This article presents an account of a practical outdoor science project using the larvae of antlions with year 5 and 6 (age 10-11) pupils from Sir Harry Johnston International Primary School in Zomba, Malawi. Aim: To conduct a science project outdoors using scientific enquiry and knowledge in a typical African school environment and to see whether this antlion project could provide scientific rigour for a group of year 5 and 6 pupils while still stimulating interest and enjoyment at little or no expense for transport or equipment. Method: The pupils were informed about the feeding behaviour of the antlion. They needed to discover where the antlion built its trap, the type of soil it preferred, the angle of the wall of the pit to ensure insects fell down the wall and, if possible, to study of the feeding behaviour of the antlion in the classroom. Results: After discussion with the pupils it appeared that some ants were too large for the antlion to subdue and these were thus rejected. The pit was always neat, tidy, and clean of debris after reconstruction, and was always constructed in soft sand. Conclusion: These results have shown that the antlion is able to choose to build its pit in sand with small particle sizes and where these small particles are found to suitable depth. The antlion's ecology and behaviour are ideal to study as it is an easily available insect in Africa and in the USA (but not in the UK). It is also the only invertebrate suitable for scientific study that is easily found outside the classroom buildings on the school grounds.