Malawi

The landlocked country of Malawi, in southeastern Africa, has spectacular highlands and extensive lakes, and occupies a narrow, winding strip of land along the East African Rift Valley. Lake Nyasa, called Lake Malawi in Malawi, covers more than a fifth of the country's land area. The country has two sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lake Malawi National Park was listed for the first time in 1984 and the Chongon Rock Art Area in 2006. Some 187 mammal species have been recorded in Malawi, including 55 bat species and 52 rodent species. The country is home to elephants, lions, leopards, African Buffaloes, hippos and rhinos, but their number is limited with the exception of national parks and game reserves. Jackals and Spotted Hyenas, African Wildcats, caracals and servals are more abundant. Smaller carnivores include mongooses, genets, civets, African Skunk, Honey Badgers, Spotted Necked and African Clawless Otters. Several species of antelope occur in Malawi, and notable primates include Yellow and Chacma Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Thick-Tailed and Lesser Bushbabies. The country has recorded some 648 species of birds, of which 456 are resident and 94 are migratory within Africa, some of which breed in the country. Approximately 77 species fly between East Asia and South Africa. There are 160 species living in Lake Chilwa, some of which are resident birds. The evergreen forests provide a remarkably rich list of bird species, and the Miombo woodlands are home to many species that are found nowhere else.