Note: There have been some changes to this tour for 2025. Please contact us for the 2025 itinerary.

An exciting safari experience exploring the diversity of the lesser travelled South Eastern African countries. This tour is not for the faint hearted, and requires some patience; the travelling can be slow, some nights the accommodation is basic, however the journey offers amazing scenery and fantastic highlights, well worth the long travel days. We recommend malaria prophylactics. A safari for travellers with a sense of adventure.

Day 1  LUSAKA [lodge ---]
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).

Day 2 KAFUE RIVER [lodge BL-]
(B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner)
A long drive takes us across the rolling Miombo forested hills of southern Zambia and down into the 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.

Day 3 - 4 LOWER ZAMBEZI CANOEING [1 x camping BLD, 1 x lodge BL-]
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. The following morning we continue our canoe safari through an area teaming with elephants, hippos and other wildlife. We will be collected by a motorboat, and are transferred back up river to our lodge. 

Day 5 LUSAKA - GREAT EAST ROAD [chalet BLD]
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.

Day 6 - 8 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK  [chalet BL-]
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).

Day 9 LILONGWE [chalet BL-]
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.

Day 10 - 11 MULANJE MASSIF [lodge BL-]
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 Ages. We take a day walk on the slopes to see the streams, waterfalls and towering peaks..

Day 12 - 13 LIWONDE [camping BLD]
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 jump onto an open game viewing 4WD and with a knowledge local guide and explore the grassland and woodland habitats in search of leopards, elephants, hippos, antelopes and rare Lilian’s lovebirds. 

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.

Day 14 LAKE MALAWI [lodge BLD]
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 Mumbo Island, near Cape Maclear. The rustic 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”

Day 15 LILONGWE [lodge BL-]
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 colour fish. Later we catch the ferry back to mainland where we climb back onto our truck and return to Lilongwe, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to re-join life.

Day 16 LILONGWE - TOUR ENDS [B--]
Tour ends at 08:00am at the hotel

Highlights

	Lower Zambezi – canoeing
	South Luangwa NP – game walk & 4WD game drives
	Mulanje Massif - tea plantations, hiking
	Liwonde - boat cruise and game drive
	Lake Malawi - snorkeling & island beaches

This group meets at 16:00 at the lodge. Most flights into LUN arrive mid-day. We recommend that you fly into Lusaka airport (LUN) in Zambia on the day the tour starts.

The tour ends in Lilongwe, Malawi at approximately 08:00am at the hotel.

If you would like to book any pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, please indicate your required airport transfers and the number of nights required when you submit your enquiry below.

Please slide side-to-side to see more info

REPEAT TRAVELERS SPECIAL DISCOUNT:

If you have travelled with Sunway before and would like to return to Africa and do another safari with us, we can offer you a repeat Sunway travellers discount of 5% on any scheduled tour booked.

This discount is also available if you book through your original travel agent again. When you make your booking please make sure you tell your agent the date of your previous tour.

Safari Grade: Accommodated

	Overnight: 12 nights on safari we stay at chalets, tented lodges and guest houses with en suite facilities. On Mumbo Island 2 of the tented rooms share a bathroom - rooms will be allocated by guides. The accommodation can be rustic or even basic, these may be the only option.
	1 night “camp wild” without fences in the wilderness on an island in the Zambezi and 2 nights in a campsite in Liwonde (Sunway will provide tents, mats and chairs, but you will need your own sleeping bag).

Meals: 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 5 dinners are included. Of which, 12 breakfasts and 1 dinner are provided by the lodges. The remaining included meals are prepared by the Sunway crew, prepared at the vehicle and enjoyed around the campfire or at the truck.

Transport: Due to sometimes demanding road conditions you travel in a Sunway Safari truck with 12 seats or Landcruiser station wagon. Potholes, speed humps(!) & rain damaged gravel roads are characteristic of the areas we travel through and can make driving slow and bouncy. However we pass through road side villages and thus have opportunity to witness the local lifestyle. For the game drives in South Luangwa we use open sided 4WD vehicles with local guides.

Limited Participation: An essential part of your safari is participation. From putting up your tent to packing the truck in the morning - it's all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do all the meal prepartion but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. There are some long travel days which means early morning starts so we all need to get involved to make the day run efficiently.

Responsible Tourism

In the Luangwa Valley we stay at Wildlife Camp . Wildlife Camp is situated on land owned by Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ), Wildlife camp operate under their authority and proudly donate a 60% of their revenue to the Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia.

 

The lodge is dedicated to the protection of the environment, and the sustainable utilisation of this precious resource. Your visit will also support the conservation of the wildlife and employment opportunities for the people of the Luangwa Valley and Zambia.

 

AGE POLICY

We accept children 12-18 with accompanying adults on scheduled tours (for private groups we can accept younger children).

 

If the clients are older than 65 years, then we require a medical certificate too (stating client is fit and healthy to embark on a multi-day tour covering long distances etc)

 

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ZAMBIA

The best time to travel to Zambia is traditionally during the autumn - winter – spring months (April – November). This is typically the dry season when days are clear and warm but can get cold during the evening. If you’re interested in wildlife viewing, then this is the best period to visit. Wildlife congregates at the dwindling water points, the wildlife is generally more active, and the vegetation is sparse allowing for easy game viewing. 

The peak summer months (December - March) are characterised by hot, sunny days and spectacular afternoon thunder showers. During the summer months the countryside is lush, with plentiful wild flowers and new floral growth. For birders, this is prime birding season, all of the migrant species return to take advantage of the abundance of insect and plant life. The summer months provide the avid photographer with amazing colours and spectacular scenery. During the times of increased rainfall, malaria becomes more of a risk, so preventative measures are essential. Please bear in mind that all of our tents have built in mosquito nets, and all accommodation establishments used along the route do provide mosquito nets if required.

 

 

 Victoria Falls at sunset, Zambia

Birgit - 15Aug19

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Bush walk in South Luanga National Park

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Reasonable level of fitness needed for kayaking on the Zambezi and hiking in Mulanje

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
To a certain extent; food shopping solely at Shoprite - did not support locals

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very enjoyable holiday:saw lots of animals, diverse range of activities, beautiful landscapes, very nice lodges. Guides are proffesional and very friendly. Clinton and Ulrich did a great job looking after us.

Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

5 *****

John - 24Aug18

Wonderful experience. More than we hoped for. Malawi was absolutely amazing. The walk at Mulanje was a highlight. Kalanga is a superb calm driver in sometimes unfamiliar territory. Both Kalunga and Alois are knowledgeable and excelent with clients.

Laura - 14Jun18

I wish to congratulate Sunway Safaris on the wonderful experience they provided on my recent safari. Our tour was great and the guides have been fantastic. Great combination of guide’s skills, accommodation and activities. Mumbo Island is a wonderful end to the tour.

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