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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • You'll be collected from the airport.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Lilongwe

Lilongwe

Sprawling, a little chaotic and seemingly never-ending, Malawi’s capital city Lilongwe has a dynamic atmosphere that's a far cry from the laid-back vibe pervading the rest of the country. But then, that’s what a capital city is all about! It’s a city of two halves – the Old Town and the New Town. Dotted around both halves are restaurants of the hidden gem variety, beautiful green oases and a couple of elegant boutique hotels, which make a visit wonderfully worthwhile.

A blissful lodge tucked away on a 650-hectare farm a mere 25 minutes from Lilongwe's International Airport. Accessed via a bumpy dirt road, the Kumbali estate lies between the Capital Hill Dairy Farm and the Nkhoma mountain range. This upmarket country lodge is valued for its privacy, and is just the place to relax and unwind. We appreciated the friendly staff, who do a great job of combining smiling service with discretion (as is the norm in Malawi, a country known for the warmth of its welcome).

Main Destination:
Lilongwe (City)
Accommodation:
Kumbali Country Lodge
  • Luxury lodge located in or near Lilongwe
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 2

Majete Wildlife Reserve

Majete Wildlife Reserve

Back in 2002, Malawi's Majete Wildlife Reserve wasn't in a good way. But, thanks to joint efforts by the government and African Parks, its 7,000 hectares were re-populated with a variety of species, and robust anti poaching policies put in place. Today, it's one of the outstanding success stories of African conservation, and the only park in Malawi where you can see the Big Five. And now there's even a lodge to accommodate the steady trickle of tourists - effortlessly chic Mkulumadzi, located on the edge of the magnificent Shire River and encased in impressive giant leadwood trees. It just keeps getting better and better.

Main Destination:
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Best Time To Visit July to October (Dry bush, animals are easy to find)
High Season July to October (Park is busy, higher rates)
Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Majete WR

ElephantCommon
BuffaloCommon
HippoAbundant
LionOccasional
ZebraOccasional
Show more
HyenaRare
Accommodation:
Mkulumadzi Lodge
  • Luxury lodge located inside Majete WR
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 3

Majete Wildlife reserve

Majete Wildlife reserve

Back in 2002, Malawi's Majete Wildlife Reserve wasn't in a good way. But, thanks to joint efforts by the government and African Parks, its 7,000 hectares were re-populated with a variety of species, and robust anti poaching policies put in place. Today, it's one of the outstanding success stories of African conservation, and the only park in Malawi where you can see the Big Five. And now there's even a lodge to accommodate the steady trickle of tourists - effortlessly chic Mkulumadzi, located on the edge of the magnificent Shire River and encased in impressive giant leadwood trees. It just keeps getting better and better.

Main Destination:
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Accommodation:
Mkulumadzi Lodge
  • Luxury lodge located inside Majete WR
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 4

Majete Wildlife Reserve

Majete Wildlife Reserve

Back in 2002, Malawi's Majete Wildlife Reserve wasn't in a good way. But, thanks to joint efforts by the government and African Parks, its 7,000 hectares were re-populated with a variety of species, and robust anti poaching policies put in place. Today, it's one of the outstanding success stories of African conservation, and the only park in Malawi where you can see the Big Five. And now there's even a lodge to accommodate the steady trickle of tourists - effortlessly chic Mkulumadzi, located on the edge of the magnificent Shire River and encased in impressive giant leadwood trees. It just keeps getting better and better.

Main Destination:
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Accommodation:
Mkulumadzi Lodge
  • Luxury lodge located inside Majete WR
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 5

Mulanje & the Highlands

Mulanje & the Highlands

Imagine a sea of rolling tea fields dotted with pretty colonial houses, and pristine lowland forests watched over by towering mountains wrapped in wispy clouds. The glimmering mountains are the Mulanje Massif, proclaimed a forest reserve in 1927, and home to exceptional walking, cycling, climbing, trekking and horse-riding trails. If that all sounds a bit strenuous, then the beautiful tea plantations provide the perfect antidote.

