Malawi Mountain Biking,
Hiking and Kayaking
An excellent combination of outdoor activities in the 'Warm Heart of Africa'

Suggested Itinerary

DAY 1 Depart London
We depart from London to Nairobi with Kenya Airways, departing from London Heathrow Airport terminal 4. Kenya Airways operate new Boeing 777 aircraft with seat back TV's and excellent in-flight service. The flight time to Nairobi is 8 hours

DAY 2 Arrive Lilongwe - Transfer flight to Blantyre
We arrive Nairobi the following morning and join our connecting flight to Lilongwe. On arrival in Lilongwe we collect our baggage and clear immigration and customs. We then have a short, domestic onward flight to Blantyre with Air Malawi. On arrival in Blantyre we are met at the airport by our local team and transfer to our 3 star hotel in central Blantyre. All the rooms have en-suite facilities and air-conditioning. Blantyre is a historic city which was named after the birthplace in Scotland of the explorer David Livingston who founded a mission here in 1870.

DAY 3 Trek on Mount Mulanje from Likabula to Chambe
After an early breakfast we depart from our hotel in a private bus for the 1 ½ hour drive to Mulanje mountain. The road is a good, paved highway with little traffic, but we do get to see small African villages and busy roadside markets. At Mulanje town, we turn off the paved road and follow a dirt track for a few miles to Likabula forest station. Our accommodation for the next three days is at the foot of the Mulanje mountain at the Likabula Forest Lodge. The lodge is a characterful colonial style building with a green tin roof and verandah. There are a mixture of twin and triple rooms, with mosquito nets and communal bathrooms. Meals are prepared by our own experienced staff and are appetising and western in style. Mulanje is a national park, and after completing the registration formalities we set off on our first trek, hiking up the Chapaluka path for three hours towards the Chambe basin. The path crosses back and forth over the beautiful Chapaluka River and the water is normally warm enough to take a dip in one of the many rock pools that abound here. As we climb higher, we can look back and see the views opening up over the plains to the north. Along the route there is a spectacular waterfall which we can visit, just a few minutes off the main path. These are the Zwilankalamba Falls, the highest in the massif. Our highpoint on the trek is the Chambe basin, a wooded area with a mixture of indigenous Mulanje cedar and non-native Mexican pine. After a picnic lunch we descend back to the Likabula Forest Lodge, either retracing our ascent route or following the steeper Skyline path.

DAY 4 Low level Mulanje hike with optional bike ride
Today we have an easier low level hike around the base of Mount Mulanje. The path takes us around the flanks of Chambe Peak (2556m) with its tremendously high rock walls. We hike through cultivated fields, where maize and casava are grown, and pass occasional small villages where we can get a true flavour of rural Malawi life. We trek for about 7-8 miles until we reach our lunch stop. Lunch will be set up for us when we arrive, after which we can either return to Likabula by vehicle or there will be the option of cycling back along the red dirt tracks around the base of the mountain. There are practically no vehicles on these tracks, and they are fairly level with no hills, so they make an enjoyable afternoon cycle back to Likabula. A support vehicle will accompany us on this cycle ride so if anyone wishes to stop half way along, they will be able to.

DAY 5 Trek on Mount Mulanje from Tinyade Tea Estate to Thuchira
Today we have a harder day-trek on Mount Mulanje. We drive around to the Tinyade tea estate and hike through cultivated fields and then dense forest, following a good path alongside the attractive Thuchira River. The path is gradual at first but then steepens as we climb into a wild corrie with steep waterfalls cascading down sheer rock slabs. The path climbs easily through this corrie and emerges onto the Mulanje plateau. At the plateau we stop for lunch by some beautiful cedar trees with views of the high peaks above us. After a leisurely lunch we continue our trek into the Mulanje massif to the Thuchira Hut which affords superb views across the plains to the north and towards Chambe Peak. The hut is a wooden building which is used by hikers for basic overnight accommodation. We can rest on the pleasant verandah, admiring the scenery, before starting our descent down the path towards Ottos village and our vehicle which will be waiting to take us back to Likabula.

DAY 6 Mulanje - Zomba - Cape Maclear
After an early breakfast we drive for about 2 ½ hours to the town of Zomba and our lunch stop at the delightful Ku Chawe Inn. The Inn is located on the top of the Zomba Plateau, a unique mountain rising sheer out of the flat Zomba plains, and with outstanding panoramic views. We have a noon lunch at the Inn, after which we go for a 2 hour hike around the plateau on a path with gives outstanding views over the surrounding countryside. We rendez-vous with our vehicle at around 3pm and drive northwards for a further 2 hours to Lake Malawi and our accommodation at Cape Maclear on the lake shores and in Lake Malawi National Park. Cape Maclear is a quiet area of little resorts with beautiful sandy beaches sloping down to the clear, warm waters of the lake with its myriad of colourful fish. We stay at a comfortable lodge at Chembe Village looking out over the lake and just a few steps from the beach.

DAY 7 Cape Maclear - Kayaking to Domwe Island
In the morning there will be an orientation course in kayaking, following which we will have the option to kayak across the lake to Domwe Island. It takes about 1-2 hours to kayak across the lake, and the group will be accompanied by instructors and a support launch. Buoyancy jackets will be provided but no other specialist equipment is required. For those who don't wish to kayak, it will be possible to travel to Domwe by launch. There will also be an optional guided hike through the hills of Cape Maclear which will afford beautiful views across the lake. We will also be able to visit the graves of those missionaries who lived in this area at the turn of the last century. When we reach Domwe island we will have a relaxing barbecue lunch by the white sandy beach. In the afternoon we will transfer by launch or kayak across to Mumbo Island and our accommodation for the next two days. There will be the opportunity to go snorkelling around the island's crystal clear waters, and there will also be an optional guided walk around the wooded island paths where we should be able to see the numerous indigenous Monitor Lizards.

Day 8 Beach day at Mumbo Island
Today will be a leisure day which can be spent on the beautiful island of Mumbo where we will have our own private beach. Snorkelling will be optional, and lunch will be taken on the delightful open deck with thatched roof. For those who wish, it will be possible to arrange an introductory SCUBA course with qualified instructors where all equipment is provided. For this there will be supplemental charge.

DAY 9 Mumbo - Cape Maclear - Lilongwe
Leaving Mumbo Island after lunch we travel by motor launch across to Cape Maclear and from there make the 4 hour drive to Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city and our central hotel accommodation. In the evening we will have our final celebratory farewell dinner at a city restaurant.

DAY 10 Depart Lilongwe
After breakfast we will have a couple of hours for last minute souvenir shopping before transferring to the airport for our homeward flight from Lilongwe.

DAY 11 Arrive London
We arrive at London Heathrow Airport terminal 4 in the morning. .