About

Majete and Liwonde have been transformed through the management of African Parks in partnership with the DNPW and local communities since 2003 and 2015 respectively. Together, our efforts have resulted in the dramatic reduction of poaching and human-wildlife conflict, as well as historical translocations and reintroductions of key species. These have included rhinos to Majete in 2003, and over 3,000 other animals from 15 species, most recently among them lion and cheetah which have gone to both Majete and Liwonde. In 2015, when African Parks assumed management of Liwonde, the park contained thousands of wire snares and the highest rate of human-wildlife conflict in the region. Black rhino, which had been reintroduced to the park in 1993 (after rhinos disappeared from Malawi in 1991). But in just four short years in Liwonde, African Parks and DNPW have built one of the best ranger teams and training grounds in southern Africa; integrated the most advanced technology and infrastructure to protect and monitor wildlife and management activities; and removed over 37,000 wire snares. Not a single individual of a high-value species has been lost since African Parks assumed management of Majete in 2003, nor one in Liwonde since 2016. Majete and Liwonde have both become secure sanctuaries enabling the growth and long-term success of rhino populations and other endangered wildlife, for the benefit of local communities and the country of Malawi.

Since assuming management of Majete Wildlife Reserve in 2003 and Liwonde National Park in 2015, African Parks in partnership with the DNPW, has overhauled law enforcement and effectively halted poaching in both parks. Both Majete and Liwonde have pre-existing black rhino populations and preparations were made to ensure their long-term safety and well-being, which includes the creation of expertly-trained rhino tracking and protection teams and the deployment of helicopters for critical aerial surveillance to enhance protection of the parks. In addition, both parks utilize technological innovations, including Vulcan’s EarthRanger and Smart Parks technology to monitor chipped/collared animals on a real-time basis. As a result of these efforts, not one rhino or elephant has been poached in Majete in the last 16 years and not one has been poached in Liwonde in the last two and a half years.