Lake Malawi

• World Heritage Site
• Breathtaking natural beauty
• Africa’s third biggest lake

The beautiful Lake Malawi is one of the top tourist destinations in Africa. Famous for the soft, golden shores and clear, warm waters, the lake has become a popular holidaying resort for water sport enthusiasts from around the world.

Apart from its tourism value, the lake has a much larger ecological and economical significance. It supports nearly 20 000 people who make a living from fishing and live in villages on the lakeshore. The lake, several islands and surrounding landscape were inscribed onto the World Heritage Site’s list in 1984 for their enormous biological importance.

This pertains mostly to the fish in the lake – which constitute the largest number of fish species in any lake of the world. Over 90% of the fish are thought to be endemic (therefore not occurring anywhere else in the world.) One particular species, the Cichlidae, number over 400 species and are almost all found only here. Scientists are still busy studying and classifying all species.

Wildlife that can be seen include hippos, crocodile, leopard, antelope like kudu and bushbuck, baboons and occasionally even elephant. The birdlife is also extremely rich and varied, especially for thousands of white-breasted cormorants that breed in specific islands on the lake.   

Special features include:

• Conservation
  Scientists from around the world are based at a Department of Fisheries research station in Monkey Bay. Here, they conduct studies on the lake’s fish and more specifically on the Cichlid species. The Lake Malawi National Park is the only lacustrine park in Africa, protecting the several hundred fish species. Its ecological significance has been compared to that of the finches of the Galapagos Islands