13 days
This is a superb and complete tour that allows you to see the best of Africa's best attractions in two neighbouring nations, Zambia and Malawi.
When it comes to African Safari, it has some of the best wildlife regions. With activities such as the Lower Zambezi National Park Game Drive, the Unique and Famous Canoe Safari, and the Boat Cruise on the Zambezi River, you will have the opportunity to see wildlife in its native habitat both on water and on land.
South Luangwa National Park, one of the world's most well-known national parks and well renowned for its high concentrations of wildlife, offers the best game drives in Africa (Day and Night Game Drive Safari) as well as the legendary walking safari, which takes you closer to nature.
Relax and enjoy the fresh waters of Lake Malawi in the Warm Heart of Africa and one of Africa's top beach holiday destinations.
Highlights
Places Covered: Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park, South Luangwa National Park, Lilongwe and Lake Malawi
At Kiambi Safari Lodge – Lower Zambezi National Park
At Flatdogs Camp – South Luangwa National Park
At Zikomo Safari Camp - South Luangwa National Park, Nsefu Sector
At Latitude 13 in Lilongwe Malawi
At the Makokola Retreat – Lake Malawi
Transfers/Flights included are
Day 1 to 4: Kiambi Safari Lodge – Lower Zambezi
Kiambi Lower Zambezi is your first gentle, mellow taste of the Lower Zambezi, and sets the uniquely African stage for your forthcoming journey of discovery.
Kiambi Safari owns and operates an exclusive lodge in the Lower Zambezi Valley – Kiambi Lower Zambezi, situated in the Chiawa Game Management area of the Zambezi Valley, in a prime location on the confluence of the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers. The Lodge welcomed the first guests at Kiambi Lower Zambezi in May 1999 and has from its inception, enchanted one and all by truly capturing the essence of the Lower Zambezi. Kiambi Lower Zambezi offers a unique composite experience, a rare combination of Africa’s culture, scenery, and wildlife. This is “The real Africa”. Each of the luxury thatched chalets is set on a raised wooden platform, with spacious en-suite facilities and private verandas with a view over the Zambezi. While relishing the supreme comfort, furnished stylishly in Rhodesian teak and equipped with the necessities to make your stay comfortable; Kiambi guests never lose that close-to-nature experience
All luxury thatched cottages come with tea and coffee facilities, air-condition, an en-suite bathroom with hot showers.
Day 4 to 7: Flatdogs Camp, South Luangwa National Park
Owner-run Flatdogs Camp offers guests a personal, unforgettable safari experience in one of the most untouched National Parks in the whole of Southern Africa.
Set in a riparian woodland habitat, the camp is kept as natural as possible and offers guests a great range of accommodation; the open Jackal-Berry Treehouse with waterhole views, the fabulous Croc’s Nest, which is a tented house with river views and private pool, the cool and spacious chalet rooms made of stone & thatch, which are ideal for families and last, but by no means least, the exciting en-suite safari tents with river views and hippo serenades!
Some of the best-trained professional safari guides in the Luangwa will lead you on safari, sharing with you their wide range of interests from animals, plants and insects to the local traditions and conservation in the area.
Flatdogs aims to provide each guest with the safari of his or her dreams – whether this is spending every second exploring the national park, learning more about the warm and friendly people of Zambia, or relaxing in camp watching the elephant cross the river at sunset.
Day 7 to 10: Zikomo Safari Camp, South Luangwa NP (Nsefu Sector)
Zikomo Safari is across the river from South Luangwa National Park. It is set amidst a valley filled with diverse African wildlife. This peaceful bush lodge and campsite is the perfect setting for your African Photo Safari. Whether you choose a game drive, an exciting bush walk, a visit to the local village, a visit to the hot springs, or time out simply relaxing in a hammock, your visit will amaze you.
Only a forty-five (45) minute drive from Mfuwe International Airport, in an area away from other safari lodges, Zikomo Safari is spread under a canopy of ancient shade trees on the banks of the Luangwa River. It is in the Nsefu sector. This sector is one of the least crowded and richest wildlife areas in the world.
