12-day Zambia and Malawi Trade Route

Summary

12-day Zambia and Malawi Trade Route

From: NZD3,385* per person sharing

This tour is a real adventure tour where you journey through the heart of Southern Africa, from Zambia through Malawi and down the Mozambique coast to South Africa. The itinerary includes canoeing on the Lower Zambezi, game walks and drives in South Luangwa National Park and discovering the islands, bays and coves of Lake Malawi by boat.

DEPARTS: LIVINGSTONE on Saturday at 14:00pm
ENDS: LILONGWE on Wednesday at 14:00pm

Highlights
* Victoria Falls – a natural wonder of the world
* Lower Zambezi – canoeing
* South Luangwa NP – game walk & 4WD game drives

The Trade Route is an extraordinary journey across South-Eastern Africa. Active days canoeing on the Zambezi River and bush walks in South Luangwa. We recommend Malaria prophylactics. Border crossings can be slow, so you need to be prepared for the experience. This journey has challenges and is for the adventurous traveller but also has magnificent highlights.

The LL12 Zambia & Malawi covers highlights of Zambia, with a few days on Lake Malawi, in just 12 days. Ends Lilongwe.
LM22 Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique is the full 22-day tour ending in Johannesburg.

Overnight: 9 nights on safari designated campsites, in national parks and towns. Campsites have hot showers. Please note there is 1 night of wild camping when canoeing on the Lower Zambezi. 1-night lodge accommodation in Petauke, with twin bedrooms with en suite facilities.

Meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners will be provided by the Sunway crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the campfire or in the boma. 1 breakfast will be provided by the lodge.

Transport: Due to sometimes poor roads we only use Sunway Safari trucks for this tour. Potholes, damaged gravel roads and livestock on the roads can make travel slow, you’ll pass through villages and witness the local lifestyle all the way. For the game drives in South Luangwa we use open 4WD.

Limited participation: An essential part of your safari is participation. From putting up your tent to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation, but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. There are some long travel days which means early morning starts so we all need to get involved to make the day run efficiently.

Highlights

Luangwa National Park
Senga
Livingstone, Zambia
Lower Zambezi National Park
Chirundu
Zambia

Tour Summary

From: NZD3,385* per person sharing*All prices shown are for low season, per person, on a twin share basisDuration: 12 daysDeparts from: Livingstone, ZambiaEnds in: LilongweDestinations: ZambiaExperiences: Scheduled Departures, Adventure CampingGroup Size: Scheduled departures. Minimum 4 people. Maximum 12 people.

Map

Full Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 – 2 : Livingstone, Zambia

[camping Bx1 - -]
(B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner)
The group will meet in Livingstone, in Zambia, at 14:00 where we have 2 days to explore Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the Zambezi Gorge. Adventure activities abound, white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, or a 111m bungi jump (own expense).

Day 1: Breakfast is not included
Day 1: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 1: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Day 2: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 2: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                    Entrance to see the Victoria Falls
Overnight:                  Campsite – good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          N/A
Optional Activities:    White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more

Destination: Livingstone, ZambiaAccommodation: Victoria Falls WaterfrontType: Lodge

Day 3 : Zambia

[camping BLD]
A long drive takes us across the rolling Miombo forested hills of southern Zambia to the Kafue River where we camp the night.

Day 3: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    -
Overnight:                  Campsite – good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool & bar
Distance/time:          505 kms, ± 8 hours, excludes stops for sightseeing & lunch

Destination: ZambiaAccommodation: Gwabi River Lodge & CampsiteType: Safari Lodge

Day 4 : Lower Zambezi National Park

[camping BLD]
We paddle down the mighty Zambezi River, home of the tribal mythical god – Nyami Nyami. Canoeing past local riverside villages and magnificent scenery. We camp wild on an island in the heart of untamed Africa. The following morning we continue our canoe safari through an area teaming with elephants, hippos and other wildlife. We will be collected by a motorboat, and are transferred back up river to our starting campsite.

Day 4, 5: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4, 5: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4, 5: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Full day canoe safari on Lower Zambezi with local river guides
Overnight:                  Camping – on day 4, we camp wild on an island in the Zambezi River
Distance/time:          50kms, ± 1½ hours (subject to road conditions), excludes stops for sightseeing & lunch

Destination: Lower Zambezi National ParkAccommodation: Lower Zambezi CanoeingType: Campsite

Day 5 : Chirundu

Includes: Full day canoe safari on Lower Zambezi with local river guides
Overnight: Day 5, we stay in a designated campsite, with good ablution facilities, with hot showers, swimming pool & bar.
Distance/time: 50kms, ± 1½ hours (subject to road conditions), excludes stops for sightseeing & lunch

Destination: ChirunduAccommodation: Gwabi River Lodge & CampsiteType: Safari Lodge

Day 6 : Zambia

[chalet BLD]
We head to Lusaka where we stock up on supplies in the bustling shops and markets of the Zambian capital. Taking the Great East Road we drive this afternoon until sunset. (This is a very long day of travel but this also allows us to get to South Luangwa sooner on day 7).

Day 6: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    N/A
Overnight:                  Chimwemwe Lodge – twin standard rooms en-suite, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          570kms, ± 9½ hours, excludes stops for sightseeing & lunch

Destination: ZambiaAccommodation: Chimwemwe LodgeType: Lodge

Day 7 – 9 : Luangwa National Park

[camping BLD]
Make our way down into “the valley” of the South Luangwa National Park. This remote region is one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries where hippo, elephants, lion and leopard abound. We camp on the banks of the Luangwa River and explore the area on 2 game walks and 2 open 4WD game drives, one at night with spotlights, to see nocturnal animals. (In the green season, Dec – Apr, walks may not be possible in which case we’ll do extra game drives).

Day 7: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 8, 9: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7, 8, 9: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7, 8, 9: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Entrance fees to South Luangwa National Park, 2x game walks, 2 game drives
Overnight:                  Campsite – good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          330kms, ± 5 hours, excludes stops for sightseeing & lunch
Optional Activities:    Game walks & game drives

Destination: Luangwa National ParkAccommodation: Wildlife CampType: Safari Lodge

Day 10 – 11 : Lake Malawi

[camping BLD]
Malawi “the warm heart of Africa”. We re-stock with fresh supplies in the markets of Lilongwe before heading to our camp on the beach at Lake Malawi. We’ll take a boat out to the islands to explore the fantastic bays and coves in the area.

Day 10, 11: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10, 11: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10, 11: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Island boat excursion
Overnight:                  Campsite – good ablution facilities, & hot showers
Distance/time:          510kms, ± 7 hours (subject to road conditions), excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing

Destination: Lake MalawiAccommodation: Steeps CampsiteType: Campsite