Spanning 1,800 km² of rugged hills, river valleys and dense miombo woodland, Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is one of Malawi’s most remarkable wilderness areas. Stretching from the Great Rift escarpment and flowing down towards Lake Malawi, the reserve forms an important watershed, its rivers sustaining both people and wildlife.
In 2015, the Government of Malawi entered into a long-term management partnership with African Parks to support the conservation of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Since then, collaborative efforts have focused on restoring ecological integrity and strengthening the reserve’s role as an important sanctuary for Malawi’s biodiversity. With collaborative efforts, wildlife populations are being re-established, ecosystems are recovering, and surrounding communities are increasingly engaged in conservation and sustainable development initiatives.
Through a sustainable resource-use programme, communities continue to access natural products inside the reserve such as thatch grass, bamboo, mushrooms and medicinal plants. Socio-economic enterprises, such as beekeeping, chilli farming, and mango processing, are supporting livelihoods and local economies, while education, vocational training and investments in community infrastructure are further benefitting thousands of local people. Tourism is also taking hold, helping to generate employment that supports livelihoods and building long-lasting value for local communities.
