13-Day Highlights of Southern Malawi - Shoestring

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

Blantyre

If you’re venturing to the south of Malawi, you may well find yourself in the gentle town of Blantyre. With its handsome backdrop of verdant hills and misty mountain peaks. It has a laid-back atmosphere and intriguing history, with an excellent choice of restaurants.

Blantyre is one of the largest urban areas in Malawi, but despite it being the commercial trade centre, it still retains a peaceful, laid-back feeling, helped by the lush, green environs. Set in two acres of beautiful tropical gardens in the quiet suburb of Namiwawa, Villa 33 is a simple B&B without frills and fuss, and well worth the price. Take your time to find the hidden little nooks in the gardens and kick back, cool drink in hand, to watch the troupes of monkeys frolicking in the trees. A peaceful way to start or end any safari in Malawi.

Main Destination:

Blantyre

Accommodation:

Villa 33

• Mid-range guest house located in or near Blantyre

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

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

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.

Located on a former colonial estate just outside Zomba Nature Reserve in southern Malawi, Zomba Forest Lodge is a small, simple, slightly quirky hotel with a big heart. Originally the forest manager's residence, the charming cottage has been converted by owners Tom and Petal into a peaceful country getaway that feels far more like a friend's home than a lodge for paying guests. Surrounded by lush gardens and woodland, home to monkeys, antelope and tons of birds and butterflies.

Main Destination:

Zomba Plateau

Accommodation:

Zomba Forest Lodge

• Mid-range lodge bordering Zomba Plateau without fences

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

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.

Mvuu Camp overlooks the magnificent Shire River. 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. You can head out on a game drive and also explore the river by boat.

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

Black RhinoRare

LionRare

Show more

LeopardRare

CheetahRare

HyenaRare

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Mvuu Camp

• Mid-range lodge located inside Liwonde NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

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:

Domwe Island

Accommodation:

Domwe Island Adventure Camp

• Mid-range tented camp located in or near Domwe

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Lilongwe

Travel back to Lilongwe to finish your trip or fly on to your next destination.

Main Destination:

Lilongwe

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

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