The big five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) can be seen in Malawi as well as a splendid range of antelope and other smaller cats such as caracel and serval. Hippos are to be found in large numbers, so much so that they are almost symbolic of Malawi’s prolific wildlife.


The variety of fish, over 600 species, to be seen in the Lake Malawi National Park is unequalled anywhere else in the world. Malawi’s birdlife is renowned. Best known is the fish eagle to be seen at the Lake and along the River Shire but, as with the Lake’s fish, the range of species is breathtaking.

A safari in Malawi is sure to be a memorable experience; plenty of game but none of those convoys of 4x4 vehicles characteristic of some other African game parks. Malawi offers all type of safari - walking, horse riding, by boat or in a 4x4.
 

In addition to Malawi's varied parks and reserves, not far from the country's western border lies one of the continent's greatest game reserves, Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. This park is most easily accessed from Lilongwe and Malawi's tours & safaris companies offer trips there.

One of Malawi's other neighbours, Mozambique, also has a reserve most easily accessed from Malawi. This is the Manda Wilderness Community Reserve - a genuine unspoilt wilderness which meets the shore of the lake to the south east of Malawi's Likoma Island. Community-based conservation initiatives are beginning to result in the return of the big game.

Wildlife – Big Five plus plus: Malawi is home to 192 species of wildlife, including those that are commonly known as 'The Big Five' (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros). There's a splendid range of antelope and other smaller cats such as caracal (African lynx) and serval (medium-sized African wild cat). The hills of Northern Malawi are teaming with herds of eland, zebra and Africa's highest concentration of roan antelope. Large numbers of hippopotamus can be seen at waters edges – so many in fact that hippos are almost symbolic of Malawi's prolific wildlife. Malawi also has a highly successful rhibo breeding program at Liwonde National Park on the Shire River. And let's not forget the primates – baboons for instance can be seen carrying out their antics in the wild throughout Malawi.

Finned & Feathered Wildlife: Finned & Feathered Wildlife: Lake Malawi contains over 600 species of fishes, which is more than anywhere else on Earth. The most popular species of fish in Malawi is the Cichlid, which is found in abundance in Lake Malawi. For the birders, Malawi is also renowned for her 664 species of birdlife – the best known of which is the fish eagle to be found at the Lake and along the Shire River.