Majete Wildlife Reserve is Malawi’s main ‘Large 5’ reserve and certainly one of its prime wildlife locations. Situated in south-western Malawi, roughly 40 miles from Blantyre and three hours from Lake Malawi, Majete is among the large success tales in African conservation – an unlikely story of resurgence and restoration.
2023 marks 20 years since African Parks, a non-profit conservation group, signed an settlement with the Malawian authorities to take over the administration of the reserve. Previous to this settlement, Majete was uncared for and, after many years of poaching, almost devoid of wildlife – elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, even warthog have been gone, and just a few antelope remained. Bushes have been being felled in nice amount for charcoal, there was solely a handful of sport scouts, and never one vacationer had visited the park within the earlier three years. The as soon as stunning Majete appeared doomed.
Leap ahead to 2023 and intensive conservation work has regenerated Majete. Africa Parks have reintroduced rhinos, elephants, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, and wild canine – in complete greater than 2,500 animals have been reintroduced. The animals have thrived and are breeding properly, present estimates put the overall mammal inhabitants at over 11,000. By 2017, so profitable had the reintroductions been, that surplus elephants and different animals have been in a position to be moved to assist repopulate Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, 200 miles away.
Majete has come a great distance previously twenty years. It’s virtually unrecognisable from its former dilapidated state. An unbelievable quantity of arduous work has turned the reserve into the one official Large 5 Recreation Park in Malawi (Large 7 in case you embrace the reserve’s wild canine and cheetah!). Not one rhino or elephant has been poached since they have been reintroduced, and Majete is totally reworked. This as soon as hopeless reserve is now certainly one of Malawi’s finest sport parks, providing some fantastic safari experiences and placing the nation on the map as a fantastic wildlife vacation spot.
Wildlife
Guests to Majete can sit up for some superb wildlife experiences, together with boat safaris on the magnificent Shire River (briefly unavailable), in addition to the same old safaris by car and on foot. Go searching for Majete’s magnificent wildlife on an adventurous safari! A lot of the wildlife in Majete has been reintroduced, together with massive numbers of elephant, buffalo, zebra, sable antelope, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, nyala and waterbuck. A number of lions and black rhinos have additionally been introduced in, in addition to wild canine and giraffe. The reserve additionally boasts someplace within the areas of 70 lions, and the biggest number of antelope species within the nation, together with higher kudu. The two,000 or so buffalo transfer in large herds, and the Shire River teems with hippos.
Birds
Majete is house to over 300 completely different species of birds, together with 4 species of vultures and quite a few Bateleur Eagles. Different chook highlights embrace the Boulder Chat, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Boehm’s Bee-eater, Cuckoo Hawk, Pel’s Fishing Owl and Rock Pratincole. There’s loads of selection to maintain even the keenest of birders entertained.
5 causes to go to Majete
- Majete is an unbelievable conservation success story – 20 years in the past, it was almost devoid of wildlife, however now it’s Malawi’s premier Large 5 vacation spot with thriving animal populations and plentiful birdlife.
- It’s the solely reserve in Malawi the place Giraffe and African Wild Canine could be seen.
- Majete carries the very best focus of predators in Malawi. These embrace Hyena, Cheetah, Leopard and Lion.
- Located solely an hour and a half from Blantyre, that is the right reserve to go to in Malawi.
- All funds generated in Majete contribute in the direction of the administration of the reserve. African Parks is a non-profit organisation – your contribution helps maintain this unbelievable story of hope and revival.
Finest time To go to
Though Majete is open all 12 months spherical, climate situations range significantly relying on the season. One of the best months for wildlife viewing are July – October, the Dry season, when animals are drawn to the river and waterholes. It could possibly nevertheless be very popular in October, which may be tough to bear. The surroundings is lush and inexperienced within the Moist season months, November – April, however animals are typically more durable to seek out and the roads change into tough to navigate.
get there
For individuals who need to drive to the reserve, autos can be found for rent in Blantyre. The final 12 miles is an all-season grime street and could be pushed all year long, however a 4×4 car is really helpful through the moist months. The journey takes about an hour and a half. For individuals who’d fairly fly, Majete has an airstrip, and charters could be booked with native suppliers.
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Majete lodging
Thawale Camp is a basic tented camp in a chief location. The lodge is about on the sting of a bustling waterhole that repeatedly attracts all kinds of wildlife, together with elephants and quite a few antelope. Located throughout the reserve boundaries, the lodge is totally unfenced, giving company an actual expertise within the pure environment. There’s a predominant lounge and eating space and 6 tented chalets for lodging (together with 2 household chalets). There may be additionally a bio-swimming pool on web site for company’ use. Observe the lodge doesn’t accommodate kids underneath 3 and youngsters should be supervised always.
Situated throughout the reserved, the Game Capture Community Campsite is about underneath a grove of bushes, for shade and cooler temperatures. Accommodating as much as 25 in designated tent websites, in addition to as much as 8 company in shelters, this can be a nice base from which to discover the reserve. The positioning is open permitting wildlife to maneuver freely by way of camp, however it does nevertheless have a brief fence round it to cease elephants surrounding your tent.
The Research Campsite is situated subsequent to the Mwembezi entrance gate. This camp is totally unfenced. The camp has 4 tented rooms, every with two single beds and en-suite bogs with scorching water. There’s a shared kitchen, seating space, firepit and BBQ. Meals, drinks and actions should not included, however could be booked at reception. Reservations can solely be made 14 days prematurely.
Mkulumadzi Lodge, run by Robin Pope Safaris and in its personal non-public concession space, has 8 stunning chalets situated on the banks of the Shire River and affords actual luxurious in a improbable setting. All ages are welcome and the lodge is open from 16 March – 9 Jan.
Visiting Majete throughout your journey to Malawi is a chance you positively don’t need to miss!
