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27 September 2013

The Ten Year Transformation of Malawi's Majete Reserve

Marking one of Africa’s best conversation success stories in recent years, Saturday September 28th, 2013 will witness a ten year celebration in honour of the amazing transformation of Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve – from desolate area devoid of wildlife into a thriving BIG 5 destination. The Majete project has proven to be an immense success since 2003 when the Government of Malawi entered into a 25-year public private partnership with African Parks for the rehabilitation, development and management of the Reserve.
 
Majete has since been restocked with more than 2,500 animals including black rhino, lions and leopards. The diversity of the wildlife and birds, spectacular scenery including hills, the Shire River and the Kapachira Falls, and its reputation for allowing guests the chance to get up close with nature has meant tourism numbers continue to rise. In 10 years the revenue has almost tripled with 6000 tourists visiting the park in 2012, bringing in almost US$230,000.
 
Developing the Majete tourism experience has resulted in a variety of accommodation and tourist facilities to suit all desires. This includes the Mwembezi restaurant open to day visitors and the solar-powered Majete Community Camp Site, where guests can pitch a tent on an open thatched platform under the stars. The Thawale Tented Lodge comprises luxurious tented chalets with a private veranda looking onto a floodlit waterhole that attracts a variety of wildlife. The Mkulumadzi Lodge (run by Robin Pope Safaris) is contemporary and luxury accommodation located on the lush riverbank at the confluence of the Mkulumadzi and Shire rivers.
 
The 10 years of achievements at Majete Wildlife Reserve has built confidence in the public-private partnership approach to the management of national parks which will be replicated in other protected areas in the region.

For more on Majete see: http://www.malawitourism.com/pages/attractions/the_attraction.asp?AttractionsID=30