Zambia & Malawi Livingstone Trail

LUSAKA

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).

Overnight: Pioneer Camp – twin share en suite safari chalet. Swimming pool, restaurant & bar. Wifi available at reception and restaurant.

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

KAFUE RIVER

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.

Distance/time: ±170km, 3h30 actual driving time, the road down into the Zambezi Valley can be very slow going, so we expect a travel day of ±4h30.
Overnight: Gwabi River Lodge – Twin en suite rooms. Swimming pool & bar. Wifi available.

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

LOWER ZAMBEZI CANOEING

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.

Includes:  Full day canoe safari on Lower Zambezi with local river guides. 
Overnight: 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. 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. No Wifi.

Sisältyy: Day 3: Breakfast will be provided by the lodgeDay 3: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 3: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group 

LOWER ZAMBEZI CANOEING

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.

Gwabi River Lodge – Twin en suite rooms. Swimming pool & bar. Wifi available.

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

LUSAKA - GREAT EAST ROAD

We head north to Lusaka the capital of Zambia where we stock up on supplies in the bustling shops and markets. Taking the Great East Road we drive this afternoon, passing small villages and street side markets, until sunset reaching the small town of Petauke.

Distance/time: N/A ±570km, 9h30 actual driving time, today is a very long driving day as we try to get as far as possible today, to maximise our time in South Luangwa tomorrow, expect a long travel day of ±11h00.
Overnight: Chimwemwe Lodge – twin standard rooms en suite, restaurant and bar. Wifi available.

Sisältyy: Day 5: Breakfast provided by the lodgeDay 5: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 5: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

We make our way down into “the valley” of the South Luangwa National Park. This remote region is one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries where elephants, hippo, lion and leopard abound. Our lodge, on the banks of the Luangwa River, overlooks the national park and you can frequently see hippos and elephants from the camp swimming pool! We explore the game management area and the national park on a game walk and open 4WD game drives, one at night with spotlights, to see nocturnal animals. (In the green season, Dec – Apr, walks may not be possible in which case we’ll do extra game drives). There is time on the last afternoon either to relax in camp or take another game walk, game drive or village visit activity (own expense).

Includes: South Luangwa National Park, 1x game walk, 2 game drives & 1 day national park fee.
Distance/time: ±310km, 5h30 actual driving time on day 6. There can be potholes and the road down into the "valley" is hilly and slow, we expect a travel day of ±8h00.
Optional Activities: Game walks & game drives.
Overnight: Wildlife Camp chalets - swimming pool, restaurant & bar. Limited Wifi available at reception 12:00-14:00.

Sisältyy: Day 6, 7, 8: Breakfast provided by the lodgeDay 6, 7, 8: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 6, 7, 8: Dinner will be an own expense meal at the lodge restaurant

LILONGWE

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 before we head to our lodge on the outskirts of town.

Distance/time: N/A ±370km, 6h30 actual driving time, but the border can be slow and somehow the travel today takes longer than you'd expect, ±9h30.

Overnight: Kumbali Country Lodge – twin share rooms with en suite bathrooms, & hot showers. Wifi available

Sisältyy: Day 9: Breakfast provided by the lodgeDay 9: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 9: Dinner will be own expense meal at a local restaurant

MULANJE MASSIF

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.

Includes: Guided walk on the slopes of Mount Mulanje.
Distance/time: ±360km, 6h30 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 ±9h00.
Overnight: Kara o’Mula – twin share en suite rooms. Wifi available.

Sisältyy: Day 10: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 11: Breakfast provided by the lodgeDay 10, 11: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 10, 11: Dinner provided by the lodge

LIWONDE

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.

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: Africa Parks Chinguni campsite

Sisältyy: Day 12: Breakfast will be provided by the lodgeDay 13: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 12-13: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 12-13: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

LAKE MALAWI

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 Nankoma Island, near Senga Bay. The island 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”. 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 colourful fish.

Includes: National park fees and taxes, boat transfers.
Distance/time: ±280km, 5h00 actual driving time to Senga Bay, then an afternoon boat cruise to Nankoma Island. We expect a travel day of ±6h30.
Overnight: Blue Zebra Island Lodge– twin share Lake Safari tents with en suite bathrooms, & hot showers. The lodge has a variety of room types, so depending on group size and make up, this may affect room allocations. Swimming pool. Wifi at the bar.

Sisältyy: Day 14-15: Breakfast provided by the lodgeDay 14: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 15: Lunch provided by the lodgeDay 14-15: Dinner provided by the lodge

LILONGWE – TOUR ENDS

We catch the ferry back to the mainland where we climb back onto our truck and return to Lilongwe, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to re-join life. Tour ends at 11:00am at the Lilongwe airport.

Distance/time: ±120km, 2h30 actual driving time on tarmac road. We expect a travel day of ±3h30.

Sisältyy: Day 16: Breakfast provided by the lodge