Wilderness safari camp in Malawi

Environment
In our Reserve of 70,000 ha we have one camp with 6 tents. These tents only have a concrete base and a brick bathroom. The tents are made from canvas and come from South Africa. All the other material is locally bought, the wood that is used comes mostly from the reserve.

All green waste goes to the chickens that we have in the vegetable garden. All other waste is collected and is burnt. We are in the middle of the bush, there are not many products that create waste. In the accommodation there is no power. There is a generator that only runs 3 hours a day for the water pump, hot water and fridges. We also use solar power. We pump our own water. We do not change sheets or towels every day.

The reserve is a beautiful example of the protection and conservation of the indigenous wildlife and nature of Malawi. If it wasn’t for projects like these Malawi’s nature and wildlife would just vanish. The reserves 70,000 ha are completely fenced and as such has been restocked with over 3,000 animals after poaching emptied the reserve in the past. A huge project and still more to go.

There is also a habitat management scheme in progress. Specific management activities are: controlled burning and fire breaks, maintenance of waterholes, predator management and controlling and eliminating of exotic species. But also biological monitoring, such as aerial census, wildlife surveys, monitoring selected species and background research.

In the reserve we use Solar Power as much as possible. The Kapichira Falls are in the reserve which generate power for Escom (Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi)– the hydropower plant.

Community
The reserve is in many ways financially beneficially to the surrounding 130,000 people. They work in the Reserve, they work in the CBO’s, we sell their handicrafts or fruit and vegetables et cetera. The visitors of the park can buy their products and go and visit them.

The Reserve the first private park management institution in Africa that takes on the long-term management responsibility for parks, in Public Private Partnerships with Governments, by combining world class conservation practice with business expertise. APN places emphasis on the stimulation of responsible tourism and associated private enterprise as a mechanism for achieving financial sustainability of the parks as well as providing a foundation for sustainable economic development and poverty reduction. To achieve this objective, several strategies stategies have been implemented.

One of them is Extension and Communication work. An extension program is the mechanism for communicating with the broader community on issues such as restocking (particularly with dangerous species), job opportunities in the park, poaching, boundary disputes, sustainable harvesting, general progress with the project, problem animal control etc. There are 130,000 people bordering the Reserve in over 85 villages. These local communities have been organized into 19 CBO’s (Community Based Organization) at Group Village Headman level (GVH).

Targeted Investments in Community Infrastructure is another important aspect. A clinic and a school have already been built in one of the neighbouring villages. Community infrastructure is a tangible sign of benefits accruing to communities. Therefore, each year, community infrastructural projects such as contributions towards boreholes, school classrooms, clinics, rural libraries, livestock drinking troughs are supported and initiated, as well as supporting 60 orphans by paying their school fees. In order to create an enabling environment for the conservation message to be assimilated, Environmental Education must be promoted. And also Support to Income Generating Activities. Examples of Income Generating Activities that are already in practice include cultural activities, beekeeping enterprises, oyster mushroom cultivation and local handicrafts.

Furthermore APM started The Resource Utilization Program (RUP). This is part of the collaborative management of natural resources, which aims at the sustainable use, or harvesting of selected natural resources by the bordering communities. Local people are allowed regulated access to the Reserve to harvest various natural resources such as bamboo, reeds, palm leaves, thatching grass, firewood, caterpillars, mushrooms and fruit. The aim of the RUP is to enhance the relationship and build a sustainable partnership between the Reserve and the local communities. In theory, the communities and MWR share the benefits and responsibility of caring for the natural resources both inside and outside the protected area. Conservation agriculture and reforestation programs will be the local communities’ obligation outside of the reserve. And another important field is Health (HIV/AIDS and Orphan Care)and informing and educates the local people on this subject. The intention, however, is to facilitate the involvement of other specialised NGOs in this field. Guests that visit the Reserve can take part in activities like Community Visits, visit a local School or enjoy local dance-groups. Part of their payment goes to the community. It is also possible for groups to help us build a School or Clinic as a teambuilding-activity.