Andy's Website on Malawi - The real Adventure begins here!

Malawian Wildlife

Malawi's animals and habitats are appreciated by all who have seen them. Many species roam throughout this region of the African continent, but the most famous of all are the animals referred to as the "Big Five".

These are five of Africa's greatest wild animals - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Many travellers may regard a visit to Africa as incomplete without having spotted, and perhaps photographed, the Big Five. These people may well be disappointed with Malawi, because these days, finding lion in this country is very difficult indeed.

THE LION
This king of the African wilderness is the largest of Africa's predators and can weigh up to 230 kilograms. Lions have a wide habitat tolerance ranging from desert conditions to fairly dense bush. Because of their nomadic nature they are particularly vulnerable outside of conservation areas.

Lions are active at night, mainly around sunrise and early evening. Their nocturnal hunting is a combined effort, but the females usually do all the hard work. The most sociable of the cats, lions form prides of three to thirty or more individuals. A pride consists of one or several dominant males, several adult females, and an assortment of younge adults and cubs.

THE LEOPARD
The solitary, stealthy leopard is the largest of Africa's spotted cats, with males weighing up to approximately 60 kg. The leopards of the mountainous regions of the southern and south-western Cape tend to be smaller.

Leopards are silent, secretive animals, whose vocalisation is a hoarse, rasping cough repeated at intervals. They move in a casual loping stride, or they may make off at a bouncing gallop, changing to a fast trot. All of their senses are well-developed and they are therefore extremely efficient hunters.
These magnificent cats have a wide habitat tolerance, but prefer forests and hilly areas with rocky outcrops and hiding places, bushy areas and tall grass with associated rocky places. Malawi therefore makes for the ideal habitat.

THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT
A well-known and respected member of the Big Five, the adult male African elephant is the largest and heaviest of all land mammals. The weight of a prime bull can turn the scale at 6 000 kg. Undeniably, the glory and yet the downfall of this magnificent beast is the bulk and quality of the ivory in its tusks.
African elephants occur throughout south, east and west central Africa. The habitat tends to influence the behaviour and even the appearance of elephants. By far the largest proportion of elephants in southern Africa are found in bushveld country. Elephants are generally placid, but can be extremely dangerous if threatened.

THE AFRICAN BUFFALO
These large, ox-like bovids have earned a reputation for being one of Africa's most dangerous and cunning beasts. And not without reason. Despite the fact that they are herbivores, they have been responsible for the deaths of many people. Much of this reputation is based on hunter's tales, and relate to the animal's response to being hunted.
Nevertheless, they are respected by all with whom they come into contact. These animals in particular are quick-tempered and will not hesitate to use their massive horns if they perceive a threat. Their reputation for extreme cunning and circling around to wait in ambush for a hunter following their trail is probably much exaggerated. This may occur only if the animal is seriously wounded.
Wildlife-borne diseases such as foot-and-mouth and corridor disease have also taken a heavy toll of Africa's buffalo populations. Not because buffalo are susceptible to these diseases, but because they carry the diseases and thus pose a threat to domestic cattle. As a result they have been systematically exterminated over large areas.

WHITE AND BLACK RHINO
Two rhino species are found in Africa, namely the square-lipped white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and the hook-lipped black rhino(Diceros bicornis).
The major differences between the two species are the following: The white rhino has a square upper lip used for grazing while the black rhino has a prehensile, hook-shaped upper lip enabling it to strip the leaves off trees and shrubs. The latter can also be distinguished by its smaller size and the absence of a nuchal (neck) hump present in the white rhino. Although the white rhino is the larger of the two species, it is more placid and therefore less dangerous than its bad-tempered cousin.
Rhino species worldwide are, or have been, on the brink of extinction due to the value of their horns. Strict conservation measures in southern Africa have reversed this unfortunate situation to a great extent. The high value attached to rhino horn results from the supposed medicinal qualities of the powdered horn according to traditions in in the Far East.