From the tropical plains of the Lower Shire to the cool forested plateau of Zomba, southern Malawi offers striking contrasts. From hiking to tea tasting to big game safaris with elephant tracking at Majete Wildlife Reserve.
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Southern Malawi is a region of vivid contrasts — from the tropical plains of the Lower Shire Valley to the misty forests of the Zomba Plateau. The big attraction is the remarkable Majete Wildlife Reserve, a 14,000 ha sanctuary transformed by African Parks into one of Malawi’s top safari destinations.
Once heavily poached, Majete Wildlife Reserve has been reborn through an ambitious & systematic programme of wildlife restocking that reintroduced nearly 200 elephants, along with lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah, black rhino, buffalo, zebra and a wide variety of antelope. Herds of elephant and buffalo now roam the riverine plains, while the rare sable remains one of the park’s signatures.
You can enjoy day and night game drives, guided walks during the dry season, and scenic hikes to nearby waterfalls. Majete is also one of the best places in Malawi to see all of the Big Five, a conservation success that continues to inspire.
Here you stay at Mkulumadzi Camp, with one of the best locations of any safari lodge in Southern Africa!
Nearby Mount Mulanje is Malawi’s highest peak at 3000 m, surrounded by oceans of picturesque tea plantations. It’s a favourite with hikers and climbers seeking cool air, waterfalls, and wide mountain views.
Between Majete and Satemwa and Liwonde lies the old colonial capital of Zomba, with the magical Zomba Plateau (1,500 m), rising above. Its cool climate and forested slopes offer a serene contrast to the valley below. It provides spectacular views over Southern Malawi. Choose between delightful woodland walking to scenic waterfalls, horse riding, mountain biking and trout fishing in crystal-clear streams. The place to stay is the rather old-fashioned Ku Chawe Hotel which has a stunning location.
How do I reach Majete?
Majete Wildlife Reserve is a 1½–2 hour drive from Blantyre (with flights from both Johannesburg, and Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines. You can also take a seat-in-charter flight from Lilongwe into Majete (with a minimum of 2 people.)
Can I combine Majete with other regions?
Yes, it combines beautifully with Liwonde Game Reserve, and the Satemwa tea estate.
Does Majete Wildlife Reserve offer the Big Five?
Yes it does have the Big Five including black rhino and leopard — an impressive conservation success for Malawi. But the leopard is – as is usual – an elusive sighting.
Ready to explore Malawi’s wild south? Let us design a safari that pairs Majete’s big-game plains with Zomba’s cool highlands and the tea-scented hills of Thyolo.
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