Vwaza is reached from Rumphi, on the main road between Mzuzu and Nyika. The turn-off for the reserve is signposted from Rumphi; from there the access road is rough dirt for about 20 kilometres. 4WD is recommended in the dry season and essential in the rains, when the access road can become impassable.
There is no public transport into the reserve itself; you need your own vehicle or a tour booked through one of the operators in Mzuzu. Vwaza is often combined with a Nyika trip — the two are on the same road and complement each other (low-altitude marsh and high-altitude grassland) in obvious ways.