Blantyre
You will be collected from the airport in Blantyre in Southern Malawi. With its handsome backdrop of verdant hills and misty mountain peaks, Blantyre has a laid-back atmosphere and intriguing history, with an excellent choice of restaurants and guesthouses.
The Protea Hotel by Marriott Blantyre Ryalls lies in the heart of Blantyre's business district. Combining functionality with modern luxury –all 117 suites feature complimentary WiFi and satellite TV - the hotel is simple, yet elegant, and the distinctive Malawian influences are fun and quirky. With refreshing dips in the sparkling pool, trips to the spa, and read-athons in the hotel's beautiful garden, it's the perfect spot to recharge and get inspired before a safari - and it's only 30 minutes from the international airport.
- Main Destination:
- Blantyre (City)
- Accommodation:
- Protea Hotel Blantyre Ryalls
- Meals & Drinks:
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
- Meals & Drinks:
Zomba
Let us introduce you to Zomba, a spectacular mountain and forest reserve dominated by Zomba Plateau, a statuesque 1800-metre monolith. The massif might not be as dramatic as Mount Mulanje, but it's hard to beat for a spot of leisurely hiking and outdoor exploring. Meander along the trails that crisscross the summit; enjoy the views of old Zomba town below; cycle through the trees (admiring the large tracts of cedar, pine and cypress); and cool your toes in the clear waterfalls. Or fish in the trout dams.
Zomba, once the capital of Malawi, is a bustling mix of colonial architecture, dusty markets and some rather dazzling natural surroundings. Sunbird Ku Chawe Hotel on the rim offers some of the best views – all the way to distant Mount Mulanje. Access is via a steep, winding road (luckily tarred), but the crisp, high-altitude air, birdsong-filled surroundings and extraordinary views are ample reward, and more.
- Main Destination:
- Zomba Plateau
- Accommodation:
- Sunbird Ku Chawe
- Meals & Drinks:
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. 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. You can head out on a game drive and explore the river by boat.
- Main Destination:
- Liwonde National Park
- Accommodation:
- Kuthengo Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
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
- Meals & Drinks:
Lilongwe
Today you will travel to Lilongwe to complete your trip.
- Main Destination:
- Lilongwe (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: