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Heroes and Heroines Liwonde National Park
Liwonde is stretched along the Shire River, south of Lake Malawi. The riverine landscape of the Shire dominates the western side of…
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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Majete
Under the management of African Parks, Majete is a rags-to-riches success story that acts as proof of what can be done in Africa, when local communities and sound wildlife management principles collaborate.
Situated in the Lower Shire Valley, in the south-west of Malawi, Majete is approximately one and a half hours from Blantyre and three hours from Lake Malawi. The Shire River forms the park’s eastern boundary, with the Mkulumadzi River cutting through the north-east corner.
Low thicket covers the park, interspersed with small gullies, sandy openings and the occasional larger tree, including palms. By the river, the landscape is more open – a mixture of rocks and sand, bordering short grasses. This verdant environment is a haven for herbivores; it is packed with waterbucks, impalas, nyalas and greater kudus.
The park is also home to the Big Five, thanks to the reintroduction of lions and rhinos by African Parks. Whilst sightings are never guaranteed and populations are still small, Majete can lay claim to being the only Big Five park in Malawi.
A little more about Majete Wildlife Reserve
Under the management of African Parks, Majete is a rags-to-riches success story that acts as proof of what can be done in Africa, when local communities and sound wildlife management principles collaborate.
Situated in the Lower Shire Valley, in the south-west of Malawi, Majete is approximately one and a half hours from Blantyre and three hours from Lake Malawi. The Shire River forms the park’s eastern boundary, with the Mkulumadzi River cutting through the north-east corner.
Low thicket covers the park, interspersed with small gullies, sandy openings and the occasional larger tree, including palms. By the river, the landscape is more open – a mixture of rocks and sand, bordering short grasses. This verdant environment is a haven for herbivores; it is packed with waterbucks, impalas, nyalas and greater kudus.
The park is also home to the Big Five, thanks to the reintroduction of lions and rhinos by African Parks. Whilst sightings are never guaranteed and populations are still small, Majete can lay claim to being the only Big Five park in Malawi.
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Why visit Majete Wildlife Reserve
- Explore a park rejuvenated, now home to the Big Five
- Walk and drive through the park with near exclusivity, from isolated Mkulumadzi
- Cruise the Shire River, spotting animal and bird life along its banks
- Visit African Park’s anti-poaching unit and learn about the challenges facing the park
Conservation success of African Parks
Majete has not always been a prolific safe haven to wildlife. In the late nineties, the reserve once renowned for its vast animal numbers reached a nadir from which many conservationists thought it could not be saved. Elephants were completely eradicated and the few species of animals that did remain were reduced to critical numbers. Illegal encroachment, agriculture and hardwood logging were all taking their toll on Majete’s precious resources and drastic measures were required if Majete was to be restored.
Enter African Parks, who in partnership with the Malawian government and local communities, took responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of the reserve. With an overhaul of Majete’s infrastructure and law enforcement, Majete was given a secure platform from which to begin a sustained program of wildlife restocking.
In the first 10 years of African Parks’ management, nearly 3,000 animals were reintroduced to Majete. These can be seen flourishing today, with the park going from strength to strength – even now being used to restock neighbouring reserves.
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Experiences
Discover some of our suggested activities to include on your Malawi holiday
Where to stay
Mkulumadzi Lodge
Located in the Majete Wildlife Reserve, Mkulumadzi offers guests a chic and contemporary retreat set amidst rugged and untouched bushland.
The lodge, accessible by a footbridge suspended over the Mkulumadzi River, comprises of eight spacious chalets, each with private viewing decks offering dramatic and unimpeded views over the confluence of two rivers, the Mkulumadzi and the Shire.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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