Majete has become one of the most attractive parks in Malawi. Wildlife viewing is the highlight of a visit to Majete, but there are many ways of doing that. Whether it is on a Game Drive, a Bushwalk or if you feel more adventurous and go Elephant Tracking. Majete has even more to offer! Learn about the daily life and culture around Majete or visit the different community projects. Music, dancing, traditional meals, it is all possible.
The Kapichira Falls is important historically and offers an interesting view over the Shire River. Close by thereis a Baobab tree where David Livingstone, the famous Scottish missionary, put up a camp when he visited the area. The grave of Thornton, one of the members of Livingstone's expedition, is located at Maganga village, few kilometers from Majete. The grave also situated under the Baobab tree, is well maintained and is still intact.
Directions Majete Wildlife Reserve is located about 70km south-west of Blantyre in Malawi. Blantyre has got an international airport. You can hire a car in Blantyre. From Blantyre you take the road to Chikwawa and follow the signs to Majete Wildlife Reserve. In Chikwawa go right at the T-junction. At the end of the tar road, take a left at the T-junction and follow 20km of good dirt road to Majete Wildlife Reserve. It will take you about 1,5 hours in total.
To drive on our roads, we recommend a high-clearance vehicle and a 4x4 vehicle is strongly advised in the wet season.
Accommodation and services Majete offers two different types of accommodation: Thawale Camp and the Majete Community Camp Site.
Thawale Camp Stay overnight in Thawale Camp. This camp is situated inside the Majete Sanctuary, it is not fenced so animals regularly visit the camp. Do not be surprised if you hear elephants near your tent at night! Thawale Camp has six twin ensuite tented chalets (5 basic
chalets and one luxury tent). All chalets have an ensuite bathroom with hot and cold running water, one chalet has an unique open air bathroom built among the rocks with a shower and a sunken bath and a view of the floodlit waterhole. The chalets are spaced out to offer visitors privacy and an individual bush experience. They overlook an attractive waterhole that is floodlit at night. Visitors can usually watch elephants, waterbuck, buffalo and other game enjoying a drink. In the middle there is a communal lapa (traditional lounge area) with a fully staffed kitchen. Basic meals are provided of which the traditional Malawi meal is highly recommended. Full board per person per night sharing: US$ 76.
Majete Community Camp Site is a pleasant campsite that is situated inside the reserve. This site is built in 2007 and equipped with a bar area, barbeque area, toilets and showers. Looking for a nice place to pitch a tent? Try one of the shadow shelters. This beautiful thatched hide-out offers a comfortable place to spend the night. You might even just role out your sleeping bag on the platform and spend the night under the stars. The campsite is owned and managed by the communities around Majete. The profits go directly to these communities. Self-catering per person per night: US$ 6.
Majete is best explored by car. There are a number of well-signposted tracks and 4x4 trails for the intrepid explorer. The 250 km of road network will take you around the Sanctuary. To drive on our roads, we recommend a high-clearance vehicle and a 4x4 vehicle is strongly advised in the wet season. Visitors can explore Majete with their own car or choose one of the activities mentioned below:
Elephant Tracking Elephant tracking is a once in a lifetime experience! Together with two scouts visitors you will try to locate a single big bull or a group of elephants in a breeding herd. The elephants are first located by tuning in to the radio collar that each of ten animals in the Reserve has - the collars were fitted for monitoring these animals after their translocation in 2006. On foot you continue the search until you get close enough to see the animals.
Minimum age: 12 years, maximum number per group: 6.
Game Drive
In our game vehicle, guided by a scout, visitors go on a drive through the beautiful wilderness of Majete. From the high vehicle you have a good chance to spot the different animals that inhabit Majete. Game viewing is especially exciting early morning or late afternoon. A game drive at night to spot the nocturnal creatures of Majete is an option.
Maximum number per group: 8
Bush Walk
Bush walks are guided by our scouts, who themselves cover the full Reserve every day on patrols and are therefore well equipped to tell our visitors all about Majete.
Minimum age: 12 years, maximum number per group: 6
Community Visit
Experience genuine Malawi village life and see with your own eyes the community projects that take place in the villages around Majete.
Taste the freshly baked scones or honey newly-collected from a hive in the bush, listen to the music from Namajete or Valimba band and visit the vegetable garden or rabbitry. Make your own programme for the day, based on your time and interest.
Gule wa Mkulu Dancers
The Gule wa Mkulu is a tranditional local dance. The dancers perform at funerals and all sorts of assemblies. They also enjoy performing for guests. Invite the Gule at Majete or visit them in a village. Get lost in the rhythm of the hypnotic drums and be fascinated by their moves. An experience you will never forget!
