Nyika National Park with its high-altitude grasslands, rolling plateaus, and diverse wildlife, represents a unique ecological heritage. It is home to rare orchids, zebra, roan antelope, and over 400 bird species, making it not only a biodiversity hotspot but also a landscape of aesthetic and spiritual value.
The Mpoto Geopark is well known for its hot water springs. They are distributed along the fault lines of the East African Rift System. The water temperatures are higher than 60 C°. Five hotsprings are reported in the Mpoto Geopark area. These include Chinuka, two at Mwankenja, Vungu, Mpata, Chiwondo, Ngala and Chiweta.
Surrounded by Miombo woodlands, two montaine evergreen forest areas cover the ridges of the Misuku Hills, the Matipi-Wilindi and the Mughese forests. These rainforests are some of the most diverse and species-rich in Malawi, with 150 species of trees recorded, and are home to white collard Baboons.
The Mpoto Geopark lies at the junction of southern and Eastern African bird faunas. Several spots within the Geopark have been established for birding activities, for example Malema Camp (12 km South of Karonga), Ulame Forest (in the vicinity of Malema) and the flood plains of North Rukuru River (5 km North of Karonga. Bird observations include the rare banded snake eagle. Below are some of the birds of the birds of Karonga.
Red-winged Francolin
Mourning Collared Dove
African Pied Wagtail
Southern Red Bischop
Added Grey-headed Sparrow
Dark chanting goshawk
Long-tailed Hawk
Added African Pitta
The oldest Baobab Tree in the Geopark area was utilized as a signal tree for naval navigation on Lake Malawi during colonial times. It is located near Ngara
The Northern Malawi Rift preserves a geological and palaeontological history of roughly 2100 Million years.
Shrines and sacred sites in Malawi have been in existence since 1500 A.D. They were used by our ancestors to offer
The word Mpoto means NORTH in Tumbuka Language. Mpoto refers to the fact, that the Geopark comprises Northern Malawi and the Northern Malawi Rift.