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Malawi Safari & Lake Experience

Ten days in Malawi: Big Five game drives in Majete, elephants and river safaris in Liwonde, then clear water and island boat trips in Lake Malawi National Park.

10 Days / 9 Nights
Duration
3
Destinations
Year-round
Availability
Custom Quote
Pricing

Overview

Two Parks and a Lake, Your Way

Malawi rewards travelers who want wildlife without the crowds. This journey pairs two very different safaris in the south with unhurried days on the shore of Lake Malawi, one of the great lakes of Africa.

Begin in Blantyre, the commercial heart of the south, and head into Majete Wildlife Reserve, where a long program of reintroductions has restored all of the Big Five. Continue to Liwonde National Park on the Shire River for game drives and boat safaris among elephants, hippos and crocodiles. Then trade the bush for the lake: snorkeling, kayaking, island boat trips and time on the beach in Lake Malawi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The route flies in to Blantyre and out of Lilongwe, so the group never doubles back. It suits small private groups, larger organized groups, corporate and incentive travel, and special interest groups such as photographers and birders.

This is a custom-quoted journey with no fixed departure dates. Dates, pace, group size and lodging are shaped around your group. Customize this journey with LABUSA Travel, read our Malawi travel guide and when to go, or see our other group journeys.

The journey at a glance

  • Blantyre & MajeteDays 1 to 3
  • Liwonde National ParkDays 4 to 6
  • Lake Malawi & DepartureDays 7 to 10
Clear turquoise water and granite boulders below a wooded hillside at Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi.

Highlights

Highlights at a Glance

A catalog of the parks, waters and experiences on this journey.

  • Big FiveMajete Wildlife Reserve
  • SafariGame Drives in Majete
  • WildlifeLiwonde National Park
  • RiverBoat Safaris on the Shire River
  • BirdingBirding Along the Shire
  • UNESCO SiteLake Malawi National Park
  • LakeSnorkeling & Kayaking
  • LakeIsland Boat Trips
  • CityBlantyre
  • CapitalLilongwe

Itinerary

Suggested Itinerary

Blantyre & Majete

Days 1 to 3

  1. Day 1: Arrival in Blantyre

    Arrive at Chileka International Airport, where the LABUSA Travel team meets the group for the transfer to your hotel.

    Featured experiences:

    • Airport welcome and private transfer
    • Group briefing on the journey ahead
    • Evening at leisure in Blantyre

    Overnight: Blantyre

  2. Days 2 and 3: Majete Wildlife Reserve

    Drive into the lower Shire Valley to Majete, the reserve where Malawi’s Big Five were brought back after decades of decline.

    Featured experiences:

    • Game drives through the reserve
    • The story of Majete’s wildlife restoration
    • Time along the Shire River
    • Optional guided walking safari, on request

    Overnight: Majete Wildlife Reserve

Liwonde National Park

Days 4 to 6

  1. Day 4: North to Liwonde

    Travel north to Liwonde National Park for a first evening beside the Shire River.

    Featured experiences:

    • Scenic road transfer through southern Malawi
    • Sunset by the river

    Overnight: Liwonde National Park

  2. Days 5 and 6: Liwonde Safari

    Explore Liwonde by vehicle and by boat, where the river draws elephants, hippos and crocodiles to its banks.

    Featured experiences:

    • Morning and afternoon game drives
    • Boat safaris on the Shire River
    • Birding along the river and its lagoons

    Overnight: Liwonde National Park

Lake Malawi & Departure

Days 7 to 10

  1. Days 7 to 9: Lake Malawi National Park

    Three days on the lake, with clear water, granite islands and lakeshore villages to balance the safari days.

    Featured experiences:

    • Snorkeling among the lake’s colorful cichlid fish
    • Kayaking along the shore
    • Island boat trips
    • Time to rest on the beach
    • Optional village visit, on request

    Overnight: Lake Malawi

  2. Day 10: To Lilongwe & Departure

    Road transfer to Lilongwe for departing flights from Kamuzu International Airport.

