Malawi, Mozambique & South Africa Expedition Safari

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Day 1:
Lilongwe, overnight at The Lilongwe Sanctuary Lodge is in the heart of Lilongwe. It is perfectly positioned between City Centre and Old Town and near to supermarkets, embassies and banks. This environmentally friendly lodge offers protection to, and showcases, Malawi's beautiful natural heritage, whilst offering superior accommodation facilities to discerning guests. Cottages offer twin or double accommodation facilities in over 8 hectares of pristine indigenous woodland. The main restaurant, reception and bar area overlook a custom designed swimming pool, set in landscaped and lawned gardens. Breakfast, lunches and evening meals are served in the main restaurant which is open to the public. An all-day snack menu is available. The area is surrounded by electrified fence which protects the indigenous brachystegia [Miombo] trees and the wide variety of animals that reside in this area. Vantage points along the Lingadzi River offer guests the opportunity to watch the wildlife on the opposite bank in the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, as an added attraction. The Wildlife Centre is a Land and Lake Safaris & Born Free Foundation [UK] supported, rescue, care and rehabilitation centre for Malawi's wildlife. Animals like monkeys, baboons, duikers, leopard, hyena, crocodile and a python can be seen in the facility.
Day 2 / 3:
Mumbo Island Camp is named after the pristine, practically deserted tropical island on which it is built. The crystal-clear, warm waters of Lake Malawi National Park boast some 2000 species. It's no wonder this region of Lake Malawi is often considered the best freshwater diving and snorkelling location on the planet. Accommodation at the intimate Mumbo Island Camp comprises tastefully furnished, comfortable tents with hot bucket showers and 'eco-loos'. With an exclusive limit of only 14 guests at a time, Mumbo Island Camp is perched on rocks high above the water - blending with the environment perfectly to create a place of rustic charm and minimal impact. Tucked into the lush foliage, each tent is fully furnished with its own shaded view-deck and hammock. Mumbo Island Camp adheres to strict principles of eco-architecture, so the dining area, bar and water sport gazebo, are all hand built from timber, thatch and canvas. Unlike most island destinations in the region, Mumbo Island has never been populated by humans and is still in its natural state. This, together with the focus on non-motorised water sports, makes Mumbo Island Camp ideal for the active outdoors enthusiast. The most popular activities here are diving or snorkelling through the crystal-clear water and lazing in a hammock in the 'chill-out' area, contemplating the breathtaking scenery. Mumbo Island Camp is a PADI registered resort offering beginner, advanced and specialty courses in scuba diving, as well as gear hire and casual dives. Swimming, kayaking, and bird-watching are also popular. For the more intrepid, there are boating and paddling options, exploring the granitic islands in a freshwater Rift Valley lake
Day 4:
Danforth Yachting is situated at Cape Maclear bordering Lake Malawi National Park. Surrounded by islands, it is one of the most beautiful locations on this magnificent lake. Danforth is both a Malawi yacht charter company and a luxury lodge, focusing on sailing and water sports. Owner run and offering personal attention, Danforth Yachting delivers all round excellence. PADI scuba diving centre, water sports and activities are all on site and easily accessible to resident guests. The lodge has eight en-suite, air-conditioned rooms, tastefully decorated in cool, nautical colours and all opening onto a large patio. All rooms have spectacular views of the lake and look out over Thumbi West Island. The garden has shady lawns, leading to the sparkling, beach side infinity swimming pool.
Day 5 - 7:
Gorongosa National Park is located north of Beira in a beautiful remote area with Mount Gorongosa, a 1,800-metre high massif whose rivers and streams sustain the park's wildlife guarding the park. There are guided trails up Mount Gorongosa where you will see many different kinds of forest and rare plants, wonderful birdlife, gorgeous waterfalls and the view from the top is breathtaking! Gorongosa National Park is approx. 3,770 square kilometres of savannah, woodlands, and rainforest in central Mozambique, Southern Africa. Chitengo Safari Camp, first constructed in 1941, hosted thousands of visitors from all over the world until 1983, when Mozambique's civil war shut it down. It was mostly destroyed during the war, but re-opened in 1995. We are now restoring and rebuilding it with many modern conveniences. As part of our continuing effort to improve and expand our facilities and accommodations at Chitengo Camp, we are undertaking some construction activities that may, during some daytime hours, interrupt the normal tranquility of some parts of Chitengo. Please bear with us as we work to make Chitengo an even better place from which to base your Gorongosa experience.
Day 8 / 9:
