​Overview – Majete WR

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Malawi.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Malawi.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Malawi.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Malawi.

Majete Wildlife Reserve is Malawi’s major Big Five reserve and one of its top wildlife destinations. Badly neglected and heavily poached, the reserve was rescued in 2012 by the African Parks organization. Since then, more than 2,500 animals have been reintroduced and populations of naturally occurring large animals have started to recover. Accommodation ranges from a community-owned tented camp to a five-star lodge.

 
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Best Time To Go July to October (Dry bush, animals are easy to find)
High Season July to October (Park is busy, higher rates)
Size 700km² / 270mi²
Altitude 145-752m / 476-2,467ft
+23 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Great wildlife viewing with all the Big Five present
  • Beautiful landscape and river scenery
  • Night drives, boat trips and walking safaris are available
  • Elephant tracking on foot
  • Stunning five-star lodge
  • Only 140km² is developed for tourism and open to the public
  • 4x4 vehicle needed for some of the roads, and essential in the Wet Season
  • Some animals are still shy and difficult to find

Majete WR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

Most of the wildlife in Majete has been reintroduced, including large numbers of elephant, buffalo, zebra, sable antelope, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, nyala and waterbuck. Several lions and black rhinos have also been brought in, as well as giraffe, although not indigenous to Malawi. The reserve boasts the largest variety of antelope species in the country including thicket-loving greater kudu. The 600-odd buffalo move around in huge herds, and the Shire river teems with hippos.

Scenery

Terrain in the reserve is mostly brachystegia (miombo) woodland with rocky outcrops. One of these outcrops, the ‘view spot’, is a great place to get a sense of space and the wilderness overlooking the endless wooded hills. Kapichira Falls, reached by a short self-guided footpath, is worth a stop as well.

Weather & Climate

The climate in Majete is hot and tropical. Temperatures are relatively uniform throughout the year, though there is a distinct rise in humidity and temperature in October, just before the Wet season starts. December to February are the wettest months, and daily thunderstorms can be expected. The first half of the Dry season, June and July, is cooler, so bring warm clothing for early mornings.

Best Time To Visit

The best months for wildlife viewing are July to October in the Dry season, when animals are drawn to the river and waterholes. It can however be very hot in October, which might be difficult to bear. The scenery is lush and green in the Wet season months from November to April, but animals tend to be harder to find and the roads become difficult to navigate.

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Majete Safaris

Majete WR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

A Story of Success
4/5

Majete, in southern Malawi, is beautiful with its gentle rolling hills, lush miombo woodlands and majestic Shire River forging its way to the Zambezi. But if you’d have visited 20-odd years ago, you’d have seen very little wildlife –...

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Latest User Review
George  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Nov 21, 2023
Marginal
2/5

I have been on safaris before. This one was reconstituted,since poachers had pretty much destroyed this entire area of animals. It is nice for the government to repopulate the area but honestly it is a big waste of time Very few animals...

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