    Featured experiences:

    • Morning on the lakeshore
    • Private road transfer to Lilongwe
    • Departure assistance at the airport

    End of tour: Lilongwe

Where you stay

Accommodations

Lodging is selected for each group according to group size, travel dates, availability and budget, and is confirmed in your written proposal.

Blantyre

  • A comfortable city hotel
  • Convenient for the airport and the drive south
  • 1 night

Majete

  • A safari lodge or tented camp in or beside the reserve
  • Game drives from the door
  • 2 nights

Liwonde

  • A riverside safari lodge or camp
  • Boat safaris on the Shire River
  • 3 nights

Lake Malawi

  • A lakeshore lodge
  • Beach access and water activities
  • 3 nights

In the price

Potential Inclusions

Proposed package components. Your custom proposal confirms exactly what is included.

  • Accommodation for nine nights
  • Ground transportation and transfers for the group
  • Game drives, boat safaris and lake activities as specified
  • Park and reserve entry fees for included activities
  • Local guiding and on-the-ground support
  • Group travel coordination
  • Pre-departure travel information

Final inclusions and exclusions will be detailed in your customized travel proposal.

Not in the price

Potential Exclusions

  • International airfare unless quoted
  • Visas and travel insurance
  • Meals not specifically included in the final proposal
  • Personal purchases and gratuities
  • Optional activities
  • Services outside the confirmed itinerary

Why You’ll Love This Journey

  • An African elephant walking along a muddy riverbank in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi.

    Majete Elephants

    An elephant on a riverbank in Majete Wildlife Reserve.

  • An African elephant standing among trees beside the river in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi.

    Big Five Country

    Riverside woodland in Majete, where all of the Big Five now roam.

  • A tree in full red bloom on a dry ridge in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi.

    The Lower Shire Valley

    A tree in full bloom on a ridge in Majete.

  • Nile crocodiles basking on a sandbank by the water in Liwonde National Park, Malawi.

    Liwonde by Boat

    Crocodiles basking on a sandbank in Liwonde National Park.

  • An impala ram walking through dry woodland near Mvuu in Liwonde National Park, Malawi.

    Liwonde Game Drives

    An impala ram in the woodland of Liwonde National Park.

  • A still river channel fringed with reeds at Liwonde, Malawi, baobabs and scattered trees beyond, two figures at the edge.

    Baobabs on the River

    Baobabs and reed beds along the water at Liwonde.

  • An African fish eagle swooping low over the blue water of Lake Malawi off Cape Maclear.

    African Fish Eagle

    A fish eagle swooping over Lake Malawi off Cape Maclear.

  • The sun setting behind a mountain ridge across Lake Malawi, seen from a boat.

    Lake Malawi Sunsets

    The sun setting across Lake Malawi, seen from a boat.

Malawi Safari FAQs

Does this tour have fixed departure dates?
No. This is an evergreen custom tour package. LABUSA Travel arranges private and group departures around your preferred dates and availability.
Who is this journey designed for?
It suits small private groups, larger organized groups, corporate and incentive groups, and special interest groups such as wildlife photographers and birders.
What do I need to enter Malawi?
A passport valid for at least six months after the day you arrive, and a visa, which can be obtained on arrival or as an e-visa in advance. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Entry rules change, so LABUSA Travel shares current guidance before departure.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Yes. The pace, lodging and activities can be adjusted, and the trip can be extended with Mount Mulanje, the Zomba Plateau or the Nyika Plateau on request.
Why fly in to Blantyre and out of Lilongwe?
Blantyre is the gateway to Majete and Liwonde in the south, and Lilongwe is a shorter drive from the lake. Using both airports avoids doubling back.
Are the lodges guaranteed?
No. Lodging is selected for your group and confirmed, subject to availability, during the booking process.
Are international flights and travel insurance included?
International flights are not automatically included but can be added to your custom quote. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travelers.

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