In the early '20s, a young Scotsman called Maclean Kay bought his first piece of land in Malawi. And it was here, in the temperate Shire Highlands in the country's south, that he planted his first tea plantation, and called it Satemwa. In 1936 he built Huntingdon House for his family, and the original home has now been turned into a beautiful boutique guesthouse. Surrounded by emerald lawns, elegant trees and lily-filled ponds (and hectares of tea), the house is tranquil and relaxed – the perfect setting in which to appreciate this stunning corner of Malawi.

Main Destination:
Mount Mulanje
Accommodation:
Huntingdon House
  • Luxury guest house located in or near Thyolo District
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 6

Mulanje & The Highlands

Mulanje & The Highlands

In the early '20s, a young Scotsman called Maclean Kay bought his first piece of land in Malawi. And it was here, in the temperate Shire Highlands in the country's south, that he planted his first tea plantation, and called it Satemwa. In 1936 he built Huntingdon House for his family, and the original home has now been turned into a beautiful boutique guesthouse. Surrounded by emerald lawns, elegant trees and lily-filled ponds (and hectares of tea), the house is tranquil and relaxed – the perfect setting in which to appreciate the colonial magic of this stunning corner of Malawi.

Main Destination:
Mount Mulanje
Accommodation:
Huntingdon House
  • Luxury guest house located in or near Thyolo District
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 7

Mulanje & the Highlands

Mulanje & the Highlands

In the early '20s, a young Scotsman called Maclean Kay bought his first piece of land in Malawi. And it was here, in the temperate Shire Highlands in the country's south, that he planted his first tea plantation, and called it Satemwa. In 1936 he built Huntingdon House for his family, and the original home has now been turned into a beautiful boutique guesthouse. Surrounded by emerald lawns, elegant trees and lily-filled ponds (and hectares of tea), the house is tranquil and relaxed – the perfect setting in which to appreciate the colonial magic of this stunning corner of Malawi.

Main Destination:
Mount Mulanje
Accommodation:
Huntingdon House
  • Luxury guest house located in or near Thyolo District
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 8

Liwonde National Park

Liwonde National Park

For a dose of traditional safari in the "Land of the Lake", make a beeline for Malawi’s most famous wildlife area, Liwonde National Park. An eccentric mix of classic Zambia (think stout sausage trees, palms and baobobs) and a little bit of southern Tanzania (swampy lagoons and pretty reed-beds), the park is not a tick-off-the-Big-Five sort of place. Instead, you’ll find yawning hippo and snoozing crocs on the banks of the Shire River, and sable, oribi, zebra and kudu roaming the plains. Leopard and lion make up the predator quota and excitingly there’s an excellent number of elephant, and even black rhino. Liwonde is a birding paradise.

This new camp in southern Malawi's Liwonde National Park has just four modern, eco-friendly tents that shelter beneath fever trees and baobabs on a large open plain that reaches towards the Shire (pronounced "Shiree") River. The tents are just perfect, with en-suite bathrooms and private decks that open to lush views.

Main Destination:
Liwonde National Park
Best Time To Visit July to October (Dry bush, animals are easy to find)
High Season July to October (The park is busy, higher rates)
Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Liwonde NP

ElephantCommon
HippoAbundant
BuffaloOccasional
ZebraOccasional
LionRare
Show more
HyenaRare
Accommodation:
Kuthengo Camp
  • Luxury tented camp located inside Liwonde NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 9

Liwonde National Park

Liwonde National Park

For a dose of traditional safari in the "Land of the Lake", make a beeline for Malawi’s most famous wildlife area, Liwonde National Park. An eccentric mix of classic Zambia (think stout sausage trees, palms and baobobs) and a little bit of southern Tanzania (swampy lagoons and pretty reed-beds), the park is not a tick-off-the-Big-Five sort of place. Instead, you’ll find yawning hippo and snoozing crocs on the banks of the Shire River, and sable, oribi, zebra and kudu roaming the plains. Leopard and lion make up the predator quota and excitingly there’s an excellent number of elephant, and even black rhino. Liwonde is a birding paradise.

