Vehicle entry | $5 | the $4 figure some overlander sites quote is outdated |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft landing fee | $20 | per aircraft |
Self-driving is officially permitted on park roads. A 4x4 is recommended between December and April; some routes close in the rains.
Updated 2026-07-26
Camping at Chinguni Campsite (per night)
| Camping, per adult | $12 | self-catering, bring your own equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Child 7 to 12 | $6 | |
| Tent hire, 2-person | $25 | per tent per night |
At $12 plus the $30 park fee, this is the cheapest legal way to sleep inside a fully restored national park: about $42 a night for an international visitor.
Updated 2026-07-26
Activities sold by the park
| Boat safari on the Shire, 2 hours | $25 | child 7 to 11: $20; the park's signature activity |
|---|---|---|
| Game drive, 2 hours | $25 | child 7 to 11: $15 |
| Sundowner drive, 3 hours | $35 | child 7 to 11: $25; your only route to nocturnal wildlife |
| Guided walk, 2 hours | $25 | under-16s not permitted; dry season only; maximum 6 people, with an armed scout |
Liwonde is unusual: the park itself sells activities at fixed, published, low prices. You do not need to stay at a $500-a-night lodge to do a boat safari on the Shire. It costs $25.
Something this page does not answer?
Fees are the one thing park authorities change without telling anyone, and some of them publish nothing at all.
Ask us. We answer questions about the park itself, and we can usually tell you which camps work on one route and who to write to. If what you want is a trip someone else arranges, we will say so and hand you to an operator we know, and we earn a commission if that becomes a booking.
Nothing on this site sits behind the form. Every figure we have is already on the page.