Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is set on 124 000 acres of wilderness in the southern corner of Zimbabwe, bordering the Gonarezhou National Park. It is a spectacularly diverse and beautiful piece of Africa, boasting geological diversity, habitat variability and a wide variety of plant and animal species.
Home to one of the highest concentrations of the endangered black rhino as well as fourteen species of eagle, 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 2000 years.
A very healthy white rhino population exists at Malilangwe and it is possible to see as many as 8 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 Pamushana lodge, is home to 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 bathe at the top end of the lake. Painted hunting dogs breed in caves in the sandstone hills and nyala are regularly seen in the riverine forest along the banks of the Chiredzi River. Herds of up to 500 buffalo water in this river and then move eastwards to feed on the rich grazing on the basalt flats. Lions, hyenas and the elusive leopards keep the herbivore populations 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 In terms of birdlife, Malilangwe boasts over 400 different species.
