Lake Malawi National Park is the world’s first freshwater park, with boundaries established in 1980 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1984, recognizing the significance of Cichlid fish as an example of biological evolution.
While hundreds of Cichlids are endemic to Lake Malawi, there are also Cichlids endemic to the Marelli Islands themselves. Commonly spotted are the Mbuna (‘rock-fish), of which many are blue with dazzling shades of turquoise, nicknamed the “Blue Zebra”. Find out more about Cichlids of Lake Malawi here.
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) introduced wildlife concessions for designated areas across Malawi as means to achieving conservation through sustainable wildlife resource utilisation. Strategic tourism management plans were designed to aid protection of various parks. Working with the DNPW under protection of Lake Malawi National Park, we aim to preserve ecosystems of the Marelli Archipelago.
One of the biggest challenges we face is the issue of overfishing and illegal poaching in Lake Malawi. Fishing within 100m of the islands is illegal. This protection allows natural breeding, not only for Cichlids, but for many other species of fish; otters; various reptiles and an array of birdlife.
Your visit makes a difference! All visitors pay national park fees which contribute directly to conservation & community initiatives, including patrols by LMNP rangers and our guards and education on overfishing and sustainable fishing practices in nearby communities.
Lilongwe Wildlife Trust is one of Malawi’s most established and crucial organizations for conservation in Malawi. The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre is Malawi’s first wildlife sanctuary.
Mission: to save wildlife, campaign for conservation justice, and inspire people to value and protect nature in Malawi.
The Marelli Islands are listed as a safe release site for some species. In 2010, LWT released three bushbabies on Nankoma Island. They had been hand-reared and needed a safe home – they would not survive in other parks lacking the instincts to escape predators. Over ten years later, they are still jumping from tree to tree at night, sometimes spotted by guests.
Volunteer, become a member, adopt a sanctuary animal (£23 per year) or make a donation to support their conservation initiatives:
Wildlife Action Group Malawi is a grassroots charity managing forest reserves in Central Malawi.
Established in 1994, their main objectives are to protect Malawi’s wildlife and environment, and to assist and support the Malawi Government in the protection of National Parks, game and forest reserves.
In more recent years, WAG-Malawi has assisted us with research on the island’s wildlife and reptile relocation. Their expertise and reports have been extremely helpful in understanding the island’s fauna and flora.
Volunteer, support a scout, sponsor or make a donation to support their initiatives: stopping illegal poaching, protecting Malawi’s elephants, wildlife conservation and community engagement.