Scout in your own car You can drive around in the park in your own vehicle using a tourist map in our visitors guide booklet or you can take a scout with you. He will be able to guide you to the best spots in the park based on your interests.
Bush breakfast We can arrange a breakfast for you somewhere on a beautiful place out in the bush overlooking a school of hippo.
Boardroom hire At the headquarters of Majete Wildlife Reserve we hava a fully equipped, air conditioned boardroom, so make your meeting, workshop of function an enjoyable event and combine it with some game viewing in the Reserve.
If you want to take part of the above mentioned services, please contact the Marketing Manager on her mobile +265 999 521 741 or by e-mail:
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Seasons Whatever time of year, Majete Wildlife Reserve has something to offer. The park is accessible the whole year through. Game viewing is however far superior during the dry season (June to November). Due to its position in the Shire Valley, the terrain is rugged, and undulating, and some game viewing areas are “better” than others.
Weather in Malawi is reasonably predictable – there are three recognised seasons and the weather within the seasons doesn’t vary much. The rainy season lasts from December until about March and once it begins in earnest, it rains almost every day. In a single day as much as 15cm of rain can fall. Temperatures at this time are around 38C during the day but cooling down somewhat at night. Temperatures start to fall slowly in April when days and nights become more pleasant. Rains gradually finish and Malawi moves into its cool and dry season until September. Game viewing improves during this time as this is when the scrub starts to die down and temperatures are more enjoyable at around 20C.
October to December sees the highest temperatures, sometimes up to 45C. As there is much less vegetation cover, animal sightings occur more often and groups of animals congregate at the waterholes. Fees Current fees for Majete are payable at the gate in:
- Malawi Kwacha
- US Dollar
- EURO
- South African Rand We do not accept credit cards or traveler cheques.
Prices 2010
Vehicle fee MK 500/(US$ 4)
Conservation fee per person Malawian national adult: MK 500/(US$ 4)
Malawian national under 12: MK 250/(US$ 2)
Non-Malawian resident adult: MK 1200/(US$ 9)
Non-Malawian resident under 12: MK 600/(US$ 5)
International visitor adult: MK 2800/(US$ 20)
International visitor under 12: MK 1400/(US$ 10)
Activities Guided Bush walk: MK 2500/(US$ 18) per person
Game drive: MK 3500/(US$ 25) per person
Elephant Tracking on foot: MK 3500/(US$ 25) per person
Scout in own car: MK 2000/(US$ 15) per scout
Village Tour, Community Visit or Dancers: MK 15000/(US$ 107) per group*
Bush Breakfast (only for guests of Thawale Camp): MK 5000/(US$ 36) per group*
Boardroom hire (tea/coffee inclusive): MK 15000/(US$ 107) ** *) Maximum of 6 persons
**) Maximum of 15 persons
Accommodation at Thawale Camp per person per night Tented Chalet - Full Board (breakfast, lunch, dinner): MK 10700/(US$ 76)
Tented Chalet - Half Board (breakfast, dinner): MK 9200/(US$ 66)
Luxury Tented Chalet - Full Board (breakfast, lunch, dinner): MK 14350/(US$ 103)
Luxury Tented Chalet - Half Board (breakfast, dinner): MK 12850/(US$ 92)
Single supplement: MK 1650/(US$ 12)
Eating in the Lapa at Thawale Camp per person Dinner: MK 1700/(US$ 12)
Lunch: MK 1500/(US$ 11)
Breakfast: MK 1000/(US$ 7)
Accommodation at Community Camp Site per night Camping per person: MK 800/(US$ 6)
Double shelter: MK 1000/(US$ 7)
Single shelter: MK 750/(US$ 5)
Day use of braai-area <10 persons: MK 1500/(US$ 10)
10-20 persons: MK 2500/(US$ 18)
>10 persons: MK 5000/(US$ 36) (Accommodation prices exclusive of drinks) Tent hire (4 persons): MK 3000/(US$ 22) per night
Video impression of a COMMUNITY VISIT
Running time: 1 minute and 44 seconds
Size: 4.85Mb
Majete has become one of the most attractive parks in Malawi. Wildlife viewing is the highlight of a visit to Majete, but there are many ways of doing that. Whether it is on a Game Drive, a Bushwalk or if you feel more adventurous and go Elephant Tracking. Majete has even more to offer! Learn about the daily life and culture around Majete or visit the different community projects. Music, dancing, traditional meals, it is all possible.
Thawale Camp 
Game Drive
Gule wa Mkulu Dancers
Weather in Malawi is reasonably predictable – there are three recognised seasons and the weather within the seasons doesn’t vary much. The rainy season lasts from December until about March and once it begins in earnest, it rains almost every day. In a single day as much as 15cm of rain can fall. Temperatures at this time are around 38C during the day but cooling down somewhat at night. 
