The Lake Malawi National Park protects the aquatic life in the southern portion of Lake Malawi, the third largest of Africa's Great Lakes. As a Rift Valley Lake it is exceptionally deep and old - it is estimated to have existed for up to two million years - and the waters of Lake Malawi teem with life. In fact, the lake, the world's eighth largest, has more species of fish than any other lake in the world. Having in many respects evolved on its own, many of the species exist here alone.

Notable among the aquatic life are many different species of cichlids of which there are anywhere between 700 and 1,000 species in all. It's the largest population or ‘flock' in the world, most of which are beautifully coloured in vibrant and luminous tones.