12-Day Northern Self-Drive Camping Expedition

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

Welcome to Malawi

You will arrive at the airport where you will be met by your Land & Lake representative and transferred to Africa house to unwind and relax. If time allows, you will have a brief city tour with your Land and Lake representative to get a brief understanding of where might be good to buy supplies for your journey. You'll spend the night at Africa House on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Main Destination:

Lilongwe (City)

Accommodation:

Africa House Malawi

• Luxury lodge located in Lilongwe (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Collect Your Vehicle and Start Your Journey

This morning a Land and Lake representative will collect you from Africa and drive you into our offices in area 3 in Lilongwe, pointing out major shops and services that may be useful for prepping for your upcoming camping adventure. You'll enjoy coffee in our cafe as you go over your contract and hire details and then be introduced to your vehicle by one of the operations and reservations team. This process can take up to two hours as we give you a detailed explanation of how to get the best out of your equipment and vehicle. After your handover, you'll hit the road, stopping off to pick up any supplies you might need and drive north to the Viphya plateau. It's approximately a 5-hour drive though times may change depending on weather and road conditions. You'll arrive at Luwawa and set up camp. You'll spend the night here on a camping basis. Here you can pay for camping on arrival and book and pay for any activities that you might like to do during your stay.

Main Destination:

South Viphya Forest Reserve

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside South Viphya FR

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore Luwawa

You'll enjoy a full day in the Viphya Plateau at your leisure. You will spend the night here camping and any activities or meals can be booked and paid for during your stay. There is horse riding available nearby, walking and hiking trails, excellent birding, archery and a wide range of other activities to get involved in. You can also rrelax amongst the sprawling gardens and enjoy the view of the dam and forest beyond.

Main Destination:

South Viphya Forest Reserve

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside South Viphya FR

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Luwawa to Nyika National Park

You will break camp today and continue North. It's a longer drive today, through Mzuzu where you can re-supply on any additional items you might need for camping. You will continue up to Nyika and pay for your park and vehicle entrance fees on arrival at the gate. The main gate closes at 5 pm and it's a further hour up to the campsite from the gate. Ensure you arrive in plenty of time. You will set up camp and pay directly for your camping fees. Additional activities can be booked and paid for with the lodge nearby.

Main Destination:

Nyika National Park

Best Time To Visit Nov to May (More animals and pleasant temperatures)

High Season July to September (Never busy, but high season rates)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Nyika NP

ZebraCommon

ElephantOccasional

LeopardOccasional

HyenaOccasional

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Nyika NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore Nyika National Park

You will enjoy a full day in Nyika Plateau, various activities are available in the area including walking, hiking, birding, trekking, cycling, fly fishing, and day and night game drives. Any activities you'd like to book can be arranged with the lodge and paid for during your stay. You will experience night camping in Nyika.

Main Destination:

Nyika National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Nyika NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Exploring Nyika National Park

You will enjoy a full day in Nyika Plateau, various activities are available in the area including walking, hiking, birding, trekking, cycling, fly fishing, and day and night game drives. Any activities you'd like to book can be arranged with the lodge and paid for during your stay. You will have night camping in Nyika.

Main Destination:

Nyika National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Nyika NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Nyika to Lake Malawi

You will break camp this morning and head back down the plateau. You'll drive back through Mzuzu where you can buy some more food stuff or additional items for the remainder of your camping expedition. You will head down to the lakeshore and set up camp on the northern beach of Chitheche. Your overnight stay will be at the campsite at Makuzi Beach Lodge.

Main Destination:

Chintheche (Town & Beach)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore Chintheche

You will have a full day on the beach with Makuzi Beach Lodge campsite - activities and any meals or drinks you'd like to arrange with Makuzi can be booked and paid for during your stay. Activities in the area include horse riding, birding, walking, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and village tours. You will spend the night here camping.

Main Destination:

Chintheche (Town & Beach)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Chintheche to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve

Today you will have a short drive from Chintheche to Nkhotakota so take your time packing up camp and make your way slowly down the lakeshore, past the expanse of sugar cane fields and views of the lake beyond. You will arrive at Rafiki Safari Camp where you can set up camp and arrange for game-viewing activities in the Nkhotakota National Reserve. Here you can pay for camping and any vehicle fees to enter the park where and when needed, additional activities and any meals or drinks from Rafiki can be booked and paid for during your stay.

Main Destination:

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve

Best Time To Visit July to October (Dry bush, animals are easy to find)

High Season July to October (Never busy, but high season rates)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Nkhotakota WR

ElephantCommon

HippoCommon

BuffaloOccasional

ZebraOccasional

LionRare

LeopardRare

Show more

HyenaRare

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Nkhotakota WR

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve

This is a full day in Nkhotakota. The lakeshore is also nearby if you'd like to spend a day at the lake or head into the game reserve for a walking safari or game drive. Activities can be booked and paid for during your stay with Rafiki Safari Camp. You will spend the night at Rafiki Camping.

Main Destination:

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Nkhotakota WR

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Back to Lilongwe

You will pack away your home on wheels for the last time and make your way back to Lilongwe. It's about a 5-hour drive, there's Kuti Wildlife Reserve en route which is a nice stop to explore, or head into Lilongwe in good time and explore the city. You will head to the Land & Lake offices and cafe before 5 pm to off-hire your vehicle and a Land and Lake representative will transfer you to Africa House to unwind and relax.

Main Destination:

Lilongwe (City)

Accommodation:

Africa House Malawi

• Luxury lodge located in Lilongwe (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

We say Goodbye

A Land and Lake representative will meet you at Africa House today and transfer you to the airport in time for your international flight out. If time allows, your driver will be available for a short city tour before you fly out. You can relax and enjoy breakfast in the garden, heading to the airport 3-3.5 hours before your departure flight. End of services.

Main Destination:

No major destination visited

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

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

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