Malawi and Zambia safari -Scheduled Departure 2012
This great itinerary includes Hiking up Mt Mulanje, Kayaking, Swimming and relaxing on Lake Malawi, Cultural expierence and interaction with a local school, plus wildlife safari in South Luangwa NP
Day 1 [Sunday] :– ARRIVE Arrive Lilongwe. Transfer from Airport to Lodge. Your guide will meet everyone at the Lodge for introductions and a tour briefing at 18H00, after the briefing dinner will be served. The operator will arrange airport transfers on this day as and when needed. Overnight Korean Garden Lodge on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis. – Executive Rooms
Day 2 [Mon] :– ORIENTATION After last minute arrangements and shopping, depart for Dzalanyama Forest. We drive South East from Lilongwe to Dzlanyama miountain range – Its aboput a 2 hr Drive – Arrive at the Forest Lodge in time for Lunch. After Lunch a walk up Mtsongololo Mountain is available. The track takes us through the endemic forests where there is a profusion of miombo birdlife. Return back to the lodge as it gets dark. Overnight Dzalanyama Forest Lodge on Full board basis
Day 3 [Tues]:- PROJECT After breakfast we visit the local school and interact a project of sorts will be laid on for you. This is geared towards what the school requires. Dzalanyama school has been the recipient of our charitable interests since they won the concession to operate the lodge in the area. Included in your tour fare, is a financial donation to the school to assist them with whatever they need, be it painting work, repairs, school materials etc. Our office will co-ordinate this aspect and your guide will indicate what needs to be done and achieved in the day. Overnight Dzalanyama Forest Lodge on Full board basis
Day 4 [Wed]:- TRANSFER Depart from the Lodge at approx 0900 and Continue to Mchinji. [1&1/2 hr drive], where we complete immigration formalities and continue into Zambia. From the border it is a short drive to Chipata - Zambia's capital of the Eastern Province, then onto a dirt road to Luangwa Valley - Mfuwe sector. A picnic lunch is enjoyed en route and ETA at the Camp is mid afternoon. On arrival and after checking in, there is time to relax around the bar, have a swim or enjoy tea and coffee along the rivers edge. Evening dinner. Overnight Wildlife Camp or Croc Valley , en suite tented chalets on full board basis.
Day 5,6,7 [Thurs, Fri, Sat]: - SAFARI After an early morning wake up call, we have a light breakfast of tea / coffee, cereal/porridge and toast with preserves, then depart for the game drive. Our aim is to be on our first game drive by 6.15 am. Game drives are done in the camps open safari vehicles, to optimise your pleasure and experience. Drinks and snacks are taken along for your enjoyment whilst in the park. Depending on game sightings, we return to the lodge at 11 for a scrumptious "brunch". An afternoon rest then we again head out for our afternoon drive at around 1600 - returning to the lodge at 2000. Evening Dinner [Night drive – Luangwa is renowned for the night drives and this is INCLUDED in your safari. - a powerful spotlight is used to spot nocturnal creatures that frequent this habitat.] Overnight Wildlife Camp or Croc Valley , en suite tented chalets on full board basis.
Day 8 [Sun]: - POTTERY After a more leisurely start to the morning and a good breakfast, we pack up and depart back to Malawi. Departure time is around 0900. Travel via Lilongwe again and continue Southwards to Dedza. A picnic lunch is eaten en route and arrival time at Dedza Pottery Lodge is mid afternoon. Depending on the time of arrival, the remainder of the day can be spent in the pottery factory perhaps trying your hand at creating your own pot, or we can visit the nearby local ancient bushman painting site. Overnight Dedza Pottery chalets on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 9 [Mon]:- SIGHTSEEING Morning tour of the pottery workshop if needed, then depart for Mulanje via Blantyre. Our journey from Blantyre takes us past the scenic Thyolo Tea plantations, then onto the plains. Arrival at the chalets is late afternoon. Overnight Likhubula CCAP chalets with all meals included.
Day 10 [Tues]:- HIKING For the hikers, it’s a 7 hr climb up the mountain to a mountain hut. The scenery is stunning, following a stream up the mountain. Hiking is within the abilities of a reasonably fit walker. Spend the night in the mountain hut. For non hikers it’s a day of exploration. Visit the lower slopes or take a short hike into one of the fascinating valleys at the foothills. Overnight Likhubula CCAP Chalets or Mountain hut with all meals provided.
Day 11 [Wed]:- TRANSFER The hikers walk down the mountain in the early morning, to arrive back at the lodge for breakfast. After this, we depart and drive to Lake Malawi - Cape Maclear. En route we pass the historical Mangochi town and follow the lakeshore northwards. Cape Maclear peninsula, hosts on one end, the Lake Malawi Marine National park. This was the first fresh water Marine park created in the world. Here we stay in the comfortable and centrally located is located Overnight Chembe Lodge on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 12 & Day 13 [Thurs & Fri]:- SWIMMING & BEACH BREAK The days here are your own. Explore the village, swim, snorkel, scuba dive, sail, take a local dugout canoe and explore the nearby island and enjoy the local specialty ‘fish BBQ’ or simply relax on the beach whilst enjoying refreshing drinks served ice cold from the bar. Overnight at Chembe Lodge with dinner and breakfast included.
