|  | An adventure expedition for paying participants is linked to the 2008 elephant translocation project from Liwonde National Park to Majete Game Reserve.
- Elephant activity
- conservation projects
- Large elephant herds
- Lake Malawi
| The Majete Wildlife Reserve is a 700 km2 wilderness area in southern Malawi where wildlife was largely wiped out by poaching. Here an innovative project to rebuild the reserve is being run by a partnership between the African Parks Network (APN) and Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in Malawi. APN is a non-profit organisation that rehabilitates, develops and manages protected areas throughout Africa.
Malawi being one of the poorest countries in the world lacks capacity, resources and equipment for effective conservation of its protected areas. The partnership between APN and the DNPW turned this situation around. Law enforcement is a priority and the area is now secure. A labour force of 80-100 people employed from local communities is improving the infrastructure. A game reintroduction sanctuary of 14 000 ha was fenced in 2003. A further 110 km of fence following the reserve boundary is being erected to minimize conflict between people and the growing wildlife populations.
By now over 1,000 animals have been reintroduced to Majete including black rhino, waterbuck, sable antelope, buffalo, impala, nyala, warthog, zebra, eland and hartebeest and they are all breeding well. In August 2006 a start was made to rebuild a viable elephant population when 70 animals -bulls, cows and youngsters in complete family groups- were moved from Liwonde National Park to Majete. These animals have settled well and five calves have been born since.
Because of the ecological importance of elephants, and their great value as a charismatic species, a second elephant translocation is now being planned. This operation, scheduled for June 2008, will see another 50 elephants moved from Liwonde NP to Majete and possibly an additional 20 - 80 (?) elephants from the Mangochi area. |
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| Start Lilongwe, Liwonde National Park
Scheduled flights into Lilongwe. | Day 1: Lilongwe - Liwonde
Private charter from Lilongwe to Mvuu camp. Check-in at Mvuu camp. Afternoon game drive in the Liwonde NP | Day 2: Liwonde - Majete
Capture operation of two elephant bulls - early start in the morning. Localization, darting, and immobilization of the bulls - loading them into the transport crates - departure of the transport truck to Majete. Return to Mvuu camp for lunch. In the afternoon scenic helicopter flight from Mvuu to Majete for the first half of the group. Arrival and off-loading of the bulls into the holding boma. Afternoon game drive in Majete and dinner at Thawale camp. | Day 3: Majete - Liwonde
Release of the bulls into the Majete Wildlife Reserve. Visit of an APN community project in Majete (e.g. bore holes, organic gardening, schools)
Scenic flight back to Mvuu camp - lunch. Afternoon game drive or boat cruise in the Liwonde NP | Day 4: Liwonde - Majete
Capture operation of a family group (females and their offspring) - early start in the morning. Localization, darting, and immobilization of the group - loading them into the transport crates - departure of the transport truck to Majete. Return to Mvuu camp for lunch. In the afternoon scenic helicopter flight from Mvuu to Majete for the second half of the group. Arrival and off-loading of the family group into the holding boma. Afternoon game drive in Majete and dinner at Thawale camp. | Day 5: Majete - Liwonde
Release of the family group into the Majete Wildlife Reserve. Visit of an APN community project in Majete (e.g. bore holes, organic gardening, schools)
Scenic flight back to Mvuu camp - lunch. Afternoon game drive or boat cruise in the Liwonde NP | Day 6: Liwonde - Lilongwe
Private charter from Mvuu camp to Lilongwe.
End of services | Rate includes:
return light aircraft transfer from Lilongwe or Blantyre to Mvuu; accommodation, all meals, two game activities per day, laundry and park fees at Mvuu; participation in two elephant capture operations - one in the helicopter and one on the ground; return helicopter transfer to Majete. | Rate excludes:
International flights and drinks. | Group size:
Maximum 10 participants. | Note:
Although every effort is made to adhere to schedules it should be borne in mind that we reserve the right to alter the program as dictated by changing conditions. Such conditions may be brought about by seasonal rainfall on bush tracks, airfields and in game areas, by game migrations from one region to another, or airline and/or other booking problems, delays etc.
During the actual capture operations the welfare of the animals being caught and translocated will be paramount at all times. |
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