The Northern Malawi Rift
The Northern Malawi Rift preserves a geological and palaeontological history of roughly 2100 Million years. The Northern Malawi Rift is paert oft he Western Arm oft he East African Rift System (EARS). It contains famous fossil sites of earliest mammals, dinosaurs and early humans. The Geology of the Mpoto Geopark is the result of basin developments at three different times in Africa, which overlap in the Geopark area. Each of these geological eras represent crucial events in the evolution of organisms on Earth. No other area in Africa exhibits these three geological eras and fossil finds adjacent to each other.
Mpoto Geopark
Fossil Remains
Fossil remains that have been discovered in the Mpoto Geopark include: mammal like reptiles (Therapsids) which bear evidence on the origin of mammals (Karoo), Malawisaurus Dinosaurs and other fauna representing the age of Reptiles (Dinosaur Beds) and Fauna and Hominids with Homo rudolfensis, the earliest Ancestor of the genus Homo (Chiwondo Beds). Three basin structures overlap in the Geopark:
- Permo-Triassic Karoo (240 – 200 Ma): basin extends from Southern Africa northwards.
- Cretaceous Dinosaur Beds (140-100 Ma): basin extends eastwards to the Indian Ocean coast.
- Plio-Pleistocene Chiwondo Beds (5,5 – 0,5 Ma): Basin (modern EARS Rift) extends from the North.
Western Rift Shoulder of the EARS Northern Malawi Rift (Chiweta area), view towards Mlowe.
The Northern Malawi Rift preserves a geological and palaeontological history of roughly 2100 Million years.
Karoo deposits near Chiweta. These sediments yielded remains of Mammal like Reptiles, and are forming a table mountain.
Gallery
Take a look at some of our Mpoto Geopark Rift
Lake Malawi, Karonga Beach
Lake Malawi
Livingstonia Waterfall
Northern Malawi
Karonga War Graves
History & Culture
Basket Making
Lifestyle
Mbande Hills
History & Culture
Intangible Heritage
Bawo Games
Bawo, a strategic board game, is widely played across villages, serving not only as entertainment but also as a tool for sharpening strategic thinking and social bonding. Bao is a traditional mancala board played in most areas of Eastern and South Eastern Africa, yet the rules were only preserved through oral tradition, therefore numerous variants exist. Despite the game being most popular, neither regional nor national competitions exist. Locally competitions are being organised by Radio Dinosaur. In cooperation with Mpoto Geopark, regional Bao competitions will be organised.
The word Mpoto means NORTH in Tumbuka Language. Mpoto refers to the fact, that the Geopark comprises Northern Malawi and the Northern Malawi Rift.