Day 14 [Sat]:- CULTURAL After saying farewells at Cape Maclear, its an approx 3 hr drive to Mua Mission Cultural centre. On arrival we visit the cultural museum and craft workshop. Mua Mission is the Ngoni cultural epicenter in Malawi and the mission station has encouraged a unique and fascinating art style. Local artists practice on site and a visit here gives visitors valuable in site to the culture of the people. There is s possibility to watch a cultural dance in the evening, however this depends on numbers. Overnight Kungoni Cultural centre chalets on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 15 [Sun]:- DROP OFF It’s a 3 hr drive from the centre to Lilongwe and the Airport. Departure is timed to co-inside with your international flight or onward journey. Breakfast
Included in cost:- Accommodation, services of vehicle and guide throughout, all meals and activities as indicated in itinerary, game drives in Luangwa, hiking guide on Mount Mulanje, entrance fees to Mua mission museum & Lake Malawi park.
Excluded in cost:- Flights, Drinks, Visas [Zambian $50], lunches at the lake, optional activities not indicated above, travel / medical insurance, tips, South Luangwa park entrance fees [US$75 pp].
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We did indeed have a terrific safari. To sum it up:
They provided excellent service for the three of us- myself, my husband Jim, and our niece Renee. When our luggage did not show up in time for the trip, they offered to pick it up at the Malawi airport and transport it all the way to our camp in South Luangwa, no problem!
Our guide Henry was talented, funny, and very genuine, reveling not only his knowledge of Africa, but a thoughtful interest in our views as well. Raphael really impressed us with his cooking skills, we weren't expecting such creative fare every day. They book a bush camp in North Luangwa at Chifunda and I would highly recommend this to everyone.
We visited the village aligned with the camp and met the chief, had a typical native lunch (after helping grind the peanuts!) and had a chance to talk to many local people. The bush camp itself is welcoming after a long drive getting there, with very friendly folk and comfortable accommodation in their bandas - open air showers and a view of the river right outside the windows. Our guided walks there were spectacular, especially seeing the leopard in our path!
I would use the Africa Guide again when researching our next trip, and would tell my traveling friends to peruse the site, it has so much information.
We loved the Safari. They were able to offer the same safari as other operators at a substantial reduction.
The Lodge couldn't have been better. The drive to and from Lilongwe to the gamepark was seamless and easy. The driver was willing to make any stops that we wanted.
Our 4-day trek on Mulanje Massif, was excellent from start to finish. We were warmly welcomed and well briefed.
Our guide was first class, very knowledgeable and sensitive to our individual needs. Arrangements for porterage and cooking were good too and the meals were excellent (and copious).
Weather conditions, in July, were perfect for walking. We will go again and stay longer!!
Briefly I arranged everything from South Africa and it was wonderful having such easy access to the internet and instant e-mail responses from the Lilongwe office.
My son, his girlfriend and I had traveled all the way up from Johannesburg to Vic Falls in my Renault. On the 28th December we arrived at the pick-up point in Chipata.
Henry drove like a Dakar rally driver and apart from splashing a few hapless bystanders with muddy rain water, took us safely into Luangwa Valley.
From then on, he was busy organizing a cook which seemed a problem only because, like lions, cooks are hard to find! But we always had good food and watched the different men struggling with the height of the cooker, standing on the boxes to reach - and struggling to wash the dishes squeezed in between the ladder to the upstairs floor, and the kitchen sink - clearly a design flaw in the architecture. But it didn't bother us.
We ate and slept in the beautiful lodge and wondered in our sleep what the funny growling and other weird noises were that we heard in the night.
Fred our guide was very keen to look after all our animal-sighting needs. We saw buffalo, a giraffe with two heads or so it seemed at first! - and hippos a-plenty - ugly beasts really!
Luckily I had seen lions in the Serengeti game parks so I wouldn't have been too unhappy if we'd left Luangwa Valley without seeing any. But my son and his girlfriend were longing for a glimpse of the Kings of the Jungle. Two night drives brought sightings of hyena and the smaller cats, but because of the rain, the lions stayed away.
We had just about given up when on the last hour of the last day we saw a lioness AND -the cream on the cake for me too,- the leopard. Fred's determination to pursue every tip and trail had paid off! We were so elated!
Thank You for a great experience and please share the photos and thanks with Henry and Fred! Love also to Patience.
I must say that normally I would make all the arrangements myself once I arrive at a destination so I was reluctant at first to use your services; with that said, your team did a fantastic job making our trip fun and trouble free.
We had the best time at the Safari Lodge in South Luangwa. The people there were terrific and it wasnt crowded.
Please tell everyone that Janelle and I had the best time! I would recommend you to anyone planning a trip to Africa.
I actually spent the time with the Lodge staff and guides I stayed at. The operator did a very good job of arranging my stay there and ensuring all the details such as airport transfers were covered. The Lodge is an excellent place with well-trained professionals, a superb chef, and very comfortable accomodations.
I would recommend this tour operator without qualification to anyone travelling in that area who wants to see South Luangua National Park.
Mme and my friend were picked up on time by the operator before the safari. They took us to their office, where we were offered tea and biscuits whilst filling some forms. We then set out on a 5 hour drive to our safari destination.
Our driver was very friendly, we had sufficient time for lunch and we could stop for toilet or photos when we wanted. At the end of the safari, the operator kindly agreed to leave 1 hour later than planned so that I could enjoy a last morning drive. I should also mention that they had arranged for a visa waiver for entry into Zambia and that border crossings were dealt with quickly and efficiently. All in all, I would say that they were excellent agents for the organisers of the safari.
As for the safari itself, it was also a very positive experience. All the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The accommodation was very comfortable: the main lodge has very nice chalets with en suite bathroom, a great dining area and a swimming pool; the bush camp, whilst less luxurious, is also very comfortable and even has flushing toilets. We really felt all the staff were trying to make our stay as good as possible. Oh, and the food was excellent and served with panache every night.
