MAJETE WILDLIFE RESERVE

Majete Wildlife Reserve is situated in the lower Shire valley in the South West of Malawi, approximately 50 miles from Blantyre and three hours from Lake Malawi and offers a mix of mature miombo woodlands and granite topped hills that contrast with stunning river valleys and verdant riverine forest. It was once a prolific wildlife refuge but by the late 1990’s most species of large game, including elephant, had been eradicated. Remnant populations of a few resilient species remained but they had been reduced to very low, and in some cases, critical numbers. In 2003, African Parks Majete (APM), in partnership with local communities, took total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of the reserve. The restoration of Majete has included significant infrastructure development and wildlife restocking and Malawi now has a wildlife reserve that can begin to rival some of its neighbouring parks in Zambia.

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The mass translocation of wildlife began in 2003 and by March 2012, 2,554 animals from thirteen different species had been reintroduced including elephant, black rhino, leopard, buffalo, sable antelope, zebra, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and eland. In August 2012, three lions were introduced to Majete making it one of the only reserves in Malawi where the BIG FIVE can be viewed.