Vilanculos Casa Rex is situated overlooking the Bazaruto Archipelago offering brilliant views of the islands & the crystal clear azure waters of the Indian Ocean in Vilanculos. Reminiscent of a gracious era, with buildings surrounded by fertile gardens, Casa Rex overlooks the southern-central section of Vilanculos Bay. Accommodation at Casa Rex is attractively decorated in an individual style with an emphasis in the lounge and dining areas on custom crafted wood furniture and fittings. With shower and toilet en-suite, all 7 rooms offer a breezy perspective of the bay. For maximum comfort, airy mosquito nets are hung and windows are fitted with shutters against the occasional rain shower. The Bazaruto Archipelago is made up of several tropical islands and includes some awesome reefs which are home to a diverse array of marine life. As a result there are a host of water sports available in the area including world class deep sea fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling. Dhow trips, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, catamaran trips, sunset cruises and full-day trips to the Bazaruto Islands with a barbecue lunch on the beach can be arranged.
Day 10 / 11:
Flamingo Bay Water Lodge is situated in the pristine tidal bay of Inhambane 485km north of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. The lodge is situated on stilts on the crystal clear waters of the warm Indian Ocean. This eco-paradise is home to flocks of flamingo's, tropical fish and the very rare dugong. The sunsets at Flamingo Bay are nothing less than breathtaking. The warm Indian Ocean offers safe bathing all year round and the endless wide open beaches offer hours of strolling pleasure. The lodge is not on the open sea but on a beautiful tidal estuary and experiences the same tidal changes as one would experience at any coastal resort. This however creates an interesting environment with the fish following the tide as it moves in and out as well as the birds and crabs and other estuarine creatures appearing and moving with these daily changes. Flamingo Bay has access to the open ocean which is a short walk out the back of the lodge. Guests are also afforded the privilege of frequent and regular complimentary vehicle transfers throughout the day to Barra Lodge in order to enjoy its facilities right on the main beach as well as all the activities on offer.
Day 12 / 13:
Machampane Luxury Camp. Guided wilderness walks are a feature at our intimate 10 bed en-suite luxury tented camp that overlooks the Machampane River. Nestled in a secluded forest where bird and wildlife abound, you set out on foot on early morning and late afternoon game walks embracing the waterholes in this pristine wilderness area. Replete from a three course 'bush cuisine' dinner with its Mozambican flavours, the boma and its friendly fire beckon you to experience the tranquillity of the night sky and the sounds of the African bush.Located in Parque Nacional do Limpopo, the 1,1 million hectare Mocambique sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, adjacent to Kruger National Park. Unfenced luxury bush camp nestled under trees on bank of Machampane River.Situated in a Big 5 pristine wilderness area stocked with game from Kruger National Park. Fence between the two National Parks has been removed in this area. As a consequence animals move freely.
Day 14:
The idyllic Letaba Rest Camp is situated on a sweeping bend of the Letaba River, midway between the southern and northern boundaries of the Kruger National Park. The name means 'river of sand', and the sandy riverbed is an excellent location for game viewing, particularly elephant, which thrive in the area. Letaba is a green oasis in the surrounding mopane veld, and remains a firm favourite with visitors. At night the stars overlook a symphony of sounds. Owls, nightjars, frogs, fruit bats, crickets and cicadas all vie to be heard, until the lion roars, then all are silent. African style units with thatched roofs, 2 or 3 beds per unit, equipped with en-suite ablutions.
Day 15 / 16:
Satara is a busy camp, and not without reason. It is situated in an excellent game viewing area, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse. The camp itself has a rustic charm, with the bulk of the accommodation set out in a series of circles. Satara is well wooded and the bird-life is prolific. At night the clink of fruit bats is fused with the chirping of cicadas and crickets. The calls of owls and nightjars add to the symphony that is punctuated intermittently by the whoop of hyena, the screech of jackal and the roars of lion. Bungalows are equipped with ablutions comprising of a shower, WC and wash basin. All bungalows have air-conditioning.
Day 17:
The day begins with a game-drive to the park gates, then a drive down to Pilgrims Rest. The town that is, in fact, a national monument, recalling heady days of 1880 and our very first gold strikes. We will then make our way to Sabie. Sabie which is centrally situated within easy reach of areas like Blyderiver canyon (third deepest canyon in the world) and God's Window, with scenery as beautiful as it is evocative, as well as Mac-Mac, Bridal Veil Falls and Bourkes Luck Potholes.
Day 18:
