Wildlife Tours to Malawi MALAWI & ZAMBIA
Photo: Carmine Bee-eater (Malcolm Parker).
| Tour Ref. | Days | Dates | Party Size |
Cost |
Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ML1/10 | 16 | Tuesday 5th October to Wednesday 20th October 2010 | 8 plus leader | £3895 (*£385) | Malcolm Parker |
*Single room supplement.
Tour Destinations :
- Lilongwe
- Liwonde National Park
- Lake Malawi
- South Luangwa National Park
Tour Summary
Malawi & Zambia
Our journey starts in Liwonde National Park in the valley of the Shire River. Here we will find some excellent bird and mammal watching. The birdlife is prolific and, although the mammal list is smaller than, for instance in Kenyan reserves, this is compensated for by the concentration of around 800 Elephant and 2000 Hippos along the Shire River.
Our next stop will be on the shores of Lake Malawi which will add another dimension to the tour. During a full day at the lake, we will have the opportunity to take a boat ride on the lake which will give us chance to see some of the hundreds of mainly endemic fish species.
The final leg, and undoubted climax, of the tour will involve a transfer to Zambia’s Luangwa Valley where we will spend five nights. Our activities will involve game drives each day complemented by short walks. The rich vegetation along the river supports a large variety of mammals. The dominant antelope are Impala and Puku but we should also find Bushbuck, Eland and Greater Kudu in good numbers. There are large herds of Elephant, Buffalo, Wildebeest and
Zebra. Add to this a variety of the rarer antelope, Lion and Leopard, some
excellent birdwatching and the opportunity to conduct night game drives, South Luangwa clearly has much to offer.
Photo: Hippo and oxpeckers (Malcolm Parker).
Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 1 : Fly overnight from the United Kingdom to Lilongwe.
Day 2 : Arrive at Lilongwe International airport. Transfer to the Sanctuary Lodge. Built in the heart of Lilongwe between the city centre and the old town the Lodge is perfectly positioned within a Nature Reserve. Afternoon bird walk (depending on flight times). Overnight Sanctuary Lodge
Day 3 : After breakfast, you will drive south along the M1 to Dedza Mountains and on to Liwonde National Park which is the country’s premier park and boasts most of the mammal species found in Malawi. Game activities centre around drives in open vehicles and the very popular boat safari. These provide excellent sightings of Elephant, Crocodile and Hippo’s. Animals such as Impala, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Kudu, Sable Antelope and Hyena are also encountered. Bird watching is excellent with numerous interesting species found like Bohms Bee-eater, Palmnut Vulture and the ever present Pels Fishing Owl. The park has a wide range of habitats within a relatively small area including marshes, floodplain, mature riverine thickets and mopane woodlands. a “behind the scenes” tour of the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre. Thereafter you will drive southwards along the M1 to Dedza Mountain, en route stopping at the tribal rock paintings at Chongoni Hills just before Dedza Township. Continue to Dedza Pottery and Lodge. After settling in, proceed up the Mountain for a bird walk and watch the splendid sunset from the vantage point high above the plain. Overnight Dedza Pottery Lodge.
Mvuu Camp, situated on the bank of the Shire River offers excellent accommodation. Overnight Mvuu Camp.
Day 4 & 5: Two full days to explore the Liwondwe National Park by boat, vehicle or on foot. Overnight Mvuu Camp.
Days 6 : After the morning game drive or boat safari, you will drive to a lodge on the shores of Lake Malawi at Cape Maclear.
Day 7 : A full day on the lake side will give you the opportunity for bird walks, snorkelling and a boat ride on the lake.
Day 8 : Today you will transfer back to Lilongwe as you head towards Zambia and the second major part of the tour. You will call en route at the Dedza potteries. Overnight Sanctuary Lodge, Lilongwe.
Day 9 : Today you will drive to the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, continuing on via Chipata then onwards on a dirt road to the South Luangwa Valley - Mfuwe sector. This is a lengthy journey of 6/7 hours but will be broken by occasional stops. A picnic lunch will be take en route and the time of arrival at the South Luangwa Valley will be mid-late afternoon. On arrival you will check into your chalets followed by tea and coffee. Dinner is served from 19.30hr onwards. Overnight Thornicroft Lodge.
Days 10 & 11 : After a light breakfast, you depart for a morning game drive at 06.00hrs. All game drives are undertaken in open game viewing vehicles to optimise your wildlife viewing opportunities. Drinks and snacks will be available during the game drive. Depending on game sightings, you will return to the lodge at 11.00 for "brunch". The afternoon will provide time for photography, bird watching, swimming or simply relaxing. Tea will be served as always in the late afternoon following which, at 16.00, you will embark for an afternoon/night drive, returning to the Lodge at 20.00 for dinner. Overnight Thornicroft Lodge.
Days 12 & 13 : On day 12 you will you will undertake a whole day safari. Taking snacks, a light lunch and enough refreshments you will leave the Mfuwe area to explore an entirely different area of the park [Lion Camp area or Nsefu Sector]. You return at dusk, and freshen up prior to dinner. Day 13 will provide an opportunity to revisit some of the best sites, search for a particular mammal or simply take photographs and enjoy a more leisurely look at some of your favourite birds and mammals. Overnight Thornicroft Lodge.
Day 14 : On day 14 there will be a more leisurely start to the day after which you will return to Lilongwe. A picnic lunch will be available en route. In the mid-late afternoon you will arrive at the Sanctuary Lodge. Overnight Sanctuary Lodge.
Day 15 : After breakfast, transfer to the Lilongwe International Airport in time for your International flight home.
Day 16 : Arrive in the UK in the early morning.
Photo: Pied Kingfisher (Malcolm Parker).