How Majete was brought back from ecological ruin

ROAR OF RECOVERY—The lion is back in the reserve

**By Emmanuel Chilemba: **

Among the many people who have witnessed Majete Wildlife Reserve’s transformation is a veteran wildlife ranger who has seen the full cycle of its collapse and revival.

“Back then, we were patrolling empty landscapes. There were almost no animals left and what we mostly saw were signs of poachers,” the ranger recalls.

He says the reserve reached a point where even those tasked with protection struggled to imagine recovery.

“At some point it felt like Majete was finished. There were no tourists and very little hope left,” he says.

Today, the same ranger walks through a transformed landscape where wildlife has returned in abundance. The change, he says, is both striking and emotional.

For him and many others on the frontline, Majete’s revival is not just a conservation milestone but a personal journey from despair to renewal.

A public-private partnership between African Parks and the Government of Malawi is restoring the reserve, once deserted after years of poaching and deforestation, into one of the country’s most successful conservation stories.

The 700 square kilometre reserve now hosts all of the “Big Seven” species: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino, wild dog and cheetah, alongside a steadily recovering population of other native species thriving across expanding stretches of woodland and evergreen bush.

On this particular day, the sun is slowing rising over rolling landscapes as tourists on a game drive move slowly along dusty tracks, pausing to observe wildlife scattered across tall grass and thick vegetation.

The atmosphere is calm, with herds grazing in open clearings and predators moving quietly through the bush.

Tour guides say this scene would have been unthinkable two decades ago.

“There was nothing here. You could drive for hours without seeing a single animal,” one guide who has worked in the reserve since its reopening to tourism says.

This peaceful environment contrasts sharply with conditions two decades ago when the reserve had been pushed to the brink of ecological collapse.

Years of uncontrolled poaching, illegal settlements and deforestation had stripped Majete of its wildlife and degraded its habitats.

Vegetation had been reduced to sparse shrubs and biodiversity had nearly vanished.

By the 1980s the last rhinoceros had disappeared from the reserve. In the 1990s large carnivores were wiped out and by 1992 the last elephant was killed.

According to data reviewed by The Daily Times, by 2002 only a handful of antelopes remained and there was no recorded tourist activity.

Majete had effectively lost its ecological balance and had become a financial burden on the state with little benefit to surrounding communities.

“At that time, it was simply not viable. There was no wildlife economy to speak of,” a conservation official familiar with the reserve’s history says.

The turning point came in 2003 when African Parks assumed management under a public-private partnership agreement with the Government of Malawi.

“We inherited a heavily degraded ecosystem, but we also saw its potential for recovery,” Park Manager John Adendorff says.

Since then, African Parks has implemented intensive anti-poaching operations, strengthened boundary fencing and introduced structured community engagement programmes aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict and building local support for conservation.

“Intensive protection, improved fencing and community engagement created the conditions for wildlife to return,” Adendorff says.

He adds that the recovery has gone beyond conservation alone and has become a model for ecological restoration and rural development.

The success of Majete is also reflected in its role as a source population for other protected areas. Since 2016, the reserve has translocated more than 1,100 animals to support wildlife restoration elsewhere in Malawi.

This includes over 100 elephants moved during the historic 500-elephant translocation exercise in 2017, one of the largest wildlife relocation efforts in the region.

According to Adendorff, Majete’s transition into a fully-fledged ‘Big Seven’ reserve has significantly strengthened its international profile.

“We now have species that complete the full predator spectrum for this region,” he says.

Adendorff adds that the introduction of cheetahs and wild dogs has added ecological completeness and increased tourism interest.

“We are proud of what this represents. It shows that restoration on this scale is possible,” he says.

Majete’s revival is also transforming livelihoods in surrounding communities through employment, tourism revenue and development programmes.

“We have seen real change in local communities. Jobs have been created and opportunities are increasing,” Adendorff says.

The reserve recently reported earning about $1.036 million, approximately K1.8 billion, from international tourism in the past year, a figure that reflects its growing global appeal.

KUMCHEDWA—It shows what is possible when there is commitment

Government officials say the partnership has become a benchmark for conservation management in Malawi.

Director of National Parks and Wildlife Brighton Kumchedwa says Majete demonstrates what strong collaboration can achieve.

“Majete is now a model for protected area management. It shows what is possible when there is commitment and proper management,” he says.

He adds that government is inclined to extend the partnership agreement due to its success.

“At this stage there is every indication that the contract will be renewed,” he says.

Kumchedwa also praises African Parks for integrating conservation with community development.

“They have done very well in biodiversity conservation and in supporting surrounding communities. It is a balanced approach,” he says.

Traditional leaders have also welcomed the transformation, saying it has brought tangible benefits to their communities.

“We are seeing improvements in livelihoods through jobs and income-generating activities such as beekeeping and farming support,” Senior Chief Kanduku of Mwanza District says.

Community engagement remains a central pillar of Majete’s recovery strategy. According to Community Extension Manager Dixie Makwale, the reserve has invested heavily in education and local development initiatives.

“These programmes are designed to ensure that communities benefit directly from conservation,” Makwale says.

Makwale explains that the reserve continues to support schools across surrounding districts.

“Last year we provided K9.5 million to each of several primary schools including Changadeya, Kubalika, Kaola, Choti and Chiguma.

“This year we are extending support to more schools to improve learning conditions and access to materials,” Makwale says.

She adds that such initiatives have strengthened trust between communities and park authorities while helping reduce pressure on natural resources.

“When communities benefit from conservation, they are more likely to protect it,” she says.

The history of Majete dates back to 1951 when it was first declared a protected area following lobbying by the then Nyasaland Fauna Preservation Society.

The surrounding land around Majete Hill was considered unsuitable for agriculture, which strengthened the argument for conservation.

In 1955 it was formally established as Majete Game Reserve before being renamed Majete Wildlife Reserve in 1969.

Today, the reserve stands as one of Malawi’s most remarkable conservation success stories, showing how long-term partnerships, strong governance and community involvement can restore ecosystems once on the brink of collapse and turn them into engines of ecological and economic renewal.