Shire Valley Conservation

01/10/2026

🌿 Sometimes the best way to understand what we’re protecting is simply to walk through it.

A morning on foot with our experienced guide Liwonde at Thangadzi River Conservancy, discovering the wildlife, plants, and smaller details that make this landscape so special – and perhaps a few bigger surprises along the way.

28/09/2026

Great to see Thangadzi Lodge joining birders around the world for October Big Day! 🦅

Elephant Marsh and its surrounding riparian forest provide vital habitat for an extraordinary diversity of birdlife. Every sighting recorded helps us better understand – and ultimately protect – this remarkable ecosystem.

Happy birding, and let’s see what the Marsh can deliver on 10 October! 🦩🌿

🦅 Join the global birding community for October Big Day on 10 October!

This October Big Day, at Thangadzi Lodge we’re helping eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and global birders like you, by counting birds from one of Malawi’s most remarkable birding destinations – Elephant Marsh!

With more than 320 bird species recorded across this Ramsar-designated wetland and surrounding forest, Elephant Marsh is a hugely important habitat.

Whether you’re an experienced birder or simply love being out in nature, October Big Day is a great opportunity to take part – just download eBird and submit your findings - every sighting submitted helps build a better picture of the birds that depend on it.

Get your binoculars ready, grab a pad, download eBird, and get out there!

Thanks to BirdLife Zimbabwe for the graphic!

23/09/2026

Congratulations to the Government of Gabon for leading the way in protecting Africa’s freshwater ecosystems, together with The Nature Conservancy in Africa, The Nature Conservancy and the many partners behind Gabon Infini. 🌍🌿

For those of us working to conserve wetlands, rivers and the wildlife and communities they sustain, initiatives of this scale are hugely encouraging. Protecting these vital ecosystems alongside sustainable development is an investment in Africa’s future.

17/09/2026

🌿 What could El Niño mean for conservation in the Lower Shire?

Our partner Agricane Consulting Limited's latest article looks at the challenges a powerful El Niño could bring to agriculture. But hotter, drier conditions also have implications for wildlife and community livestock.

Elephant Marsh may be relatively well buffered following several wet seasons and high levels in Lake Malawi and the Shire River. On land, however, prolonged dry conditions could reduce water and grazing for wildlife at our Thangadzi River Conservancy and other parks across the region.

El Niño will test not only agriculture, but the resilience of the Lower Shire’s wildlife, habitats and communities.

Read Agricane’s perspective on the El Niño ahead 👇
https://www.agricane.com/news/el-ni%C3%B1o-testing-the-limits-of-agriculture

How Agricane is preparing for El Niño through engineering, innovation and stronger partnerships with farmers.

13/09/2026

This is your sign to stop watching other people have the adventure. 👀🌿

Our current volunteers have been getting stuck into life at the Thangadzi River Conservancy - getting out on the marsh, learning about the wildlife and conservation work, and making plenty of memories along the way.

There’s work to be done, places to explore, wildlife to discover and, thankfully, plenty of time for a good laugh in between.

Get involved. Get stuck in. Explore a little. Laugh a lot.

Not a bad way to spend a few weeks making a difference in Malawi. 🇲🇼🦓
https://www.shirevalleyconservation.com/volunteer-with-us

📍 Thangadzi River Conservancy
Kaombe Estate, Lower Shire Valley, Malawi

13/09/2026

For the first time, the IUCN has officially recognized giraffe as four distinct species, following a landmark decision in July – an important step that will allow conservation efforts to be better targeted to the needs of each species.

At Thangadzi River Conservancy, we’re looking forward to playing our part in giraffe conservation - keep watching this space...

11/09/2026

STOP PRESS - The has just been signed at the in Nairobi, bringing governments, conservation organizations and major development banks together in a new global commitment to protect migratory birds and the habitats they depend on.

Well done BirdLife International, Nature Kenya-the EANHS, and all the organizations, governments, scientists, and partners involved in turning this global ambition into action.

This Guardian article explains why this matters – and the alarming decline in migratory bird populations worldwide:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/11/migratory-birds-species-threatened-extinction-decline-global-report

Findings on decline of species such as Arctic tern and turtle dove published alongside flyways pledge at Kenya summit

10/09/2026

🦩 The flamingos are back!

A little later than usual, flamingos have returned to the Elephant Marsh — and this year there are plenty of juveniles among them.

Heavy rains and flooding during the last rainy season left water levels unusually high across the Marsh, delaying the conditions that normally attract these spectacular seasonal visitors.

The large number of young birds is particularly encouraging, highlighting Elephant Marsh's importance as a feeding and refuge habitat for the next generation of flamingos.

Another wonderful reminder of the extraordinary wildlife supported by this internationally important wetland. 🦩🌿

Come and see them at Thangadzi Lodge!

(📷 by our resident camera talent Deanne Matthews)

29/08/2026

We love this because great wildlife photography does more than capture extraordinary moments — it raises the profile of our precious wildlife and highlights the vital work of the conservationists around the world fighting to protect it. 📸🌿

The polar bear image taken by Audun Rikardsen was among the 'highly commended' entries in this year's competition.

27/08/2026

On we’re celebrating the freshwater ecosystems that lakes, rivers and wetlands collectively support.

Fed by the Shire River, Lake Malawi’s only outlet, Elephant Marsh is one of Malawi’s most important wetlands — supporting extraordinary biodiversity as well as the communities whose livelihoods depend on its waters.

Protecting our freshwater means protecting the whole connected landscape. 🌿🐟🦅