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Southern Rift Montane Forest–grassland Mosaic
The South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion of Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. The ecoregion encompasses several high mountains and plateaus north and east of Lake Malawi. Climate The ecoregion has a tropical highlands climate, generally cooler and more humid than the surrounding lowlands. Most rainfall occurs during the November to April wet season. Most rain comes from convectional thunderstorms originating over Lake Malawi. Flora The predominant plant communities include montane grasslands, shrublands, and evergreen forests. Fauna Near-endemic mammals include the Black and red bush squirrel ''(Paraxerus lucifer)'', Swynnerton's bush squirrel ''(Paraxerus vexillarius)'', Greater hamster-rat ''(Beamys major)'', Grant's bushbaby ''(Galagoides granti)'', Desperate shrew ''(Crocidura desperata)'', and Tanzanian vlei rat ''(Otomys lacustris)'' The Rungwe dwarf galago, a newly-identified species in genus ''Galagoides' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kipengere Range
The Kipengere Range, also known as the Livingstone Mountains, lies entirely in Njombe Region in southwest Tanzania at the northern end of Lake Nyasa. Near Lake Nyasa they are known as the Kinga Mountains. It is a plateau-like ridge of mountains running southeastwards from the basin of the Great Ruaha River in the north to that of the Ruhuhu River in the south, and forms part of the eastern escarpment of the East African Rift. The range is mostly clad in montane grasslands, renowned for their botanical diversity and displays of flowers, with montane evergreen forests mostly in stream valleys. Some sources use the names Kipengere Range or Livingstone Mountains to describe the entire range, while others distinguish the Livingstone Mountains as the southwest-facing escarpment which runs along the shore of Lake Malawi, and the Kipengere Range as the high ridge that defines the northeastern edge of the Kitulo Plateau. Geography From the town of Mbeya the range runs south-east and for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galagoides
The western dwarf galagos are a group of three species of strepsirrhine primates, native to western and central Africa. They are classified in the genus ''Galagoides'' of the family Galagidae. The eastern dwarf galagos (''P. cocos, P. granti, P. orinus, P. rondoensis,'' and ''P. zanzibaricus'') have been moved to their own genus, ''Paragalago'', based on genetic evidence and differences in vocalization. The two genera are not sister taxa and thus may have evolved their small sizes via parallel evolution. They are separated by the East African Rift. The first genus to be introduced to scientific literature was ''Galago'' by Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. The genus was based on a smaller species from West Africa. Later, the genus ''Galagoides'' was introduced by Sir Andrew Smith in 1833. Smith wanted to differentiate the dwarf (''Gd. demidovii'') and the lesser galagos from the 'true galagos.' ''Otolemur'' was later introduced to indicate the greater galagos by Coquerel in 1859. Before t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Viphya Mountains
The Viphya Mountains, also known as the Viphya Plateau or Viphya Highlands, are a mountain range in Malawi's Northern Region. Geography The range runs north-northeast along the west shore of Lake Malawi. The range extends approximately 210 km from north to south, with Mount Champhila (1768 m) at the southern end of the range, and Mount Uzumara (1920m) at the northern end. The Mzimba Plain lies to the west. Mt. Chimaliro (2050 m.) is in the northern part of the range, about 40 km north of Mzuzu. The South Rukuru River drains the Mzimba Plain and the western slopes of the mountains. The South Rukuru drains northeastwards into Lake Malawi, and the river's lower valley defines northern end of the range, separating the Viphya Mountains from the Nyika Plateau north of the river. The eastern slopes are drained by the Luweya River and other streams which empty into Lake Malawi. The northern and southern portions of the range are separated by a lower saddle of hills. The town o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nyika National Park, Zambia
Nyika National Park lies in the northeast of Zambia, on the western edge of the Nyika Plateau, which is one of the highest parts of the country and most of which lies in neighbouring Malawi. As a consequence of the colonial era when both countries were administered by Britain, a cross-border reserve was established on the plateau. After independence it was divided into the large Nyika National Park (Malawi) and the much smaller Nyika National Park (Zambia). The border between the two parks is the north-south plateau road, which is the only road access, and it starts and finishes in Malawi. Consequently Zambian visitors must enter Malawi to reach it (the nearest Malawian entry points are at Chisenga and Katumbi). The Zambian side is undeveloped except for a colonial-era resthouse, built around 1946, which used to be the only accommodation in either park. After independence, people from Malawi staying there did not have to pass through any border formalities, but paid a "Zambia entr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park is Malawi’s largest national park, with an area of 3200 km2 (1250 mile2). Location and road access The park covers practically the whole of the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi, about 480 km north of Lilongwe and 60 km north of Rumphi by road. Access is by a single dirt road which branches north off the road from Rumphi to the Katumbi border post, and winds its way up the south-western scarp of the plateau, continues over the top, where it forms the border with Zambia, then descends the north-west scarp in a series of bends, and continues north to the Chisenga border post. On the top of the plateau, a spur goes east to Chelinda, the headquarters of the park nearer the centre. Although the park boundary comes within 35 km of Livingstonia there is no access from the eastern side. Features The name ''Nyika'' means "where the water comes from" as the plateau's elevation makes it wetter than surrounding areas. Other suggested meanings are "wilderness" and " ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mafinga Hills
