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Mvuu and Pumulani

Liwonde National Park (Mvuu Wilderness Lodge)

Your Malawi adventure starts with a road transfer from Lilongwe Airport to Mvuu. It is possible to fly to Mvuu but this gives you the opportunity to drive through this wonderful country - with its dramatic scenery and colourful towns. The journey takes between four and four and a half hours through various Malawian scenery. At the beginning the countryside is largely flat with huge granite outcrops and some impressive mountains rising from the surrounding plains. A brief stop at Dedza to see the local pottery and sample Malawi's finest cheese cake before driving along the western edge of the Great Rift Valley with fantastic views across Lake Malawi.

During part of the year (November to April) the road to Mvuu is impassable so the last hour of the journey is by boat - a wonderful way to enter the park.

During your stay we explore the Shire River and lagoons - an excellent opportunity for sightings of elephants, hippo, crocodile and bird life. Birding is rewarding - specialities include Lillian's Lovebird, Brown Breasted Barbet, Osprey, Palm-nut Vulture, Pel's Fishing Owl and Livingstone's Flycatcher. Also available is a viewing hide on a tributary of the Shire River and also some interesting visits by bicycle to the local school and surrounding rural communities.

Spend 3 nights at Mvuu Wilderness Lodge. The lodge offers comfortable tented accommodation in spacious 'Hemingway-styled' safari tents, with own en-suite facilities for a maximum of 10 guests. Each tent has its own private viewing platform and is discreetly hidden between the thick undergrowth bordering the lagoon.

Your stay is on a Full Board basis inclusive of park fees & game activities.

Lake Malawi (Pumulani)

We transfer to Pumulani after breakfast, by either driving all the way, or if necessary (if the roads are wet), boating to Liwonde to pick up the vehicle. The direct drive is around 2.5 hours (around 100km), first skirting the shores of Lake Malombe where most of the year we are able to visit the fish drying racks which dot the villages along the lakes edge. Further north there is the option of stopping at the old colonial naval port of Mangochi to visit the rundown yet eccentric little museum.

We then reach the Nankumba Peninsula of Lake Malawi. This is recognised as one of the most beautiful shores of the Lake and borders Lake Malawi National Park. This Park was established in order to protect the cichlid fish unique to the area. In 1984 the park was designated a World Heritage Site.

Spend 4 nights at Pumulani. Accommodation is in one of the 10 Villas which are scattered around the hillside. Each Villa is individual in shape and style but all have a spacious bedroom, bathroom and extensive sitting area.

Your stay is on a Full Board basis including laundry, bar and all non-motorized water sports activities (these include snorkelling, fishing, sailing, nature/ village walks, sunset cruises on the dhow, kayaking)

For those who are interested in the real Malawian village life there are guided walks through one of the local villages. Malawians are renowned for being amongst the most friendly people in Africa and during your stay you will have the opportunity to meet them.

At the end of the day climb aboard our dhow and let our experienced local crewmen take you sailing into the sunset.

On the final day of your stay with Pumulani you bid farewell to the lodge. You will be transferred back to Monkey Bay where you will take a light aircraft to Lilongwe to arrive in time for your connecting onward flight.

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