Travel off-the-beaten path to Malawi and Zambia, where you will discover southeastern Africa's rich cultural heritage, diverse wildlife and pristine habitat. This 13-day tour capitalizes on both time and adventure with short internal flights- choose to snorkel with colorful schools of fish in Lake Malawi, explore island villages on Likoma Island and embark on exciting game drives in Malawi's Nyika National Park and Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Return home with memories of adventure and exciting, close encounters with wildlife and nature.
Highlights
Search for wildlife while on safari in Malawi and Zambia
Kayak along the beautiful shores of Lake Malawi
Stay in traditional canvas-style safari camps
Embark on an exciting walking safari in South Luangwa National Park
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Upon arrival at Lilongwe International Airport we board our chartered flight to the Chelinda Airstrip in Nyika National Park. Situated in northern Malawi, Nyika National Park is Malawi's largest park, covering an area of 1250 square miles across the magnificent Nyika Plateau. Settle into your safari lodge for a peaceful evening. Welcome to Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa!
We will spend the next two days exploring the wild diversity of Nyika National Park. The park reaches an altitude of over 8,000 feel, creating an environment typified by 'whaleback hills', flowing streams and sheltered evergreen forest unlike any place in Africa. Nyika, meaning “where the water comes from”, is home to one of the highest densities of leopard in Central/Southeast Africa, as well as healthy populations of hyena, jackal, zebra and antelope. Buffalo and elephant roam the lower ground typical of the park's northern edge.
Enjoy morning and afternoon safari drives, exploring the Nyika National Park during cooler temperatures when the wildlife is most active. Between game drives we will find time to relax, rest and enjoy the lodge's atmosphere.
After breakfast we transfer to Chelinda Airstrip on time to board our scheduled flight to Likoma Airport, an island on the northeastern shores of Lake Malawi. Soon we arrive at Likoma Island's breathtakingly beautiful Kaya Mawa lodge. Settle into this idyllic island location for the next four nights, where you will connect with the serenity and adventure of Lake Malawi.
Spend the next 3 days relaxing, exploring and engaging in watersport activities on the beautiful shores of Likoma Island. Likoma Island is the largest of two inhabited islands on Lake Malawi, offering guests the opportunity to visit rural local communities and learn about local Malawian life.
Whether you choose to read a book on the white-sand beach, kayak on the pristine waters of Lake Malawi, snorkel with colorful schools of fish or cycle around the island, you are sure to find your adventure on the Lake of Stars!
Additional motorized activities can be booked directly for an additional cost.
This morning we return to Likoma Airport for our scheduled flight back to Lilongwe International Airport. Upon arrival in Lilongwe we will meet our guide and transfer to our comfortable country lodge. Enjoy a free evening at the lodge to rest and relax - tomorrow we head across the border to Zambia for more safari adventures.
Rise early today for breakfast. After a filling meal we transfer back to Lilongwe International Airport for our scheduled flight to Mfuwe Airport in South Lungwa, Zambia.
We spend the next four nights exploring the wild depths of South Luangwa National Park.
South Luangwa National Park is known for its exceptional wildlife sightings and spectacular natural scenery. The park's open, grassy plains and mesmerizing woodlands are fed by the impressive Luangwa River; this area of eastern Zambia is truly a sight to behold. While on safari you can expect to encounter a wide diversity of wildlife, including elephant, Cape buffalo, hippo, lion, Nile crocodile, warthog, impala, spotted hyena and greater kudu. Unique to Luangwa are the stunning Thornicroft's giraffe, Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra, which are found nowhere else on the planet. For many, the most exciting aspect of Luangwa Valley is that it is home to the world's highest naturally occurring population of leopard!
Enjoy morning and evening game drives, when the weather is at its coolest and the wildlife at its most active. Evenings are spent gathered at the camp, where we find ourselves transported back to the days of early bush safaris.
Day 13: Fly Lilongwe | Return home
1 Breakfast
Today we return via scheduled flight to Lilongwe International Airport, where you will board your ongoing flight home. Or, choose to extend your time with a visit to Victoria Falls!
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25% ($400 minimum), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge. prior to departure
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
1 day ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
3 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
5 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
6 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.