Project African Wilderness: Welcome

Website designed and maintained by Nathan Dixey

Last updated 18/07/2008

All photographs except where otherwise stated are copyright Nathan Dixey

PROJECT AFRICAN WILDERNESS (Malawi)

Project African Wilderness (PAW LTD) is Registered in Malawi (7175)

“If we do not do something to prevent it, Africa's animals and the places in which they live will be lost to our world, and her children forever."

Nelson Mandela.

For wildlife, for Malawi, for yourself.

Cycle across Malawi for PAW in 2009! This challenging cycle ride is rich in contrast and adventure, and is sure to be full of unforgettable experiences.

This is your chance to see this beautiful country.

Just £300 deposit to sign up

PAW News

PAW Newsletter - July 2008

PAW signs historic deal with Malawi Government

Comment by Leonard Sefu (Director DNPW) - April 2008

PAW Newsletter - October 2007

Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve and the adjacent Lower Shire Parks make very rewarding destinations for visitors seeking to delve deeper into Africa’s hidden corners.

PAW operates a tourist facility from Chipembere Camp just outside the park and from Migudu Campsite inside Mwabvi Game Reserve itself. PAW can also arrange tours across Malawi, to Zambia’s South Luangwa, Victoria Falls and far beyond. The profit from any tours or activities booked through PAW will be used to directly fund the conservation work at Mwabvi Game Reserve.

Please email PAW to book or enquire about any of these activities.

PAW also provides a great opportunity for Volunteers to gain research experience or to simply assist with the much needed conservation work here in the warm heart of Africa. If you are interested in our volunteer program click here to email PAW.

Text Box: Project African Wilderness PAW Project African Wilderness (Malawi) is a Not for Profit Company working to conserve and develop Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve. PAW’s main responsibilities under the terms of the management agreement entered into with the Malawi Government on 7th February 2007 include Park Management, community development and tourism. See comment by Leonard Sefu (Director DNPW) PAW Malawi benefits from the backing of a strong local management team, comprising Kenneth Smith, Managing Director, a former South African Lawyer and a committed enviromentalist who runs a successful Safari company based in Lilongwe, Zarin Kharodia project co-coordinator taking responsibility for aspects of planning and project manager Paul Dalgarno who at the sharp end utilises his local team to implement the necessary conservation work in the reserve.

Endangered Species

Habitats

Conservation Principles

Ecotourism Information

Additional fundraising for the project is carried out by PAW UK a registered charity based in England, which was set up for the purpose by Gaynor Asquith, who also runs a regenaration agency in the UK specialising in delivering social and economic regeneration with the suport of the community. Click here if you would like to make a donation

History of Project African Wilderness

Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve is the smallest and only privately managed reserve in Malawi; as such it is the only reserve entirely reliant upon independent funding. As a former game reserve, it provides for a reliable conservation area offering sanctuary to a number of vulnerable plants and animals. It lies in the most southerly region of Malawi in hilly terrain, interspersed by sandstone ridges and rocky gorges.

Mwabvi was made a wildlife reserve in 1953 but years of neglect, uncontrolled hunting and deforestation led to such a serious depletion of mammals and plants that by 2000 Mwabvi was in danger of losing its status as a wildlife reserve.

Kenneth Smith visited the reserve in 2000 to see if there was anything which could be salvaged. He was greeted by the haunting cry of eagles and the eerie chatter of a lone hyena giving hope that at least some wildlife continued to survive within the reserve.This sparked off a determination to not only save those few remaining species but to also eventually return the reserve to it’s former glory via a programme of wildlife re-location.

Kenneth teamed up with Gaynor Asquith, The Department of Wildlife National Parks (DWNP) and the Malawi Government; together they resolved to save Mwabvi’s precious animals, birds and the trees whatever the costs involved, this marked the birth of the Project African Wilderness (PAW).

Aims and Objectives

· PAW was formed to bring effective management to Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve and thereby protect the flora and fauna in its natural state. By developing infrastructure and tourism the aim is to make the Park self-sustaining and bring benefits to the local community. PAW promotes education and research in wildlife conservation and supports rural development schemes in the adjacent community.

· The ultimate goal is to secure the future of biodiversity in Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve, funded through tourism and to sustain as well as stimulate the local economy through improved natural resource management.

· PAW is also keen to expand its area of influence and specifically assist the management of the adjacent Matandwe Forest Reserve..