Our nine handcrafted chalets are well furnished with en-suite bathrooms and private decks from which to view the river and wildlife. There are electric fans, mosquito nets, sinks, showers and toilets in each. Seven chalets have a double and a single bed. Two family size chalets offer two rooms, a double bed, and two single beds.
Day 10 to 11: Latitude 13 Degrees Hotel – Lilongwe, Malawi
Latitude 13 Hotel is the best place to stay in Lilongwe for clients going to or coming from Lake Malawi. This hotel is more stylish, yet simple and spacious, allowing you to enjoy a perfect stay in a quiet, leafy lane on the northern edge of Malawi’s capital city, and between Kamuzu Airport and central Lilongwe.
An 18-meter pool and state-of-the-art fitness centre only a hop, skip and jump from your front door are also one of the features at this beautiful small hotel.
A 42” flat-screen TV, in-room safe and high-speed internet access are just some of the amenities found at Latitude 13 Hotel.
Day 11 to 13: The Makokola Retreat - Lake Malawi
Welcome to The Makokola Retreat. Brilliantly green gardens reveal spacious beach villas and rooms perched along the shores of southern Lake Malawi. They provide gracious service in an unmatched experience in Malawi. This showpiece property captures the essence of African design, culture, and tradition. While staying with them, fill every moment with a sense of natural connection in their wonderful retreat.
The retreat is on a lake that is beautiful almost beyond belief. Its waters are the habitat of more species of fish than that any other body of fresh water on the earth. Lake Malawi has always been known as "Livingstone's Lake". The areas of Mangochi and Fort Johnston have an important historical heritage.
When you arrive at Lusaka International Airport, you are met and welcomed by our representative, who will assist you with your luggage then take you on about 3 hours of adventurous transfer through the city of Lusaka to Kiambi Safari Lodge in Lower Zambezi.
Check-in at Kiambi lodge and depending on your time of arrival, you will have lunch, relax and enjoy the view of the river, and the lodge’s facilities in general. Later in the evening, you will have diner then bedtime at your convenient time.
Meal Plan: Lunch or Snacks & Dinner
Today you start your day early with a cup of tea/coffee then depart for a 1hr 30 minutes boat Cruise to the Confluence where you will enter the park, pay park fees and then get onto your 4x4 Open Sided Safari Vehicle with packed breakfast and lunch. During breakfast and lunch, your guide will find a nice spot with a great view to relax and enjoy your meals.
At noon, around 3 pm return to the confluence where you will get onto a boat and do a sunset Bruise of about two hours upstream with chances of seeing amazing wildlife, such as elephants, hippos, Crocodiles lots of birds on your return to the lodge and arriving just before dark, you will go to your room freshen up and then dinner will be served at the river bank with an amazing view and later bedtime at your convenience.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Packed Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner)
Today you have it at was with late breakfast is served first 7 – 8 am, though it's flexible in case you want it early. Then your Guide will be picked for a 3-hour guided canoe safari, he will take you through a safety bring then depart with the motorboat to where you will start your Canoe Safari from going downstream with a chance to see great wildlife around the river and eventually you will return to the lodge in the motorboat almost in time for lunch.
After lunch, you will have Free time to relax and enjoy the view and then you have a chance to do a complimentary Sunset Boat Cruise or you can try other optional activities such as Angling (Catch and release of tiger fish) if at all you are interested in fishing. In the evening dinner is served, and bedtime at a convenient time.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
In the morning, you will have breakfast and check out, depending on your local flight time from Lusaka to Mfuwe in South Luangwa National Park our driver will be ready to transfer you to Lusaka International airport. You will check-in onto your 1hr10min local flight to Mfuwe (South Luangwa National Park).
