Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi

Community Involvement

A total of 130,000 people live around Majete and it is vital that this local community derives real and tangible benefits from the park in order to ensure its long term survival.

Community based organisations have been established in the areas around Majete to ensure that the surrounding people have an input into park management. Sustainable resource harvesting such as for thatching grass and reeds, is permitted within the park, whilst micro-enterprises such as bee-keeping, mushroom farming, pottery and furniture making, have been initiated in conjunction with community members. Enterprise development programmes for 2010 included a medium size egg production business which generated US$1,597 in annual revenue.

A community-managed campsite near the entrance gate at Mathithi provides a regular source of income for the community. The net profit generated during 2010 from camping fees and tuck-shop sales amounted to US$8,820.

African Parks has always placed emphasis on educational activities and programmes within the areas surrounding its parks. This includes providing financial support, for eighty secondary school and 12 tertiary students through the Majete Scholarship Fund. Environmental education outreach programmes during which pupils learn about conservation issues also receives a lot of emphasis with an average of three sessions conducted a month.

One of the most important benefits to local communities is employment, especially considering that each economically active person supports on average eight people. Employment has risen ten-fold at Majete since African Parks took over management, from just 12 people in 2003 to over 150 permanent employees today, with many more employed on a temporary basis and in a range of support businesses. Well respected tourism company Robin Pope Safaris opened an exclusive tourism lodge in Majete in July 2011, which has provided more jobs and further stimulation of the local economy.