Malilangwe
Tucked away in the south-eastern corner of Zimbabwe lies one of the finest private wildlife reserves in Africa. Secluded and very exclusive, Malilangwe Reserve is where you will discover an outstanding diversity of wildlife on 105,000 acres of sun-scorched, game-rich and untamed African bush. Malilangwe is located north of the Gonarezhou Park and is one of the few remaining places in Africa where black and white rhino are still plentiful. With over 400 recorded species of birds and one of the highest concentrations of raptors in the world, Malilangwe is a haven for bird enthusiasts.
The surrounding region is dominated by flat, low-lying, semi-arid savannah. Malilangwe is an exception, bisected by a range of picturesque sandstone hills which confer geological and botanical diversity. This gives the estate a wide variety of habitats, ideal for a reserve. The reserve is characterised by mopane, riverine and mixed woodland, open grasslands and savannah studded with flat-topped Acacia tortillas.
Malilangwe Private Wildlife Reserve is habitant to the big five. The Reserve comprises 105,000 acres of private fenced land, with scouts patrolling the area day and night. Rich in game and bird life, the reserve is able to boast not only the big five but also the small six: klipspringer, Sharpe’s grysbok, grey duiker, steenbok, Livingstone’s suni and oribi. The local conservationists who established the Malilangwe Trust in 1994 faced a problem common throughout Africa of competition with cattle and agriculture which had eroded game populations. Although this was not to the extent experienced on some ranches in the area, restoring Malilangwe's natural diversity required the import of wildlife.
Visitors to the area can enjoy helicopter flights over Malilangwe. Seeing Malilangwe from the air is a refreshing experience. Flights go over the large Malilangwe dam, the dramatic sandstone hills, across the savannah flushing herds of buffalo and flying low level down the Chiredzi River all the way to the confluence with the huge Runde River.