When you arrive at Mfuwe Airport you will be welcomed and transferred to the lodge by the driver/guide from Thornicroft Lodge. You will be driven through a tard road, passing through the shops and villages of the local people and it takes about 45 minutes.
Check-in, depending on your arrival time lunch will be served, then free time to relax. Later in the afternoon tea/coffee will be served followed by the afternoon/night game drive which starts around 4 Pm – this activity starts at noon and when it gets darker, you will concentrate on nocturnal animals with the help of the spotter, who will be holding a flashlight looking for animals such as Leopards. Later on, you return to the lodge in time for dinner and then later bedtime.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch or Packed Snacks & Dinner
Breakfast will be served first followed by a morning safari, either a walking safari or a game drive safari, followed by a return to the camp practically in time for lunch and free time to rest.
Later in the afternoon, you will be served wonderful afternoon tea/coffee along with some refreshments before departing for the afternoon/night safari, which will begin with afternoon wildlife viewing and conclude with a night safari in search of nocturnal animals after dark. You'll return to the camp later, unwind, and then have dinner before retiring to bed at your leisure.
Optional excursion: Please note that you can participate in optional excursions such as a Village Tour, a Local School Trip, or go shopping in local fabric stores during your spare time.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Breakfast is served in the morning, followed by a morning game drive or walking safari before returning to the camp to check-out and lunch. After lunch, your guide will transfer you to Zikomo Safari Camp in the Nsefu Sector of South Luangwa National Park, which is about a one-hour drive away.
Check-in and relax, then enjoy afternoon tea/coffee before going on an afternoon/night game drive which starts with the afternoon and then after dark you will be searching for nocturnal animals such as the elusive Leopard before returning to the Camp almost in time for dinner and bedtime at your leisure.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Breakfast is served in the morning, followed by a morning game drive or walking Safari before getting back to the camp almost in time for lunch and then free time to relax.
At some stage in the afternoon, you will have some afternoon tea/coffee before going on an afternoon/night game drive which starts with the afternoon and then after dark, you will be searching for nocturnal animals such as the elusive Leopard before returning to the Camp almost in time for dinner and bedtime at your leisure.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
At Zikomo Safari Camp, breakfast is provided first, after which you will embark on a morning game drive or Walking Safari and return to the camp almost in time for lunch, after which you will check out and our driver will come and pick you up for a 4-hour road trip to Lilongwe.
You will pass through Chipata City then cross the Zambia/Malawi border and finally you will be in Lilongwe Later in the afternoon and check-in at Latitude 13 degrees hotel. Unwind, then later on you will some delicious dinner before bedtime at your leisure.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Breakfast is served first, then check out. Our driver will pick you up and take you on a short city tour of Lilongwe before taking you on a three-hour adventure road trip to The Makokola Retreat in Lake Malawi, where you will arrive in time for lunch.
Depending on the time you will drive around Lilongwe City. Visit Parliament, a memorial to the first President of Malawi Dr Hestings Kamuzu Banda after Malawi gained independence from Britain. Visit a local market. Visit World War I Memorial and climb the tower to have a breathtaking view of the city. Stop at Lilongwe Central Musjid, an old town mall. Walk around Lilongwe with a local professional tour guide.
If you arrive by 1.30 p.m., you will be greeted and offered lunch, followed by free time to unwind. You might choose to participate in one of the non-motorized sports or simply relax on the beach. Dinner is served later in the evening before bedtime.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Today you will have breakfast before departing for a Snorkeling excursion on the island, where you will enjoy your snorkelling. You will return to the resort in time for lunch and free time to unwind.
You can relax and spend more time at the beach, or you can try other activities available at the resort, such as kayaking, sailing, mountain biking, and more. In addition, you have unrestricted access to the pool table, table tennis, and darts. Optional activities such as cultural and historical contacts are also available (Mangochi Half Day Tour). Later, there will be some free time before dinner and bedtime.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Breakfast first, then check out of The Makokola Retreat resort and depart for Lilongwe, arriving at the airport in time for your flight back home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast Only