Zimbabwe » Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is a spectacularly diverse and beautiful piece of Africa that stretches as far as the eye can see. This vast reserve boasts geological diversity, habitat variability and a wide variety of plant and animal species. The area is known for its magical sandstone outcrops, mopane forests and majestic Baobab trees. Malilangwe is also an area where you will find over 100 rock art sites that date back more than 2 000 years.
On the wildlife front you'll find it home to one of the highest concentrations of the endangered black rhino. A very healthy white rhino population exists too and I have seen as many as eight rhino together at one time! Giraffe, zebra, impala and wildebeest abound on the 'Banyini' in the centre of the property, and sable antelope and Lichtenstein's hartebeest are found in the mopane woodlands in the south.
The lake, situated below Singita Pamushana Lodge, attracts hippos, crocodiles, terrapins and monitor lizards as well as a variety of fish and water birds. During the summer months the elephant breeding herds regularly entertain us by bathing luxuriously in the lake. For anglers, there's a superb challenge in bass, catfish, bream (tilapia) and tiger-fishing using fly, lure or bait.
Wild dogs, also known as painted wolves or Cape hunting dogs, raise their pups in caves in the sandstone hills. Nyala are regularly seen in the riverine forest along the banks of the Chiredzi River and herds of up to 500 buffalo wade through and drink from this river before moving eastwards to feed on the rich grazing on the basalt flats. All the while lions, hyenas and elusive leopards keep the herbivore population in check.
Apart from the 'Big 5' a variety of small antelope including klipspringer, oribi, grey duiker, steenbok and grysbok are found in the region. Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is a birders paradise too with over 500 different species, including fourteen species of eagle!
Lodges in Malilangwe
