Malawi and Zambia Adventure Safari Tour

This captivating two week itinerary takes you through the breathtaking landscapes and rich wildlife of Zambia and Malawi. Begin your journey in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, before crossing into Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park for an unparalleled Zambia safari experience amidst abundant wildlife and luxury at Chikunto Lodge. Return to Malawi for more adventures in Liwonde National Park, the serene waters of Mumbo Island, and the secluded paradise of Nankoma Island. Conclude your adventure back in Lilongwe, carrying unforgettable memories of this spectacular tour.

Highlights

  • South Luangwa Game Drive Safaris & Walking Safaris
  • Liwonde National Park, Malawi Game drives, boat and walking safaris
  • Mumbo Island Water based activities kayaking, snorkelling and swimming in Lake Malawi
  • Nankoma Island nature trails, birding, kayaking, snorkelling, seasonal scuba, water-sports, sunset cruise

Inclusions

  • Meet and greet at Lilongwe International Airport (OR option to fly in to Mfuwe Regional Airport in Zambia, where you will be met by our Chikunto Staff) with guided transfers to all stated lodges and drop off back at Lilongwe International Airport for your flight out
  • Local & Non – premium drinks at Chikunto Safari Lodge
  • Scheduled return boat transfer from Cape Maclear to Mumbo Island and from Senga Bay to Blue Zebra Island Lodge
  • All meals as stated in the itinerary, at Wines and Wings Guest House it will be based on bed and breakfast so lunch and dinner will be extra
  • All activities as stated:
  • Cultural/village tour – on request, Visit local market and Tribal Textiles, two... View All Inclusions

    Inclusions

    • Meet and greet at Lilongwe International Airport (OR option to fly in to Mfuwe Regional Airport in Zambia, where you will be met by our Chikunto Staff) with guided transfers to all stated lodges and drop off back at Lilongwe International Airport for your flight out
    • Local & Non – premium drinks at Chikunto Safari Lodge
    • Scheduled return boat transfer from Cape Maclear to Mumbo Island and from Senga Bay to Blue Zebra Island Lodge
    • All meals as stated in the itinerary, at Wines and Wings Guest House it will be based on bed and breakfast so lunch and dinner will be extra
    • All activities as stated:
    • Cultural/village tour – on request, Visit local market and Tribal Textiles, two game viewing activities per day – game drives and walking safaris
    • Mvuu Lodge: Game drives, boat and walking safaris
    • Mumbo Island: Non-motorized watersport such as kayaking, snorkeling and swimming in Lake Malawi Blue Zebra Island Lodge: Non-motorized watersport such as kayaking, snorkeling and swimming in Lake Malawi
    • Park fees at South Luangwa, Liwonde and Lake Malawi National Parks
    Close

The Itinerary

Day 1

Meet & Greet at Lilongwe Intl Airport

Welcome to Malawi! On your arrival at Lilongwe International Airport, you will be met by our team then collecting your luggage, your driver/guide will transfer you to Latitude 13 Degrees Hotel . You will stay here for the night before you cross the border to Zambia.

You’ll find Latitude 13° nestled in the leafy lanes on the northern edge of Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe. We’re a hotel 10 minutes from downtown and 20 minutes from Kamuzu International Airport .

Days 2-6

Road Transfer to Chikunto Lodge - South Luangwa National Park

Next, you head to the famous valley of the leopards, South Luangwa National Park. You will stay at the gorgeous Chikunto Lodge for the next five nights of your tour.

Right on the banks of the Luangwa River, there is abundant wildlife and very few other lodges in the area so you should have all the views to yourself! Enjoy some excellent big cat sightings as well as huge herds of elephants, pods of hippo, plenty of birds and the famous endemic Thornicroft giraffe. Enjoy a luxury safari experience in the untouched wilderness set along the iconic Luangwa River.

Day 7

Transfer South Luangwa - Lilongwe,Malawi

Today you will head back to Lilongwe to stay for the night at Latitude 13 Degrees Hotel, before you proceed to Liwonde National Park for yet another great bush adventure.

Days 8-10

Liwonde National Park

As your tour gets more exciting, today you will head to Liwonde. Your driver/guide will transfer you to Mvuu Lodge situated along the Shire River right within Liwonde National Park.

You will spend three nights on the Shire River exploring the conservation success that is in the park on land and the river, from its thriving populations of black rhino and cheetah to the endless bird species. This is the perfect place to experience Malawi’s flourishing wildlife.

