REBIRTH OF MAJETE
One of the most exciting pieces of news to come out of Malawi in recent months has been the rebirth of Majete Wildlife Reserve as a game viewing destination. After years of poaching and neglect, the African Parks foundation has, since 2003, been carrying out a systematic programme of re-stocking on a truly colossal scale. Now two camps have opened enabling visitors to witness this impressive achievement.
Thawale Camp offers comfortable bush tents with private bathrooms on a fully catered basis while the Community Campsite, run with self-catering, is near the entrance gate In the vast 14,000 ha sanctuary, visitors can see black rhino, nearly 400 buffalo, around 100 elephants, nearly 200 sable and so the list goes on. Guests are offered a wide range of game viewing possibilities including elephant tracking. In the next four years the re-location of even more animals will take place, including another 100 elephant and, eventually, lions and cheetahs. This is the most exciting news from Majete since Dr David Livingstone's expedition up the Shire river foundered in the 1860s at the Kapichira Falls – now the site of the new Majete Heritage Centre!
A truly unique adventure expedition is being offered by African Parks, in connection with the wildlife translocations planned for this year. In June, 50 elephants will be re-located to Majete from Liwonde National Park and 20 from the Mangochi area. Guests are being invited to witness the entire process of capture and translocation – including observing from a dedicated helicopter and game viewing vehicle.
African Parks are now members of the Malawi Tourism Marketing Consortium.
info@africanparksmw.com  For translocation packages, contact Sybille Quandt: syqu@gonet.co.za

LAKE OF STARS FESTIVAL
It seems that the Lake of Stars music festival gets bigger and bigger as the years go by. The 2007 event attracted considerable press cover The Guardian devoted no less than three pages to the festival while The Times went further with four pages in the magazine sections. This year's Festival will be in early October, the three days 10^th – 12^th October. Many visitors to the festival combine the event with a 10 to 14 day tour of the country and this year there will be a special effort to incorporate the festival with some specially attractive packages. Will Jameson, the entrepreneur whose brain-child is the event, has been in Malawi this month talking to the trade and helping to put some very attractive tours together. Out of country operators who have enquiries from potential visitors wishing to attend the festival should contact their usual DMCs to find out what might be available. That overused word 'unique' is, on this occasion, appropriate for the festival heady mix of western and African music.

SELF DRIVE IN MALAWI
More and more visitors are asking for self-drive in Malawi. In a country which is so clearly one in which to tour, this is only to be expected. The roads, outside the rainy season, are really none too daunting and there are few security issues. Many visitors also choose to hire but with a driver being provided. This can make a lot of sense not least because the difference in cost is remarkably little but the arrangement does provide employment. Vehicle standards vary but a glance at The Best of Malawi will point in the right direction. As mentioned in the last Newsletter, Ulendo Safaris now has a fleet of new 4x4 and saloon vehicles which can be hired, if desired, in conjunction with some attractive introductory touring packages. New minibuses for up to 20 passengers will also soon be available. Malawi's diverse scenery make road travel something to savour rather than a burden.
shanie@ulendo.net

WHAT'S NEW

• Gazeboes are in fashion. Safari Beach Lodge (left) is converting all its lakeside accommodation into gazeboes and Danforth Yachting lodge, together with its new pool and lodge extension, has a giant gazebo for dining. info@safaribeachlodge.net  ;  info@danforthyachting.com
• Njaya Lodge, which got the top value-rating from The Guardian last year, has added to its accommodation with two family en suite chalets and a stone beach house on the corner of the beautiful Chikale Beach. info@njayalodge.com
• Nkwichi Lodge on the Mozambique shore of Lake Malawi announces that two of its chalets have undergone complete renovation and the whole lodge now also benefits from new solar power. There are also new flush toilets at Nkwichi. info@mandawilderness.org
• Domwe Island is now attracting school parties from the UK and has extended it activities to include a southern Malawi hiking and biking programme to raise money for AIDS-related Charities. letsgo@kayakafrica.co.za
• For the future, Luwawa Forest Lodge is looking for an interested party to set up horse riding safaris on the Viphya Plateau. This is an attractive investment for someone with the right experience. wardlow@malawi.net

TOUR OPERATOR MANUALS
Two of Malawi's best known Operators, Ulendo Safaris and Wilderness Safaris, have published their 2008 Agent's Manuals. Both give a comprehensive overview of the respective company's operations as well as full details of charges and a background to holidaying in Malawi. If you don't already have them, these are now available directly from the Malawi Tourism Information office. The regularly updated trade DVDs for all member of the Malawi Tourism Marketing Consortium are available from the same source.
enquiries@malawitourism.com

BAREFOOT SAFARIS
Lilongwe based Barefoot Safaris are now running tours across to Zambia to include South Luangwa NP and the Victoria Falls. Accommodation choices include camping or lodges. There has been new building at their camp just outside Lilongwe. There's a new self-catering apartment and a self-contained two-storey chalet sleeping five. Meanwhile Barefoot reports considerable progress at Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve where their camps, Chipumbere and Migudu, have improved accommodation and ablutions as well as the opportunity to learn scouting skills. Mwabvi really is the place for a genuine experience of 'the bush'. Ken Smith remains firmly in charge but there is a new operations manager, Zarin Kharodia.
info@barefoot-safaris.com

MALAWI ACCORDING TO EWAN MCGREGOR
The story of actor Ewan McGregor's and Charley Boorman's motor cycle trip from the north of Scotland to the southern tip of Africa has been published. Their journey took them through Malawi and it's interesting to read their impressions. Of Sangilo Lodge, its site is described as 'spectacular' and 'Just about the perfect retreat'. Of Chintheche, after witnessing 'some spectacular sunsets in Africa' they wrote of the sunrise here: 'but this was wonderful, the sun rising in pale gold as if from the water itself.' Charley Boorman: 'I loved Malawi. The people were so friendly; they didn't hassle or crowd you and I hadn't once felt threatened.'
sanctuary@sangilo.net

MICELLANY