The Mafinga Hills are a plateau covered by hills, situated on the border between Zambia and Malawi, in Southern Africa. These hills are composed of quartzites, phyllites and feldspathic sandstones of sedimentary origin. This plateau has the highest point in Zambia at at Mafinga Central. It once formed a formidable barrier between the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Only very able 4-wheel drive vehicles are able to cross this area, especially during the rainy season. The shortest road link between the two provinces is now eased by the rehabilitation of the Isoka-Muyombe Road, which traverses their lower slopes. As Muyombe is the district capital of the newly formed Mafinga District, any expedition to the Mafinga Hills would be wise to use Muyombe as a starting point (two guesthouses are available). Besides going through Isoka, Muyombe can also be accessed from the south via Chama, though this road passes briefly through Western Malawi's Vwasa Wildlife Reserve, or from the East ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Misuku Hills
The Misuku Hills are a mountain range in Malawi's Northern Region. Geography The Misuku Hills lie near Malawi's northern border. They are bounded on the north by the Songwe River, which forms Malawi's northern border with Tanzania. Tanzania's Umalila Mountains lie north of the Songwe.Stewart, M. (1965). "On Top of Malawi—The Misuku. The Nyasaland Journal, 18(1), 7-13. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/29545981BirdLife International (2019) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Misuku Hills Forest Reserves. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 02/09/2019. On the east and south, the Misuku hills transition to a hilly plateau that slopes towards Lake Malawi. The valley of the Kaseye River, a northward-flowing tributary of the Songwe, bounds the hills on the west. The Chitipa Plain lies to the southwest. The tallest peaks are Matipa (2124 m) and Mughese (1909 m). Ecology The natural vegetation in the hills is mostly miombo woodland. The hills are fertile and well-watered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matengo Highlands
The Matengo Highlands are located in the western part of the mountainous area of Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region in southern Tanzania. They are home to the Matengo people. Kindimba is the historical center of the highlands.Kato, p. 4 It is located on highland's western side, approximately 15 km west of Mbinga. Its subvillages include Kindimba, Kitanda (or Kitunda), Mkanya, Mutugu, Ndembo, Torongi, Walarzi (or Waranzi). In 2006, the total Kindimba population was 2440. Other towns and villages include LitemboKato, p.2 and Lipumba. Geography Mbinga District covers an area of , about 18% of the land area of the Ruvuma Region and about 1% of the land mass of Tanzania. The elevation in the highlands ranges from to above sea level. There are steep slopes starting at . The annual temperature averages 18 °C. The rainy season runs from November through May. Average rainfall is approximately 1000 mm, though it may have ranged from 1500–1700 mm in some years. M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Umalila Mountains
The Umalila Mountains are a mountain range in southern Tanzania, on the border with Malawi. The Umalila Mountains are part of Tanzania's Southern Highlands. The mountains are named for the Malila people. Geography The Umalila Mountains lie northwest of Lake Malawi, and trend roughly northwest-southeast. They form part of the western edge of the East African Rift. The Kyela Plain lies to the east and northeast of the mountains in the rift valley.Racaud, Sylvain, and Francois Bart (2017). "Rural-Urban Dynamics in the East African Mountains" Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, 2017 The volcanic Poroto Mountains and Mount Rungwe lie to the northeast across the Kiwira River. The town of Mbeya lies to the north, and plateaus to the west. The Songwe River drains the western and southern slopes of the mountains, and separate the Umalila Mountains from the Misuku Hills in neighboring Malawi. The Kiwira River drains the eastern slopes. Both rivers empty into Lake Malawi. Climate The mountains h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mpanga-Kipengere Game Reserve
The Mpanga-Kipengere Game Reserve is a protected area in Njombe Region of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, East Africa. The reserve covers an area of . The altitude ranges from to . In addition to the preservation of wildlife the reserve is an important catchment for the headwaters of several rivers that feed into the Great Ruaha River and provide water for the Usangu wetlands. Since 2005, the protected area is considered a Lion Conservation Unit. This reserve is famous by its unique flora and fauna, scenic beauty, cultural heritage in Nyumba Nitu forest and Kimani waterfalls which are very attractive for nature tourism. Endemic species found in Mpanga – Kipengere Game Reserve are Nosed chameleon, marsh widow, Njombe cisticola and Kipengere seedeater, while the rare Fufumka bird has been recorded to live in the reserve. Here more than 17 types of forests can be found, where a great amount of rare birds and butterflies are observed. Geography The Mpanga-Kipengere Game Res ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kitulo National Park
Kitulo National Park is a protected area of montane grassland and montane forest on the Kitulo Plateau in the southern highlands of Tanzania. The park is at an elevation of between the peaks of the Kipengere and Poroto mountains and covers an area of , The Ndumbi forest is also home to a 100-meter waterfall. References External links Kitulo National Park, Tanzania National Parks website {{authority control Geography of Njombe Region Geography of Mbeya Region National parks of Tanzania Protected areas established in 2005 Southern Highlands, Tanzania Southern Rift montane forest–grassland mosaic Tourist attractions in the Njombe Region Tourist attractions in the Mbeya Region 2005 establishments in Tanzania ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sumbawanga
Sumbawanga is a city located in western Tanzania. It is the capital of Rukwa Region and the municipal seat of Sumbawanga Urban District with postcode number 55100 . The district had a population of approximately 150,000 based on the 2002 census. Sumbawanga lies in the territory of the Wafipa Fipa tribe and so many people speak Kifipa, as well as Kiswahili, the most widely used language of Tanzania. The name of the town literally translates as "throw away your witchcraft", thought to be a warning from local spiritual "healers" to any bringing in superstitions and practices relating to spiritual healers from other areas. Until the 1980s approximately, Sumbawanga was a place where many witch doctors would be located. Though fewer in numbers, there are still some healers who practice both in town and in the surrounding smaller villages on the plateau. The town has the largest hospital in the region, Rukwa General Hospital, which is government funded, as well as the smaller Dr. Atima ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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