2018 United Nations List of Protected Areas of Malawi
Information extracted from the July 2018 WDPA release
This list was compiled from data based on the July 2018 version of the WDPA. In addition to protected areas with spatial data in the WDPA, the 2018 version of the UN List includes sites for which no spatial data is available but which have been provided by the relevant country. Management effectiveness information is extracted from GD-PAME. Both databases are updated and released via www.protectedplanet.net on a monthly basis. The depiction and use of boundaries and related data shown on maps are not guaranteed to be error free nor do they necessarily imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
| Designation Type/ Designation in English / Name of Protected Areas |
Status |
Year of designation |
Area (km2) |
IUCN category |
PAME methodology |
Year of PAME assessment |
| International |
| Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance |
| Elephant Marsh |
Designated |
2017 |
615.56 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Lake Chilwa |
Designated |
1996 |
2248.00 |
Not Reported |
Birdlife IBA |
2001 |
| UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve |
| Lake Chilwa Wetland |
Designated |
2006 |
0.00 |
Not Applicable |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mount Mulanje |
Designated |
2000 |
451.30 |
Not Applicable |
GOBI Survey |
2006 |
| World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) |
| Lake Malawi National Park |
Inscribed |
1984 |
94.00 |
Not Applicable |
WHA Outlook Report |
2014 |
| National |
| Conservation Area |
| Malawi - Zambia Transfrontier (Malawi section) |
Designated |
2015 |
6494.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Forest Reserve |
| Amalika (WE) |
Designated |
1974 |
5.20 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Bangwe# |
Proposed |
1948 |
14.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Blantyre (CGP) |
Designated |
0 |
30.73 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Blantyre (LAP) |
Designated |
0 |
1.82 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Bunganya |
Designated |
1973 |
34.70 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chambe |
Designated |
0 |
4.96 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chambe# |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Champira |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chantasha |
Proposed |
0 |
0.79 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chanthurwa |
Proposed |
0 |
2.12 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chapananga |
Proposed |
0 |
74.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chigumula |
Designated |
1925 |
6.22 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chigumula# |
Designated |
0 |
3.78 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chilenje |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chilolowe |
Designated |
0 |
13.47 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chimaliro |
Designated |
1926 |
159.70 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chimvuo |
Proposed |
0 |
1.44 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chipala |
Proposed |
0 |
16.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chiradzulu |
Designated |
1924 |
11.40 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chisasira |
Designated |
1935 |
9.32 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chisasira Extension |
Proposed |
0 |
174.04 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Choma/Mpeza |
Proposed |
0 |
113.64 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chongoni |
Designated |
1924 |
126.39 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Chongoni# |
Designated |
0 |
52.17 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dedza Mountain |
Designated |
1926 |
32.63 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dedza Mountain Forest |
Designated |
0 |
18.31 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dedza/Salima |
Designated |
1974 |
326.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dowa (CGP) |
Designated |
0 |
4.82 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dowa Hills |
Designated |
1974 |
24.20 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dwambazi |
Proposed |
0 |
7886.27 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dzalanyama |
Designated |
1922 |
989.34 |
Not Reported |
Birdlife IBA |
2013 |
| Dzenza |
Designated |
1948 |
8.29 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dzonzee |
Designated |
1924 |
40.20 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Dzonzi-Mvai |
Designated |
0 |
27.81 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Escarpment# |
Designated |
0 |
326.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Fortlister |
Designated |
0 |
5.01 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Ighembe |
Proposed |
0 |
4.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Jembya |
Proposed |
0 |
150.10 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kakhome |
Proposed |
0 |
1.85 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kalembo Hills |
Proposed |
0 |
177.20 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kalulu Hills |
Designated |
1958 |
28.23 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kalwe |
Designated |
1956 |
2.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kangwe |
Designated |
1926 |
181.33 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kaning'ina |
Designated |
1935 |
149.70 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kanjedza |
Designated |
1922 |
1.81 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kanjedza# |
Designated |
0 |
1.41 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Kawilwe |
Designated |
1935 |
6.99 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Lilongwe (CGP) |
Designated |
0 |
31.36 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Lilongwe (LAP) |
Designated |
0 |
3.19 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Litchenya |
Designated |
1948 |
0.55 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Liwonde |
Designated |
1924 |
294.73 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Macheleni l |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Macheleni ll |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mafinga Hills# |
Designated |
1976 |
42.60 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Malabvi |