Days 11-12

Mumbo Island, Lake Malawi

After your morning game activity, you will today head your way to the lake, Malawi’s crowning jewel, your driver/guide will transfer you to Cape Maclear in Magochi for your scheduled boat transfer to Mumbo Island. You will spend nights of digital detox, situated on a gorgeous island in the middle of the lake and surrounded by turquoise waters is Mumbo Island. Snorkel the crystal-clear lake and experience breath-taking sunset views from Pod Rock.

Mumbo Island is a pristine and deserted tropical island floating on the expansive waters of the Lake Malawi National Park. With a maze of massive underwater boulders, innumerable species of colourful cichlid fish and calm, clear water, the National Park offers what many consider the best freshwater snorkelling and SCUBA diving in the world.

Days 13-14

Nankoma Island

You will wind up your adventure in the Warm Heart of Africa at Nankoma Island, a lonely and private Island situated within lake Malawi at Senga Bay. You will this morning be transferred back to the mainland to meet your driver/guide who will then transfer you to Senga for your boat transfer to Blue Zebra Island Lodge, a beautiful piece of paradise.

During your stay at the island, our trusted doctor will come ashore to conduct your COVID 19 tests, preparing you for your onward travel.

Day 15

Last Day in Malawi

Today you will be transported off the island and back into Lilongwe to collect your results certificate and catch your flight home.

Where You'll Be Staying

Wines and Wings Guest House,

Lilongwe

In the heart of Area 12, 5-minute walk from The Four seasons centre, 15-minute walk from The Golden Peacock Shopping Centre. City Centre is about 20-minute walk, we are a few kilometres from Kumbali and have a supermarket 50 metres from the house. The house has 6 staff to help cook, clean and look after you. Our home is well furnished and comfortable, with a pool, lovely garden, good social areas, modern kitchen, fast Wi-Fi, DSTV and is a top…
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Chikunto Safari Lodge

South Luangwa National Park
At Chikunto Safaris we are passionate about operating sustainably, minimising our ecological footprint and delivering a truly memorable experience for every one of our Guests. Our planet is precious and the resources it provides are finite, which is why we choose to operate by solar power; recycle and minimise our water usage; reduce and recycle waste; use eco-friendly cleaning products and avoid the use of chlorine in our magnificent salt-water counter-current Swimming Pool. We are closely entwined with our local…
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Mvuu Lodge,

Liwonde National Park

Mvuu Lodge overlooks a tranquil lagoon just off the Shire River with the main lounge area set high above the water in an area of captivating variety and beauty. It has an extensive wildlife library and telescope to make the most of the exceptional bird and other life that moves around the river. Mvuu means “hippo” in Tonga and the name epitomises the large numbers of pods of these water-loving mammals that float in the river. In this lush and…
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Mumbo Island Camp,

Mumbo Island

Mumbo is a pristine island in Lake Malawi National Park which, with its crystal-clear waters and innumerable species of cichlid fish, offers some of the best freshwater scuba diving in the world and the best snorkelling on the Lake. The island lies 10km northwest of Cape Maclear, where reception and the nearest point of road access are located. The camp comprises five units (two twin tents and three twin reed chalets) perched on rocks high above the water shaded by…
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Blue Zebra Island Lodge,

Nankoma Island

The perfect getaway for nature lovers looking for a combination of adventure and relaxation in a tranquil, private setting. Exclusively situated on Nankoma Island, a wild paradise in Lake Malawi National Park (UNESCO World Heritage site). Unobtrusive and eco-friendly, operating on solar power. Offering a unique and sustainable travel experience, Blue Zebra is a conservation driven lodge working with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Malawi to protect three islands making up the Marelli group: Nankoma, Maleri, and…
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What's not included

Drinks (Except at Chikunto local & non-premium drinks are included) - Day tours - Malawian Visa fees (USD75) - Zambian visa fees (USD50) - Any items of personal nature - Any extra activities not mentioned such as motorized watersport in Lake Malawi - Any airport taxes of any kind - All International Flights - Any internal flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe (Available on request if fly into or out of Lusaka) - Tips and gratuities

Why Choose Absolute Zambia Safaris?

Absolute Zambia Safaris is a specialist in bespoke and private safaris in Zambia. Through our large safari operators, we proudly assist our guests in designing custom-made safaris.

