Lake Malawi

Ready to venture to one of the world’s most amazing sights? Stretching more than 400 miles long and reaching 700 metres deep, Lake Malawi is Africa’s third-largest lake. And with all that distance, there’s most definitely room for some amazing creatures in it. 3,500 of them, in fact. And you can see some of them yourself at our very own Lake Malawi exhibit here at Blue Planet Aquarium.

But before you do that, let’s learn a little more about Lake Malawi, as well as what you can expect to see at our amazing exhibit when you come to visit.

What is Lake Malawi?

Formed millions of years ago, Lake Malawi is the ninth largest lake in the world. It’s that big that actually borders three different African countries: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, and at 47 miles wide, it absolutely trumps the length of the UK’s largest lake by more than twice its length. At the lake’s southern end is Lake Malawi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tourists and travellers from all over the world flock to every year.

As for what lives in its waters, Lake Malawi is in a league of its own too. The fresh water life here is incredibly diverse, with 1000 species of fish alone calling it home – a number which keeps on growing! In fact, it has more species of fish than all the lakes and rivers of Europe combined. That’s not all, as there are some fish in Lake Malawi that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

What’s it like at our exhibit?

By mirroring some of its most striking features, we’ve captured the incredible beauty of this amazing body of water across our exhibit.

For starters, you’ll be able to discover 15 species of fresh water dwellers in this slice of tropical paradise. Since Lake Malawi faces issues with overfishing and pollution, we’re glad to be about to do our part to preserve some of its species by keeping them in a safe, comfortable environment for you to check out.

You’ll also see stone-like surroundings when you’re here. We’ve put these here for a reason – to mimic the mountains that surround it and the rock formations that dot the lake’s shores. At the very least, it makes sure the fish we keep here don’t get homesick!

To match the actual lake’s warm, sunny vibes we’ve made sure the lighting reflects that, and with plenty of lush greenery to wander through, it’s like having your own personal part of Lake Malawi itself to walk around.

What will I find at Lake Malawi?

You’ll be able to see all sorts of amazing animals while you’re here, including Malawi cichlids. You’ll even be able to see Clyde the turtle come by to say hello too!

Cichlids can be found all over the world, but cichlids from Lake Malawi are where the vast majority of them are located. Cichlids evolve and form new species at an amazing rate – it’s thought that a new species is produced every 20 generations. As such, Lake Malawi itself has anywhere from 600 to 800 species alone!

And of course, with so much evolution and so many species, Malawi Cichlids come in all sorts of different colours, shades and hues. From blues and oranges to yellows and silvers, they’re a Technicolor treat that add vivid vibrancy to our exhibit. We love how they look, and we’re sure you will too!

Along with seeing the incredible animals of Lake Malawi, you can also experience feeding time at this exhibit at 4:15pm every day. You’ll also have the chance to learn more about its diverse species and habitats as part of a daily talk and presentation from our knowledgeable in-house experts. They really know their stuff, so if you have any questions about Lake Malawi and its animals, then don’t hesitate to ask them!

Who would like this exhibit?

Among the incredible colours of our exhibit, kids are going to be in their element, so it’s a perfect way for families to spend a day out together.

And since we’ve replicated the vibe of Lake Malawi and the animals that live there, our exhibit is going to be great for anyone looking to learn more about the wildlife and inhabitants of fresh water in Africa. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or you’ve been interested in the continent for some time, the Lake Malawi exhibit here is a great way to dive into this amazing part of the world – without having to hop on a plane!

Accessibility

We’ve designed our Lake Malawi exhibit so that every last bit of it can be accessed by wheelchair and mobility scooter. You’ll also find a small seating area, along with overhead viewing above the African Spurred Tortoise enclosure.

Extra Lake Malawi goodness

Not done just yet? We’ve got a few more things for you to check out before you visit Blue Planet Aquarium – give them a read below:

• The Extraordinary Fish of Lake Malawi: Africa’s Freshwater Phenomenon
• 10 Weird & Wonderful Facts About Blue Planet Creatures