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Through your generous support, the Nyika-Vwaza Trust in Malawi works with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to improve the conservation of wildlife in the Nyika National Park and the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve.

The Nyika-Vwaza (UK) Trust will provide the funding for year on year operational costs and specific projects through the generosity of its supporters.
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Nyika National Park - Fauna and Flora

The six vegetation communities (Brachystegia woodland, pine plantation, montane grassland, dambo, water and evergreen forest) that comprise the park provide a rich variety of habitations for a wide range of fauna and flora

FAUNA

1] Mammals.
100 species, including 21 species of “game” animals being the largest range in Malawi, and the highest density of leopards in Malawi. Famous for its large herds of roan antelope and eland, nowadays much reduced and located primarily close to Chilinda due to extensive poaching.

Rare and endemic species: Nyika NP is the only known Malawi locality of the Greater Dwarf Shrew (Suncus lixus) and the Lesser Dwarf Shrew (Suncus varilla). Also a very rare bat Plerleirotes anchietae and two species of vlei rats that are endemic to montane areas from the Nyika to Ethiopia (Tanganyika vlei rat (Otomys typus) and Kemp’s vlei rat (Otomys deni)).

2] Birds.
430 species with more species of forest birds than any other area in Malawi or Zambia. Listed as an IBA (Important Bird Area).

Denham’s Bustard (Neotis denhami) are resident on the plateau grassland with occasional sightings of groups numbering 15-24. Also endemic are Red-winged Francolin (Francolinus levaillantii) first collected in 1895.

Three species of global conservation concern breed on the Nyika : (i) Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) – Nyika NP supports 10% (300 pairs) of the total breeding population. Healthy montane grasslands critical for their survival. (ii) Churring Cisticola (Cisticola njombe), also dependent upon healthy montane grasslands. (iii) Wattled Crane (Grus carunculatus), about 12 breeding pairs in 1986, now thought to be only 3 breeding pairs.

Also of conservation concern are the Pallid Harrier (Circus macrouris), the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Great Snipe (Gallinago media) and the Greater Double-collared Sunbird (Nectarinia afra).

3] Reptiles.
47 species listed for the area of the Nyika TFCA, but probably more. 3 species endemic to the Nyika : Nyika Variable Skink (Mabuya varia nyikae), Hilda’s Skink (Mabuya hildae) and Goetz’s Nyika Chameleon (Chamaeleo goetzi nyikae).

4] Fish.
Lake Kaulime and the 3 man-made dams, together with the four major rivers that rise on the plateau and supply the northern region before flowing to Lake Malawi, as well as numerous streams, provide habitats for 27 indigenous species of fish. Most are found in the lower reaches of the rivers, the most important being Lake Salmon (Opsaridium microlepis) (known locally as Mpasa) that spawn in the clean waters of the North Rukuru river. The only indigenous species on the plateau itself is the Mountain Catfish (Amphilius platychir). Both Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdnerii) and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) were introduced but sadly the latter did not survive.

5] Amphibians.
At least 15 types of frogs and toads favouring the damp and cool dambos of which 2 are endemic – the Black-Striped Sedge Frog (Hyperolius quinquevittatus merdensi) and the Nyika Dwarf Toad Bufo (taitanus nyikae).

6a] Insects – Butterflies.
The Nyika supports 287 species of which 120 are varieties of forest butterflies - the largest collection in Malawi. At least 5 species are endemic : Charaxes dowsetti, Axioceres nyika, Lepidochrysops handmani, Lepidochrysops chalceus and Lepidochrysops nyika. There are at least another 9 species that are not known from anywhere else in Malawi.

6b] Insects – Other.
Little is known of these as only 990 species have been collected and identified.

7] Snails.
There is no present list but we understand that Dolph van Bruggen and Hazel Meredith are collaborating to produce a list.

FLORA

The Nyika NP is classified as a Center of Plant Diversity. In March/April 2000 a SABONET expedition to the Nyika Plateau involving 20 botanists collected 3,343 plant specimens. A comprehensive account of the flora of the Nyika Plateau was published in the SABONET Report Series a copy of which is being sought.

1] Brachystigia woodlands.
Dominant in the southern foothills

2] Evergreen Forests

2a] Submontane (Ocotea-Ficalhoa) forest.
Confined to the eastern escarpment where it occurs as the largest of the forest remnants extending for 24 kms. 2b] Submontane (Entandrophragma) forests on the Zambia border. Floristically more luxuriant.

2c] Montane (Junipurus) forest.
Junipurus procera does not occur on the highest, most exposed parts of the plateau. It is found at 7,000 – 7,500 ft in sheltered valleys, specifically the Uyaghaya valley towards the south-east edge of the plateau. The southern limit of this species. vulnerable to wild fires.

2d] Broad-leaved montane forest.
Found in patches in sheltered valleys. It is thought that these once covered the entire plateau. Vulnerable to wild fires started by lightning, poachers or accident. The southern limit of Hagenia abyssinica.

3] Exotics.
Pine Plantations. Almost 570 hectares of pines, primarily Pinus patula, and a few bluegums, planted by CDC between 1952 – 1958 at Chilinda. Now past their best, logging by a concessionaire is in progress. Himalayan Raspberry (Rubus ellipticus) also introduced.

4] Montane Grassland.
Covers a third of the Park area and comprises hundreds of species of legumes, wildflowers and shrubs as well as over 90 species of short grass. Threatened by the spread of Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum).

5] Wildflowers – Orchids.
The Nyika is renowned for its wildflowers, especially orchids, of which there are both Terrestrial (grassland and dambos) and Epiphytic (woodlands). There are 215 species, 30 known only from the Nyika and 12 found nowhere else in the world.