A fantastic 6-day Malawi & Zambia Safari combining two unforgettable wilderness gems - Dzalanyama Forest Reserve in Malawi and South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.
Travel from Lilongwe to the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve - a range of steep hills, boasting beautiful trees and escarpments. We venture into this scenic Malawian wilderness area on foot and by vehicle, keeping an eye out for antelopes, hyenas, and even leopards, as well as its abundance of birdlife.
The next leg of this affordable private lodge safari takes you to Zambia's premier game reserve - the wild South Luangwa National Park in the unspoiled Luangwa Valley. Explore South Luangwa Park, home to over 40 mammal species and 650 bird species, on morning and afternoon-to-night game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles.
__large.jpg "Dzalanyama Forest hike, Malawi Tour")
This Malawi & Zambia Safari departs from Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi where your guide collects you from your pre-tour accommodation.
From Lilongwe, we drive southwest for about an hour and a half to reach Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. Here we stay at a lodge overlooking the forest and a stream. Arriving at our forest lodge we have afternoon tea and soak up the peace of this enchanting forest setting. This afternoon you are free to explore the forest on foot, keeping an eye out for the variety of birds found here. Dzalanyama is a birding haven, home to an exceptional array of birds. This evening dinner is served at the tranquil forest lodge.
The Dzalanyama lodge is nestled in the Brachystegia trees, the most common indigenous trees in the forest. The wooden buildings and deck overlook the crystal clear Makata Stream and surrounding forest. The area attracts a wide variety of birds and butterflies and the lodge is close to a pretty waterfall and natural pools where guests can take a dip.
The forest lodge is an ideal retreat from which to enjoy bird watching, hiking and simply enjoying the solitude of the surrounding forest. Hyenas, leopards, and sometimes sable antelope have been sighted from the lodge, as well as baboons and duikers.
The whole of day two is set aside for exploring the Dzalanyama Forest area.
Walk or hike in the forest, looking out for the abundance of birds and the occasional small antelope. Or hire a bike and cycle through the forests. Take a dip in one of the clear mountain streams, spend some time relaxing in nature and visit the waterfall nearby. Head into Kachere Village and explore Malawian village life. Meet some of the friendly locals as they go about their daily lives and gain insight into their culture.
Return to the lodge for tasty meals and rests during the day. We spend another night of our Malawi & Zambia Safari at the charming lodge in Dzalanyama Forest.
On day three of this Malawi & Zambia Safari, we have breakfast at the forest lodge before leaving Dzalanyama Forest. Then we drive from Malawi to Luangwa Valley in Zambia. We drive to the Zambian border along lesser-known roads before joining the main route to Mchinji. The town of Mchinji is located in the western part of central Malawi, in an area of rolling grasslands and the Mchinji Hills.
Border formalities behind us we continue into Zambia, making our way to South Luangwa Valley. Our destination is the game-rich Mfuwe section of South Luangwa National Park, known for its elephants. Along the way we stop for a picnic lunch, arriving at our first Zambia safari lodge in South Luangwa National Park this afternoon.
The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to settle in at the safari lodge and enjoy the wild setting. The lodge is located on the banks of the Luangwa River inside the national park. It is the ideal spot for an authentic wildlife safari experience in the unspoiled African wilderness. Take a swim in one of the two swimming pools and relax on the deck overlooking the bush or have a siesta in your comfortable chalet. This evening, tuck into a bistro-style a la carte dinner in the spacious dining area or courtyard and gardens.
The South Luangwa lodge used on this Malawi & Zambia Safari is set along the Luangwa River inside South Luangwa National Park. The lodge offers a genuine African bush experience in style and comfort, priding itself on the high quality of its affordable luxury accommodation.
Accommodation at the safari lodge is in six en-suite chalets housed in three separate buildings. Each building has a downstairs double room with an en-suite bathroom and an upstairs twin or triple room with its own private bathroom. A kitchen area with a fridge and complimentary tea/coffee stations is shared between two chalet rooms in each building. The stone buildings with thatch roofing are designed to keep guests cool in the African heat. Each of these chalets is spacious and well-ventilated with high ceilings, fans, and quality furnishings.
Lodge facilities include two swimming pools, the main lodge area (with WiFi), a spacious restaurant, and a reference library. The lodge also features an outdoor boma area, wooden viewing decks, and outdoor dining and seating areas in the courtyard and gardens.
The next two days of our Malawi & Zambia Safari are dedicated to game viewing in South Luangwa National Park. Our days on safari in South Luangwa Park start with an early morning wake-up call for some tea, coffee, and a light snack before we venture into the Zambian bush.
The game drives in South Luangwa Park, Zambia's top wilderness area, are conducted in specially modified, open 4x4 safari vehicles to ensure the best wildlife experience in this unspoiled wilderness area. We make our way back to the safari lodge in time for a delicious brunch (early lunch), depending on our luck with sighting wildlife in Luangwa Park.
After lunch, you can relax, take a swim, and rest before our afternoon-to-night game drive. South Luangwa Park is renowned for its excellent night game viewing drives, which are included in the safari price. On night drives a powerful spotlight is used to sight nocturnal creatures roaming in the bush. We return from our rewarding game drives in this pristine wilderness area of Zambia for laid-back evenings at the lodge. Unwind around the campfire after tasty dinners and simply relax at the lodge.
South Luangwa is considered the pioneer of African walking safaris and an optional walking safari can also be booked here (in season). All game viewing activities at the safari lodge are conducted by fully-qualified guides that are skilled and experienced professionals.
Wake up to the wild Zambian bush and enjoy a final breakfast at the lodge next to the Luangwa River. Then it's time to pack up and make our way out of South Luangwa National Park and Zambia.
We cross back into Malawi and return to Lilongwe, where our Malawi & Zambia Safari began. Along the way, we stop for a picnic lunch, arriving in Lilongwe in the mid-afternoon. Back in Lilongwe, your guide takes you to your post-tour accommodation, bringing this affordable Dzalanyama Forest & South Luangwa Park Safari to a close.
Please note that the transfer vehicle used on this safari is dependent on the size of your tour group.
| Number of People / Group | Vehicle |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Normal Saloon Vehicle (low ground clearance) |
| 3 | Small 4X4 Utility Vehicle (high ground clearance) |
| 4 to 7 | 4X4 Converted Safari Expedition Vehicle |
| 8 to 15 | 16-Seater Toyota Coaster Bus |
An optional 2-night stay on Nankoma Island in Lake Malawi can be added to this Malawi & Zambia Safari. The add-on trip to Lake Malawi includes transfers to Nankoma (Lake Malawi) and back to Lilongwe, all meals, comfortable tented chalet accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, and non-motorized water sports (snorkeling and kayaking). For more details contact us.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
All Lilongwe Departures | All South Luangwa National Park Tours | All Lodge Safari trips
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