Seventy kilometres southwest of Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city, lies Majete Wildlife Reserve (MWR) which covers nearly 70, 000 hectors of thriving wilderness.
This is the park which government abandoned after heavy poaching by the people from the surrounding villages, thanks to African Parks, which came to the rescue in 2003.
After investing K1.6 billion to revitalise the park, now over 4, 000 animals roam the park including elephant, rhino, buffalo, hippos, zebra ad many antelope species.
“We have almost managed to relocate many animal species. We have only remained with lions to make it a big five park,” said MWR Project coordinator Patricio Ndadzela.
African Parks is building a five star hotel between Shire and Mkulumadzi rivers within the park to the tune of USD1.3 million and will be completed by June 2011.
“We want to turn this wildlife reserve into a top-level tourist destination and a model for local tourist,” he said.
Community collaborative management
As one way to avoid future encroachment, Ndadzela said MRW has a collaborative management agreement with the communities to instil in them some sense of ownership.
Over 135, 000 people live in the village surrounding Majete.
“We have established Income Generation Activities (IGA) in the communities and they also have their own campsite inside the reserve which they manage,” said Ndadzela.
He said the community campsite which is self catering with a bar, braai facilities and hot showers, is run by a committee from the community with all profits going to a community fund used to support local projects.
He said MRW coordinates almost 19 medium size business enterprises among the communities.
“African Parks works together with the boundary communities to show how conservation and responsible tourism can lead to sustainable economic development and poverty reduction,” Ndadzela said.
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