We depart Sabie early, and go via Barbarton and Balangula Border Post into the Kingdom of Swaziland. Mkhaya was established in 1979 to save the pure Nguni breed of cattle from extinction and is a proclaimed Nature Reserve. Its focus has expanded over the years to include other endangered species such as black rhino, roan & sable antelope, tsessebe, white rhino, elephant and other locally endangered species. Mkhaya Game Reserve, named after the Acacia nigrescens tree, comprises of acacia-dominated thornveld in the south and broadleaf sandveld in the north. Unique, intimate encounters with Mkhaya's wildlife are almost guaranteed as all travel within the reserve is solely by Big Game Parks' open Land Rovers or on foot (all guided). The reserve is criss-crossed with dry riverbeds, dotted with waterholes and has a network of intertwined game-viewing roads. After a day out in the hot African bush, come back to the camp that is sited in bird-rich riverine forests and enjoy an ice-cold drink under the giant sausage tree or retire to the comfortable stone and thatch open style accommodation and sit back and enjoy real nature. Mkhaya is staffed and patrolled entirely by Swazis from neighbouring communities and currently boasts what is arguably Africa's most effective anti-poaching unit. Mkhaya is totally self-financing through visitor revenues. Your support is greatly appreciated as a means of sustaining this unique international conservation effort. A trip to Mkhaya is a trip into Real Africa - a soul enriching, quality experience you'll never forget! The camp is known as 'Stone Camp' due to the dolerite rocks used in the construction of the semi-open stone and thatch cottages. This unique style accommodation in its primeval setting offers visitors the opportunity of really getting back to nature. All twelve units are laid out individually in the riverine forest overlooking the dry riverbed, linked by central and branch pathways surfaced with riversand and lit at night by paraffin lanterns as the camp has no electricity. Each unit is totally private due to the thick vegetation, though some units are close enough together for use as an extended family unit. The entire internal structure of these cottages, although veilded for privacy, is open to the external bush, which gives visitors a totally unique, true bush experience.
Day 19 / 20:
Ithala Game Reserve, This little known reserve name is derived from a Zulu word meaning 'the top shelf'. When one enters these valleys and shear rock faces, one cannot be humbled as the Zulu's themselves were. Ithala is home to both black and white rhino and one is able to approach these animals on a guided walk, while experiencing scenery which to describe as simply spectacular is a gross understatement. Ithala, within a very small area, rises from 400m at the Pongola River to 1500m. The huge oxbow bend in the river under the imposing cliffs and un-spoilt forests make Ithala unique. Days are spent driving or walking in pursuit of rhino, elephant, leopard as well as a tremendous variety of antelope. Many species of birds occur along the river front, as well as colonies of vultures.
Day 21:
Johannesburg is a dynamic city in the province of Gauteng. Johannesburg boasts an infrastructure and business acumen, which is unrivalled on the African continent. The changes that swept through South Africa had the epicentre in Gauteng and the suburbs of Johannesburg. 60% of Africans GDP is routed through Johannesburg. 70% of all flights to Africa originate and end in Johannesburg and the energy of the city reflects that. Arrangements end OR TAMBO.
Notes
The Malawi, Mozambique, South African expedition section can entail the use of Two Toyota Landcruisers with guides, and can run as per the itinerary suggested.

Wilderness Dawning have factored in all equipment that will make a trip like this a viable option Guide will have a satellite phone with him at all times.

Two eight-seater Toyota Landcruisers, with Cross-Border permits and full Passenger Liability. A guide, who is licensed in South Africa and has the necessary Public Driving Permits, etc. All fuel, toll-road and border fees are included in the quote. Note that Wilderness Dawning have factored in ONE vehicle for 1-7 pax and TWO for 8-14, guaranteeing each guest a window seat.

The quote includes all accommodation costs (including our guides accommodation and entrance fees).

In the unlikely event of a vehicle breakdown, we will arrange for a replacement vehicle within 48 hours, depending on distance and timings from JHB.

Included:

Three and Four Star Tourism Graded accommodation on a full board basis. Services of a fully licensed Professional Guide. All entrance fees to National Parks and Game Reserves, game-drives and use of specially modified 4x4 vehicles. Vehicle toll fees and Fuel.

Excluded:

All airfares, mineral water, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except tea and coffee), optional activities, any gratuities, any personal expenses, visa fees. Travel Insurance (compulsory), gratuities and items of a personal nature.

Malawi, Mozambique & South Africa Expedition Safari

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