16 days – Zambia and Malawi Livingstone trail

The group will meet in Lusaka, in Zambia, at 16:00 at the lodge. This evening, after the tour briefing, we have a group dinner at the lodge (own expense).

Day 1: Breakfast is not included
Day 1: Lunch is not included
Day 1: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: –
Distance/time: N/A
Overnight: Pioneer Camp – twin share en-suite safari chalet. Swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
WIFI not available.

A long drive takes us across the rolling Miombo forested hills of southern Zambia and down into the Zambezi Valley lowlands and our lodge on the banks of the Kafue River. Being a major tributary to the Zambezi River it is the largest and longest river lying entirely within Zambia. We overnight on its banks and enjoy the sunset from the elevated deck.

Day 2: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 2: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Dinner will be an own expense meal at the lodge restaurant

Includes: –
Distance/time: ±175km, 4h30 actual driving time, the road down into the Zambezi Valley can be very slow going, so we expect a travel day of ±5h30.
Overnight: Gwabi River Lodge – Twin en-suite rooms. Swimming pool & bar. WIFI not available.

We paddle down the mighty Zambezi River, home of the tribal mythical god – Nyami Nyami. Canoeing past local riverside villages and magnificent scenery. We overnight at a wild campsite on Elephant Bones Island in the heart of untamed Africa. The following morning we continue our canoe safari through an area teeming with elephants, hippos and other wildlife. We will be collected by a motorboat and transferred back up river to our lodge.

Day 3: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 3: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Breakfast provide by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Dinner will be an own expense meal at the lodge restaurant

Includes: Full day canoe safari on Lower Zambezi with local river guides .
Distance/time: N/A
Overnight: Day 3: Wild Camping – we camp wild on an island for 1 night while canoeing on the Zambezi River. Wild camps have no facilities; we will need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild camping can be very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and take all rubbish away with us. Toilets will be of the “dig and bury” variety. Sunway supplies all the camping equipment, except for your sleeping bag and pillow, which you need to bring. The dome tents we use are 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.8 metres and putting them up or down takes only 5 minutes. Tents have built-in insect nets.
We supply mattresses, which are about 5 cm thick, warm and comfortable. The camp chairs have a backrest. You will need to bring your own towel. WIFI not available.
Day 4: Gwabi River Lodge – Twin en-suite rooms. Swimming pool & bar WIFI not available.

We cross the border at Chipata into Malawi and make our way to the capital Lilongwe where we restock on supplies. The afternoon is free to wander the town or search the markets.

Day 9: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 9: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 9: Dinner will be own expense at local restaurant

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±370km, 6h30 actual driving time, but the border can be slow and somehow the travel today takes longer than you’d expect, ±9h30.
Overnight: Africa House – en suite rooms. Swimming pool, gym and air-conditioning.

We tour one of Malawi’s famous tea plantations in the Thyolo region before making our way to our lodge in Mulanje. Mount Mulanje’s bare rock flanks tower to almost 3002m, dwarfing all that surrounds it, and influencing cloud patterns in the area, making it an important source of rain water at the head of almost every river in this part of southern Malawi. Formed about 130 million years ago, the first European to see the Massif was David Livingstone in 1859, but archaeological investigation reveals
evidence of human activity since the Stone Age. We take a day walk on the slopes to see the streams, waterfalls and towering peaks.

Day 10: Breakfast provide by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 10, 11: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10, 11: Dinner will be an own expense meal at the lodge restaurant

Includes: Guided walk on the slopes of Mount Mulanje.
Distance/time: ±390km, 6h00 actual driving time, there are lots of towns and villages and restricted sections of road + a tea tasting so it’s a full travel day of ±9h30.
Overnight: Kara o’Mula – twin share en-suite rooms.

Ancient baobab trees and lofty palms provide the backdrop for this magnificent southern Malawi reserve. Covering 548 km² of the upper Shire River plains and valley slopes, Liwonde harbours Malawi’s largest remaining elephant population and the critically endangered Black Rhino.
In the morning we’ll explore the grassland and woodland habitats in search of leopards, elephants, hippos, antelopes and rare Lilian’s lovebirds in our safari truck.
The river Shire flows along Liwonde’s western border and we’ll board a river cruise safari in the hopes of finding hippo, crocodiles, elephants or any other game coming down to quench their thirst in the late afternoon.

Day 12: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 12: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 12: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Day 13: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Park entry fees and boat cruise on day 13.
Distance/time: ±220km, 5h30 actual driving time, with lots of villages, a market stop and a game drive to the camp it’s a full travel day of up to ±8h00.
Overnight: Mvuu Camp – campsite swimming pool, bar and restaurant. Limited Wifi available.

Lake Malawi is the jewel of Malawi and one the Great Rift Valley lakes. We head to the Lake Malawi National Park where we take a boat to the secluded tropical Mumbo Island, near Cape Maclear. The rustic lodge is an idyllic paradise with kayaks and snorkelling gear available to explore the island and snorkel with the jewelled fish, the endemic Cichlids. The friendly people of Malawi make it the “warm heart of Africa”.

Day 14: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 14: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14: Dinner provided by the lodge

Includes: National Park fees and taxes, boat transfers.
Distance/time: ±160km, 3h00 actual driving time on tarmac road to Chembe Village, then an afternoon boat cruise to Mumbo Island. We expect a travel day of ±5h30.
Overnight: Mumbo Island – twin share rooms (some reed, some canvas all with thatch roof) with en suite bathrooms, & hot showers. The lodge has 7 rooms, so depending on group size and make up, this may affect single supplement options. There is no electricity on the island, so charge your camera before departing to Mumbo. No Wifi.
Optional: kayak hire and snorkelling gear.

Wake up to the sound of the birds on your own paradise island. Roll out of bed and head down to the beach to soak a morning of sun and relaxation or take a kayak for a paddle around the island. Stop to snorkel and be amazed by the sheer variety of colour fish.
Later we catch the ferry back to mainland where we climb back onto our truck and return to Lilongwe, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to re-join life.

Day 15: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 15: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 15: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:
Distance/time: ±270km, 4h30 actual driving time on tarmac road. We expect a travel day of ±5h30.
Overnight: Africa House – en suite rooms. Swimming pool, gym and air-conditioning.

Leaving the shores of Lake Malawi we return to Lilongwe, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to re-join life.
Tour ends @11:00am.

Day 16: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 16: N/A
Day 16: N/A
Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±260km, 4h00 actual driving time, an early boat transfer, followed by a tarmac road to the airport, but there is no time to waste this morning. Travel day of ±4h00.
Overnight: N/A

Please note: we do a free drop off at Lilongwe airport on day 16 at 11:00am so you can book your
flight out for the last day of tour.

Please note: The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions – remember it’s an adventure!

Please note: That the accommodation specified above and in the itinerary, is a guide only and is subject to availability. Alternatives will be of a similar standard, and accommodation changes will be made without notice.

Sustainable Tourism: In the Luangwa Valley we stay at Wildlife Camp who donate 60% of their revenues to the
Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia. A local guide will lead us on a game walk and night
drive. Your visit will support employment opportunities.