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 also eventually return the reserve to it’s former glory via a programme of wildlife relocation.

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..