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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.

The super-stylish Latitude 13, originally built as a private house, it's now a sleek design hotel and totally different to anything else on offer in Lilongwe - or Malawi for that matter! From the cutting edge design, to the monochrome interiors and the fabulous facilities (including the bistro-style restaurant, funky bar, and outdoor pool), no detail has been overlooked. And at only 30 minutes drive from the airport and 10 from the markets and shops of Lilongwe's old town, it really is a pretty perfect stopover.

Main Destination:
Lilongwe (City)
Accommodation:
Latitude 13
  • Luxury hotel located in Lilongwe (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 2

Majete Wildlife Reserve

Majete Wildlife Reserve

Ten years ago, Majete Wildlife Reserve in southern Malawi was eerily void of wildlife. Thanks to the African Parks Network, this is no longer the case – they've reintroduced 2500-plus large mammals, including all of the Big Five. Thawale Lodge, which is operated by Sunbird Safaris, is one of only two lodges in the sanctuary. It offers comfortable accommodation and a variety of ways in which to make the most of your wilderness experience (including no fences, so the wildlife wanders freely). Notably, Thawale also donates all profits to the management and operation of the reserve.

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

Ten years ago, Majete Wildlife Reserve in southern Malawi was eerily void of wildlife. Thanks to the African Parks Network, this is no longer the case – they've reintroduced 2500-plus large mammals, including all of the Big Five. Thawale Lodge, which is operated by Sunbird Safaris, is one of only two lodges in the sanctuary. It offers comfortable accommodation and a variety of ways in which to make the most of your wilderness experience (including no fences, so the wildlife wanders freely). Notably, Thawale also donates all profits to the management and operation of the reserve.

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

Ten years ago, Majete Wildlife Reserve in southern Malawi was eerily void of wildlife. Thanks to the African Parks Network, this is no longer the case – they've reintroduced 2500-plus large mammals, including all of the Big Five. Thawale Lodge, which is operated by Sunbird Safaris, is one of only two lodges in the sanctuary. It offers comfortable accommodation and a variety of ways in which to make the most of your wilderness experience (including no fences, so the wildlife wanders freely). Notably, Thawale also donates all profits to the management and operation of the reserve.

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 Thyolo District
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 6

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 Thyolo District
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 7

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 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 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.

Mvuu Camp overlooks the magnificent Shire River inside Liwonde National Park. The camp's name means "hippo", which you're bound to see many of along this broad stretch of river and around the camp in the evenings. The camp is a superb option for budget-minded travellers, especially those driving themselves. It offers a well-rounded safari at a relaxed pace.

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:
Mvuu Lodge
  • 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 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.

Mvuu Camp overlooks the magnificent Shire River inside Liwonde National Park. The camp's name means "hippo", which you're bound to see many of along this broad stretch of river and around the camp in the evenings. The camp is a superb option for budget-minded travellers, especially those driving themselves. It offers a well-rounded safari at a relaxed pace.

Main Destination:
Liwonde National Park
Accommodation:
Mvuu Lodge
  • 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 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.

Mvuu Camp overlooks the magnificent Shire River inside Liwonde National Park. The camp's name means "hippo", which you're bound to see many of along this broad stretch of river and around the camp in the evenings. The camp is a superb option for budget-minded travellers, especially those driving themselves. It offers a well-rounded safari at a relaxed pace.

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

Day 11

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi

A small private beach cozied between granite rocks at the bottom of a wall of dense indigenous forest welcomes you to one of Lake Malawi's largest unpopulated islands. Domwe, just a mere 11km, is in the spectacular water wonderland of the Lake Malawi National Park. Hike up to take advantage of the mountains views with a picnic, lounge along the shore or in a hammock or get into the water and explore. With such a pristine part of the world you are hard pressed not to kick off your shoes and give in to the natural beauty in this refreshingly remote retreat.

Main Destination:
Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Accommodation:
Kaya Mawa
  • Luxury lodge located at Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Meals at own expense
  • Drinks not included

Day 12

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi

A small private beach cozied between granite rocks at the bottom of a wall of dense indigenous forest welcomes you to one of Lake Malawi's largest unpopulated islands. Domwe, just a mere 11km, is in the spectacular water wonderland of the Lake Malawi National Park. Hike up to take advantage of the mountains views with a picnic, lounge along the shore or in a hammock or get into the water and explore. With such a pristine part of the world you are hard pressed not to kick off your shoes and give in to the natural beauty in this refreshingly remote retreat.

Main Destination:
Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Accommodation:
Kaya Mawa
  • Luxury lodge located at Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Meals at own expense
  • Drinks not included

Day 13

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi

A small private beach cozied between granite rocks at the bottom of a wall of dense indigenous forest welcomes you to one of Lake Malawi's largest unpopulated islands. Domwe, just a mere 11km, is in the spectacular water wonderland of the Lake Malawi National Park. Hike up to take advantage of the mountains views with a picnic, lounge along the shore or in a hammock or get into the water and explore. With such a pristine part of the world you are hard pressed not to kick off your shoes and give in to the natural beauty in this refreshingly remote retreat.

Main Destination:
Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Accommodation:
Kaya Mawa
  • Luxury lodge located at Likoma Island (Lake Malawi)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Meals at own expense
  • 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 (City)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Meals at own expense
  • 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.