Visit Majete Wildlife Reserve

Majete Travel Information

When To Visit

Although Majete is open all year-round, the weather conditions vary considerably depending on season. The wet season occurs from November to March and is when Malawi receives most of its seasonal rains. It is hot and humid with thick lush vegetation. In contrast, the dry season runs from April to October when the bush gets increasingly less green and temperatures are mild to very hot come October. Rain is unlikely from June – October. Temperatures range from 11 to 40 degrees Celsius, with July being the coolest, and October/November being the hottest.

Activities

The park offers its guests a variety of activities including:

• Morning and Afternoon drives
• Boat excursions on the Shire river (subject to river conditions)
• Nakamba Hide Sleep Out
• Bush/Bird walk
• Community Guide (accompanying a private car)
• Community visits
• Cultural dancing performance

Please see Accommodation & Rates below for additional detail.

Need To Know

The reserve’s gates open daily from 06h00 – 18h00. There are several facilities for day visitors to enjoy, including a Heritage and Education Centre that houses a small museum and also sells a range of local curios. Mwembezi Restaurant is located below the Heritage Centre overlooking a busy waterhole, where wildlife regularly comes to drink. Here, visitors can enjoy light meals and drinks and cool down in the swimming pool next to the restaurant. The community campsite has braai facilities where day visitors are welcome to have picnics.

Reserve Entry Fees are:

*Children under 6 years are free of charge

Vehicle Entry Fees: $4

Health Essentials

It is best to consult with your medical provider regarding recommended and required vaccines for visitors to Malawi. In general, a traveler should consider tetanus, polio, typhoid and hepatitis vaccinations prior to arrival. Yellow fever immunisation is generally only needed if visitors are entering Malawi from a yellow fever endemic country. please consult a travel doctor prior to travelling to get any relevant updates.

Malaria is present and appropriate precautions are advised.

Water at Majete is from a borehole and is safe to drink, but bottled water is available at all facilities.

Travel Essentials

Malawi is well known for its warm and welcoming people and the opportunity to engage with local communities is likely to be a highlight of your stay. When taking photos of people and their surroundings, it is best to ask for permission first. Handouts are also generally discouraged, as there are community outreach programmes in place.

The official language of Malawi is English, although the local language of Chichewa is spoken by close to 60 percent of the population, particularly those that live outside of the urban centres.

All travellers need to be in possession of a valid passport, but visitors from a number of countries do not require a visa. This includes visitors from Belgium, Commonwealth countries, Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, San Marino, Sweden, Liechtenstein and the USA. Visitors from most other countries may be issued a visa on arrival, but this should be confirmed before travelling. View visa information here.

US dollars, euros, pounds and the South African rand are widely accepted in Malawi. The local currency is the Malawi Kwacha and can be obtained at the airport, or from ATMs (Visa only) or local banks. Visa credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, but not typically in remote areas.

Safety Essentials

Majete is home to an abundance of wild animals including the Big Five, so there is a set of rules and regulations that all visitors must read before entering the reserve. Indemnity forms must also be signed at the main entrance gate.