Trip Overview
Travel Route: Lilongwe – Zomba – Shire Highlands – Mulanje – Liwonde – Lake Malawi – Lilongwe
Duration 12 days 11 nights
Ideal For Travellers interested in exploring Malawi - the beautiful scenery of the Shire highlands with their scenic tea plantations, the old colonial capital of Zomba, wonderful hiking on Mt Mulanje, off-the-beaten path wildlife experiences on fantastic boat safaris in Liwonde National Park, authentic every day life and the cristal clear waters of Lake Malawi.
Summary Travellers interested in exploring Malawi - the beautiful scenery of the Shire highlands with their scenic tea plantations, the old colonial capital of Zomba, wonderful hiking on Mt Mulanje, off-the-beaten path wildlife experiences on fantastic boat safaris in Liwonde National Park, authentic every day life and the crystal clear waters of Lake Malawi.
Services Included Bed & breakfast in Lilongwe, halfboard Zomba Plateau and self catering Mulanje, fullboard accommodation in Shire Highlands, Fullboard accommodation, Game drives, Boats safaris, Bush walks at Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, Halfboard accommodation and non motorized water sports at Norman Carr Cottage, Fullboard accommodation and non motorized water sports at Mumbo Island, Liwonde national park fees, 24-hour point of contact in Africa.
Cost per Person:
From US$ 2,960
The price quoted above is an approximate price based on 2 people shairing a double or twin and traveling during high season (July to Oct).
Lilongwe became the capital of Malawi in 1975 and is also the seat of Parliament with State House being located here. It is the hub of major air and road routes in Malawi, making it the ideal gateway for visitors to the country.
The city has two distinct parts, the Old Town and the Capital City. The Old Town has all the appearance of a traditional African settlement, with vibrant street life and a large walled market selling everything imaginable. In contrast, the spacious and green 'garden' Capital City has its roots firmly in the 20th century, with gleaming modern buildings, wide boulevards and verdant gardens.
The Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, which separates Old Town and Capital City, is well worth a visit to explore the network of trails that run through the small reserve.
You are unlikely to see many animals here but it does boast spotted hyena, porcupine, bush pig, bushbuck, vervet monkeys and crocodiles. A rather staggering 150 species of birds have also been recorded here.
Other activities in Lilongwe include visits to the tobacco auction floors (from April to September), where between 13,000 and 15,000 bales of tobacco are sold each day. Unlike many other African cities, Lilongwe is safe to stroll around, with little crime directed at tourists, and for those in need of essentials there good shops, banks and other useful facilities.
Accommodation: Kumbali / Heuglins
A 3-4 hour drive brings you to the spectacular Zomba Plateau, a table-top mountain with wonderful streams, waterfalls and lakes, covered with vast tracts of cedar, pine and cypress forests.
The top of the plateau stands at over 1,800 meters, its sharp edges which dropping away dramatically to the valley below. The plateau is a great destination for walking, hiking and cycling, with amazing views of southern Malawi from the top and along the woodland paths to waterfalls and streams where you can try a spot of fishing.
The plateau overshadows the old colonial town of Zomba, formerly the capital of Malawi. Zomba Town remains a vibrant place, with plenty of historic colonial architecture and faded colonial splendour as well as bustling markets full of local produce.
Accommodation: Ku Chawe
Shire Highlands
Days 3 - 4
A short drive through scenic countryside takes you to the Satemwa Estate in the Shire Highlands.
The Shire Highlands are stunningly beautiful, with rolling and vibrant green tea estates which contrast with beautiful purple jacaranda trees and views of Mount Mulanje in the distance.
Enjoy lovely walks either through the tea plantations or into the remaining rain forest, bird watching, tea and coffee tasting, horse riding, mountain bike trails, quad biking and even micro light flights.
Accommodation: Huntington House
Drive further southwards through greenery and tea plantations.
Enjoy the beautiful landscape through the Shire Highlands into the Mount Mulanje National Park, which boasts of the longest sheer rock face in Africa and rises to around 3000m from the surrounding plateau. It contains a hidden world of high altitude grasslands, mysterious hidden valleys and scenic waterfalls. This is superb hiking country and a network of trails and huts exists around which a 3 or 4 night trail can be very rewarding.
Guides and porters are available to accompany hikers and hiking & climbing is best undertaken during the dry months of May to end October.
However, you don't have to be a trekking fanatic to enjoy this area, many visitors come to enjoy the beautiful scenery around the base of the massif and to spend some quality time relaxing at one of the old colonial tea estates.
Accommodation: Lujeri Tea Estate
Liwonde National Park
Days 7 - 8
A scenic 2 hour drive brings you to Liwonde National Park which lies at the southern end of Lake Malawi and is Malawi’s premier game-viewing destination.
While the wildlife here does not match other parks in East and Southern Africa, it offers diverse scenery and among the best bird watching in Southern Africa.
The park is dominated by the Shire River, with its banks covered in lush vegetation. Animals to be seen include large pods of hippos, elephants, sable antelope, waterbuck and crocodiles, best viewed on a boat safari.
Waterbuck wade in lagoons and marshes, while the open savannah and hills of the interior attract antelopes such the elegant sable, impala and bushbuck.
The park also has rhino, lion and leopard, although they are hard to find.
Safari activities in the park include game drives, walks and scenic boat trips and the best time of the year for game viewing in Liwonde is the dry season between June and October.
Accommodation: Mvuu Wilderness Camp
Lake Malawi, Southern Lakeshore
Days 9 - 11
A two hour drive takes you to the southern end of Lake Malawi. Enjoy the crystal clear waters, the unspoilt beaches and lush forests of Lake Malawi, an Inland Sea and the third largest lake in Africa - and one of the cleanest fresh water lakes in the world. Spectacular mountains drop into the lake in the north while the south is less dramatic and enjoys long stretches of golden beaches and crystal clear water.
The lake's tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on Earth and Lake Malawi has been rated as one of the best fresh water dive destinations in the world. It offers a variety of dive sites, as well as beautiful brightly coloured tropical fish, interesting rock formations and bottom contours. There are over 700 different species of cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi, as well as catfish, eels, crabs and otters.
There are no corals or pretty vegetation but great diving around rocky reefs and islands.
October is a particularly good month with good visibility but snorkelling and diving can be good all year round.
The bays and beaches on the southern lakeshore tend to be the most sheltered and calmest. Lake Malawi National Park is located at Cape Maclear close to the southern end of the lake and includes a land area around the cape and bay as well as a number of islands in the lake that offer great snorkelling and diving in clear warm waters.
Accommodation: Norman Carr Cottage / Mumbo Island
Enjoy a last day on the beach before driving back to the capital Lilongwe, 3-4 hours away, for your onward journey or your flight back home.
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