Designated |
1927 |
2.07 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Maleri Islands |
Designated |
1971 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mangochi |
Designated |
1924 |
325.30 |
Not Reported |
METT |
2012 |
| Mangochi Palm |
Designated |
1980 |
5.10 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Masambanjati |
Designated |
1974 |
0.92 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Masambanjati# |
Designated |
0 |
0.76 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Masenjere |
Designated |
1930 |
1.80 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Matandwe |
Designated |
1931 |
262.05 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Matipa# |
Designated |
1948 |
10.62 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mchezi/Chiuta |
Proposed |
0 |
0.32 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mchinji |
Designated |
1924 |
191.66 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Michiru |
Designated |
1970 |
32.63 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Michiru# |
Designated |
0 |
3.53 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mirale l |
Designated |
1949 |
1.03 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mirale ll |
Proposed |
0 |
0.14 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mndilansadzu |
Designated |
1958 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mpemba |
Proposed |
0 |
5.03 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mpingwe |
Designated |
0 |
0.74 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Msitolengwe |
Designated |
1974 |
0.85 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mtangatanga |
Designated |
1935 |
84.43 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mua-Livulezi |
Designated |
1924 |
121.47 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mua-Tsanya |
Designated |
1932 |
10.62 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mughese |
Designated |
1948 |
6.73 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mulanje |
Designated |
1927 |
552.09 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mulanje (CGP) |
Designated |
0 |
15.69 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mulanje Eastern Slopes |
Designated |
0 |
14.18 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Musisi |
Designated |
1948 |
67.34 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Mvai |
Designated |
1924 |
42.68 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Nagogoda |
Proposed |
0 |
0.34 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Namisu |
Proposed |
0 |
0.33 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Namizimu |
Designated |
1924 |
869.94 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Ndirande |
Designated |
1922 |
17.09 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Neno Eastern escarpment |
Proposed |
0 |
631.00 |
Not Reported |
METT |
2012 |
| Ngara |
Designated |
0 |
22.53 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Nkhwazi |
Designated |
1927 |
26.68 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Nkopola |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Ntchisi |
Designated |
1924 |
97.12 |
Not Reported |
Birdlife IBA |
2013 |
| Ntiya. l.ll.lll |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Perekezi |
Designated |
1935 |
147.62 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Phirilongwe |
Designated |
1924 |
161.29 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Phirilongwe Extension |
Proposed |
0 |
662.08 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Pirimiti |
Proposed |
0 |
0.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Ruvuo |
Designated |
1935 |
24.60 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Sambani |
Designated |
1948 |
1.29 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Sani |
Proposed |
0 |
2.60 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Sanjo |
Proposed |
0 |
9.87 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Senga |
Designated |
1958 |
14.20 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Soche |
Designated |
1922 |
3.63 |
Not Reported |
Birdlife IBA |
2013 |
| South Viphya |
Designated |
1948 |
1147.80 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Thambani |
Designated |
1927 |
106.70 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Thuchila |
Designated |
1925 |
24.34 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Thuchila# |
Designated |
0 |
1.09 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Thuma |
Designated |
1926 |
163.95 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Thyolamwani |
Designated |
1930 |
9.32 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Thyolo |
Designated |
1924 |
13.21 |
Not Reported |
Birdlife IBA |
2013 |
| Tsamba |
Designated |
1928 |
32.37 |
Not Reported |
METT |
2012 |
| Tsambe Extension |
Proposed |
0 |
44.00 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Uzumara |
Designated |
1948 |
5.96 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| VFIT |
Designated |
0 |
5.57 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Vinthukutu |
Designated |
1948 |
22.27 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Wilindi |
Designated |
1948 |
9.07 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Zomba (CGP) |
Designated |
0 |
32.22 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Zomba Plateau |
Designated |
0 |
21.98 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| Zomba# |
Designated |
1913 |
59.57 |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
0 |
| National Park |
| Kasungu National Park |
Designated |
1970 |
2358.62 |
II |
RAPPAM |
2006 |
| Lake Malawi National Park |
Designated |
1980 |
87.00 |
II |
RAPPAM |
2006 |
| Lengwe National Park |
Designated |
1970 |
928.19 |
II |
METT; RAPPAM |
2012; 2006 |
| Liwonde National Park |
Designated |
1973 |
505.67 |
II |
METT; RAPPAM |
2012; 2006 |
| Nyika National Park |
Designated |
1965 |
3092.32 |
II |
RAPPAM |
2006 |
| Wildlife Reserve |
| Majete Wildlife Reserve |
Designated |
1975 |
704.70 |
IV |
RAPPAM |
2006 |
| Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve |
Designated |
1975 |
344.35 |
IV |
RAPPAM |
2006 |
| Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve |
Designated |
1954 |
1784.39 |
IV |
METT; RAPPAM |
2010; 2006 |
| Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve |
Designated |
1977 |
980.67 |
IV |
METT; RAPPAM |
2010; 2006 |
