Majete Wildlife Reserve is Malawi’s main ‘Large 5’ reserve and one among its high wildlife locations. Positioned in south-western Malawi, roughly 40 miles from Blantyre and three hours from Lake Malawi, Majete is without doubt one of 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 a long time of poaching, almost devoid of wildlife – elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, even warthog had been gone, and just a few antelope remained. Timber had 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.
Bounce ahead to 2023 and intensive conservation work has regenerated Majete. Africa Parks have reintroduced rhinos, elephants, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, and wild canines – in complete greater than 2,500 animals have been reintroduced. The animals have thrived and are breeding nicely, 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 had been in a position to be moved to assist repopulate Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, 200 miles away.
Majete has come a great distance prior to now twenty years. It’s virtually unrecognisable from its former dilapidated state. An unimaginable quantity of exhausting work has turned the reserve into the one official Large 5 Recreation Park in Malawi (Large 7 in the event you embrace the reserve’s wild canines and cheetah!). Not one rhino or elephant has been poached since they had been reintroduced, and Majete is totally reworked. This as soon as hopeless reserve is now one among Malawi’s finest sport parks, providing some fantastic safari experiences and placing the nation on the map as an important wildlife vacation spot.
Wildlife
Guests to Majete can look ahead to some wonderful wildlife experiences, together with boat safaris on the magnificent Shire River (briefly unavailable), in addition to the standard safaris by car and on foot. Go seeking Majete’s magnificent wildlife on an adventurous safari! Many 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 big herds, and the Shire River teems with hippos.
Birds
Majete is residence to over 300 totally 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 unimaginable 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 unimaginable story of hope and revival.
Finest time To go to
Though Majete is open all 12 months spherical, climate situations fluctuate significantly relying on the season. The most effective months for wildlife viewing are July – October, the Dry season, when animals are drawn to the river and waterholes. It will probably nevertheless be extremely popular in October, which could be tough to bear. The surroundings is lush and inexperienced within the Moist season months, November – April, however animals are typically tougher to search out and the roads turn out to be tough to navigate.
Tips on how to get there
For individuals who wish to drive to the reserve, automobiles can be found for rent in Blantyre. The final 12 miles is an all-season filth highway and could be pushed all year long, however a 4×4 car is really helpful in the course of the moist months. The journey takes about an hour and a half. For individuals who’d reasonably 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 main location. The lodge is about on the sting of a bustling waterhole that recurrently attracts all kinds of wildlife, together with elephants and quite a few antelope. Located throughout the reserve boundaries, the lodge is totally unfenced, giving friends an actual expertise within the pure environment. There’s a foremost 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 friends’ use. Observe the lodge doesn’t accommodate kids below 3 and youngsters have to be supervised always.
Positioned throughout the reserved, the Recreation Seize Group Campsite is about below a grove of timber, for shade and cooler temperatures. Accommodating as much as 25 in designated tent websites, in addition to as much as 8 friends in shelters, it is a nice base from which to discover the reserve. The location is open permitting wildlife to maneuver freely by camp, nevertheless it does nevertheless have a brief fence round it to cease elephants surrounding your tent.
The Analysis 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 upfront.
Mkulumadzi Lodge, run by Robin Pope Safaris and in its personal personal 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 wish to miss!