This new camp in southern Malawi's Liwonde National Park has just four modern, eco-friendly tents that shelter beneath fever trees and baobabs on a large open plain that reaches towards the Shire (pronounced "Shiree") River. The tents are just perfect, with en-suite bathrooms and private decks that open to lush views.

Main Destination:
Liwonde National Park
Accommodation:
Kuthengo Camp
  • Luxury tented camp located inside Liwonde NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 10

Liwonde National Park

Liwonde National Park

For a dose of traditional safari in the "Land of the Lake", make a beeline for Malawi’s most famous wildlife area, Liwonde National Park. An eccentric mix of classic Zambia (think stout sausage trees, palms and baobobs) and a little bit of southern Tanzania (swampy lagoons and pretty reed-beds), the park is not a tick-off-the-Big-Five sort of place. Instead, you’ll find yawning hippo and snoozing crocs on the banks of the Shire River, and sable, oribi, zebra and kudu roaming the plains. Leopard and lion make up the predator quota and excitingly there’s an excellent number of elephant, and even black rhino. Liwonde is a birding paradise.

This new camp in southern Malawi's Liwonde National Park has just four modern, eco-friendly tents that shelter beneath fever trees and baobabs on a large open plain that reaches towards the Shire (pronounced "Shiree") River. The tents are just perfect, with en-suite bathrooms and private decks that open to lush views.

Main Destination:
Liwonde National Park
Accommodation:
Kuthengo Camp
  • Luxury tented camp located inside Liwonde NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 11

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi

From the moment you fly onto Likoma Island in your tiny, five-seater Cessna, you’ll be entranced by the laidback rhythm of island life. And then you’ll reach Kaya Mawa, tucked away on a cotton-candy beach overlooking the lake, and life just gets better and better. One of those fabulous lodges that has effortlessly-relaxed, beach-chic style down to a T, Kaya is truly a slice of heaven. Think immaculately decorated rooms built into the granite rocks, chilled-out water activities, and gourmet food, all mixed with incredible views and even better cocktails. In the local Nyanja language, Kaya Mawa actually means ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ – and relaxation is most certainly the order of the day here.

Main Destination:
Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Accommodation:
Kaya Mawa
  • Luxury lodge located in or near Likoma Island
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 12

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi

From the moment you fly onto Likoma Island in your tiny, five-seater Cessna, you’ll be entranced by the laidback rhythm of island life. And then you’ll reach Kaya Mawa, tucked away on a cotton-candy beach overlooking the lake, and life just gets better and better. One of those fabulous lodges that has effortlessly-relaxed, beach-chic style down to a T, Kaya is truly a slice of heaven. Think immaculately decorated rooms built into the granite rocks, chilled-out water activities, and gourmet food, all mixed with incredible views and even better cocktails. In the local Nyanja language, Kaya Mawa actually means ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ – and relaxation is most certainly the order of the day here.

Main Destination:
Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Accommodation:
Kaya Mawa
  • Luxury lodge located in or near Likoma Island
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 13

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi

From the moment you fly onto Likoma Island in your tiny, five-seater Cessna, you’ll be entranced by the laidback rhythm of island life. And then you’ll reach Kaya Mawa, tucked away on a cotton-candy beach overlooking the lake, and life just gets better and better. One of those fabulous lodges that has effortlessly-relaxed, beach-chic style down to a T, Kaya is truly a slice of heaven. Think immaculately decorated rooms built into the granite rocks, chilled-out water activities, and gourmet food, all mixed with incredible views and even better cocktails. In the local Nyanja language, Kaya Mawa actually means ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ – and relaxation is most certainly the order of the day here.

Main Destination:
Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Accommodation:
Kaya Mawa
  • Luxury lodge located in or near Likoma Island
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinks not included

Day 14

Travel Back to Lilongwe

Travel Back to Lilongwe

On your final day you will travel back to Lilongwe International Airport to complete your trip.

Main Destination:
Lilongwe International Airport (Lilongwe)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.
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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Timbuktu, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. If flights cost more, your quote will reflect this.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
  • This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Timbuktu.