- Who We Are
- Our Work
- Who We Are
- Our Work
Who We Are
The Malilangwe Trust is a proudly Zimbabwean, non-profit organisation. Our conservation activities are focused within 50 000 ha of the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe. We are committed to several projects which contribute to uplifting the lives of people who live in our neighbouring communities along the borders of the Reserve.
Since establishment of The Malilangwe Trust in 1994, our goal is to develop and implement methods for successful conservation and protection of wildlife, with the aim of becoming a leader in science-based management of African protected areas. Through education and tourism, our hope is to inspire people to become ambassadors for conservation.
Our Mission
Our Work
At a glance
Field News
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Not all architects work with bricks and mortar.
Some use their feet, tusks and determination to reshape the landscape.
Elephants are nature’s bush architects, with many of the reserve’s waterholes owing their existence to these remarkable giants. Using their sheer size and impressive digging ability, elephants create depressions that capture and store precious rainwater. Over time, other animals such as warthogs, buffalo, and rhino further widen these muddy puddles, gradually shaping them into reliable, permanent water sources that sustain countless species, particularly towards the end of the dry season.
Images: @jenny_hishin_photojournalist
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve
#elephants #elephantsofinstagramOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 18147559519573600
Not all of nature’s showstoppers announce themselves, some that catch our eye are discovered in the most unlikely office locations. Look a little closer, and the world of moths reveals an extraordinary diversity of colour, pattern and ingenious disguise.
The Oleander hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii), also known as the army green moth, joins a spectacular array of butterflies and other insects after the recent light rains.
Moths are among the most diverse and successful organisms on Earth, with more than 135,000 described species. Their caterpillars are accomplished impersonators, resembling twigs or less desirable insects, while adults often blend seamlessly into tree bark and foliage.
Beyond their remarkable appearance, moths play vital ecological roles, from pollinating plants to providing food for birds and bats. The flourishing ecosystem at Malilangwe depends on creatures of every kind, including those that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Images: @mungeemama @caseynolanevans
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve #mothsOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 17910528123327167
Sometimes the best way to connect with nature, is to appreciate the calmness and simplicity of the occasion.
The true value of a rhino lies within a milennia of evolution, in the natural habitat where they flourish as part of a balanced ecosystem.
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve #rhinos #rhinoconservation #zimbabweOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 18419416531093859
Day 3: The patient hyena.
Watching these two leopards negotiate the tree was fascinating. The mother could race up it so quickly that your eyes could barely follow her. Coming down was another matter entirely. She descended head-first, carefully placing each clawed paw against the rough bark.
Her cub was the same - gripping the trunk with oversized paws and awkwardly slip-sliding her way down.
However, I couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for that hyena. For three drizzly days it curled up beneath the tree, looking like a Copenhagen raisin bun, patiently waiting for its reward. Other hyenas came and went, but this one remained
steadfast. Though ending up only scraps of sinew and skin that dropped from the tree once
the leopards had finished their feast.
Daily, the drama of the bush unfolds through a delicate dance of patience, strength, strategy and luck. Sometimes the rewards are plentiful, other times, the wait goes on.
Images and description @jenny_hishin_photojournalist
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve #zimbabwe #leopard #wildlifephotographyOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 18121905307822566
Day 2: And then there were two…
This morning when I drove past the impala kill, something was different. This leopard looked smaller, its ears were smooth rather than ragged and paws oversized. It was a female cub.
Taking her cue from her remarkably calm mother, she was alert and clearly fascinated by all the attention, this exquisite young leopard offered an unexpected glimpse into the early life of one of Africa’s most elusive cats.
Images and description @jenny_hishin_photojournalist
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve #zimbabwe #leopard #wildlifephotographyOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 18181334497438438
Day 1: A leopard and her hard-won meal.
A freshly killed impala hosted up in a tree can only mean one thing.
I spent about an hour sitting quietly in the vehicle, hoping the leopard would appear. Instead, the only customer was a hyena, fast asleep on the ground beneath the tree. Some of the carcass had already been eaten, but at least 85% of it remained, so it seemed only a matter of time before its owner returned.
…Later in the day she returned, a magnificent, light-eyed female we have come to recognise over the years. Watching this gold-and-onyx cat, her jade eyes gleaming, framed against the precious-metal hues of the mopane leaves, was a truly unforgettable sight. Her camouflage was extraordinary and at times she seemed to dissolve completely into the dappled leaves and branches.
At our first sighting, she had fed but seemed increasingly unhappy with the position of the impala and with the hyena now circling directly below it. She fussed around it and decided to reposition the carcass higher in the tree. It slipped from her grasp and crashed to the ground with a sickening thud. With-out hesitation, the leopard launched herself after it, and the hyena dived in. For one heart-stopping moment, it looked as though she might lose her hard-won meal. Instead, she clamped her jaws around the carcass and, with astonishing speed, sprinted for a second mopane tree nearby. She was up it almost before we had time to register what had happened and with a collective sigh of relief as she secured her kill once again.
Images and description @jenny_hishin_photojournalist
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve #zimbabwe #leopard #wildlifephotographyOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 18097135415133220
The night holds secrets…
Two baby white rhinos meeting before settling back into their own worlds. One exploring the water’s edge alongside mum, while the other nurses peacefully. These two youngsters will grow up around each other, with extended family support playing an important role throughout their lives.
A rare glimpse into the quiet, unguarded lives of rhinos after dark beautifully captured by @jenny_hishin_photojournalist
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve #zimbabwe #whiterhino #rhinoconservation wildlifephotographyOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 17916927516530462
“Some wildlife sightings are memorable because of what you see, others because of just how unlikely it is that you saw them at all.”
@jenny_hishin_photojournalist describes…Seeing an African finfoot (Podica senegalensis) falls firmly into the latter category. This secretive waterbird is a master of disappearing into the dense vegetation fringing waterways.
The greenish feathers on her back were iridescent, her head snaking, her shape elongated, and her feet a bright red-orange. They are distinctly lobed, perfectly adapted for life in the water, and are the feature responsible for the bird’s unusual name. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, the finfoot’s finned toes provide excellent propulsion and manoeuvrability, allowing it to swim and forage efficiently along the edges of rivers and streams.
Images: @jenny_hishin_photojournalist
#malilangwetrust #malilangwewildlifereserve #africanfinfoot #birdsofafricaOpen post by malilangwe_trust with ID 17973279282141688
- Our Work
- Our Work