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Feedback From Our Previous Clients

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Dillon P profile picture
Dillon P
01/01/2025
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Epic experience Truly a once in a lifetime experience! We always felt safe and well looked after on the trip, the scenery was excellent and the value for money was off the charts. Definitely a trip we would want to do again.
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howard0928
10/11/2024
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Excellent operator! Absolute Zambia was fantastic. Every connection ran smoothly, a representative was in hand whenever necessary. Booked us in fantastic lodges with great accommodations and even better food Highly recommended
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Sorel profile picture
Sorel
19/10/2024
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Well organized, amazing safari Robert helped us plan every detail of our first safari/trip to Africa. He was incredibly responsive via email, and allowed us to explore a variety of options. We visited the city of Lusaka, 2 game parks, Victoria Falls, Johannesburg, and a Mozambique beach resort. Every step of the way went smoothly.I especially recommend South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi game parks for safari. We saw a wide range of game and our guides were knowledgeable. It was overall an amazing experience.
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Laurent - societyofexploration
18/09/2024
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100% recommendation for your Zambia travels Robert arranged a two weeks photography tour for us, combining Wildlige and culture (Likumby Lya Mize and Nyau mask dances) and we enjoyed it a lot. He was extremely responsive to answer all our questions before the tour and arranged many extras that are, for photographers, of the utmost importance - private safari vehicles, full day game drives, efficient planning - making sure we didn‘t miss a thing! Also the recommended lodges were faultless. A special thanks to our driver, Kamara, who, with his professionalism and positive attitude, helped to overcome every small difficulty that we met during our overland travel days. The budget we gave was also respected and we got good value for our money. I give a 100% recommendation to this reputable Zambian owned company.
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marys profile picture
marys
25/08/2024
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AMAZING EXPERIENCE Robert Zgosi was amazing! Everything on our trip was perfectly planned and executed. I couldn't have asked for a better experience! I have recommended this company to friends and would definitely use them again!
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Diamond1924
07/07/2024
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Absolutely Great Tour AZS organised a perfect customised tour for us, combining Victoria Falls and South Luangwa nature reserve. Everything went really smoothly from stepping off the plane at Livingstone, crossing the Zimbabwean border, internal Zambian flights, and selecting terrific Lodges. We were pleasantly surprised to be welcomed at Lusaka Airport as we connected to our flight to Mfuwe. Would thoroughly recommend - AZS were brilliant at rearranging everything when we had to delay our trip as well. Really good.
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Anna L profile picture
Anna L
14/05/2024
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Perfect holiday in Zambia Robert designed a perfect trip for our family. He chose local owned lodges that met our budget. He was always available to make sure we were okay or to give us advice. I highly recommend Absolute Zambia Safari!
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Howard K K WONG
13/05/2024
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The most professional and trustworthy agent for safaris in Africa We have just returned from a wonderful 9 days’ trip in Zimbabwe which was recommended and well organized by Robert from Absolute Zambia Safaris. According to our budget and wishing list, Robert organized us to stay at two wonderful lodges each close to two different National Parks in Zimbabwe and last stop by Victoria Falls. I was lucky to have entrusted Robert to organize my first experience of safari at his own country ( 5 days’ Luangwa trip) in 2019. Same as before, we did not have to think about anything on this trip but enjoying every moment on our safaris, especially the sightings of white rhinos which we mostly interested in. All the arrangements were seamless with only one hiccup, it was not the fault of Robert or his team but the “Imvelo” whose tram services could not be resumed on the date as they had hoped. What a pity that we could not celebrate our special event on that tram as planned. Robert be given credit once again in this regard, he promptly negotiated with Imvelo who eventually compensated us a charter flight to Victoria Fall with no extra charge and had out luggage forwarded by road to our hotel on the same day. All the way through our return to the airport for our flight back home, definitely exceeded our expectations. Robert of Absolute Zambia Safaris was truly amazing and I wholeheartedly recommend him to those planning a trip in South Africa.
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Gary V
19/12/2023
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Another perfect holiday We were a party of eight, most of us on a return trip (last one in 2020 - also with Absolute Zambia Safaris) under the expert guidance of Robert. It was again a holiday without a single complaint. Pickups were reliable and punctual, the David Livingstone resort is perfectly located on the banks of the Zambezi with comfortable beds, sumptuous food, an infinity pool, and an unlimited supply of food and drinks on the silent but spacious sunset cruise. Robert (from Absolute Zambia Safaris) dealt with all our changes, additions, amendments, and cancellations with endless patience and understanding. It was a perfect holiday, we will be back. Thank you Absolute Zambia Safaris.
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Lisa A
24/11/2023
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Amazing five-day trip Absolute Safari organised an amazing five-day trip for us which included 2 nights in Mwanfushi safari lodge and 2 nights by Victoria falls. Everything worked out perfectly and Robert was quick on the email, answering and organising according to our wishes. Our driver Brian was excellent and always on time and the price very reasonable. Can highly recommend.

Looking For A Tailor-Made Safari?

The team at Absolute Zambia Safaris is here to help! Book your initial consultation with us and we’ll help you choose the best safari that meets your requirements.

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