6 Days • 5 Nights
Liwonde & Majete Safari: Malawi's Conservation Comeback
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Boat safaris on the Shire River in Liwonde are a magical highlight of this safari. Liwonde National Park is defined by the broad, life-giving Shire River, and cruising it by boat is one of the great wildlife experiences in Africa. Gliding along the water in the soft light of late afternoon, you drift close to pods of grunting hippos, watch enormous crocodiles slide from the sandbanks, and see herds of elephants come down to drink and bathe at the water's edge, sometimes just metres away. Fish eagles cry overhead, bee-eaters and kingfishers flash between the reeds, and the banks teem with waterbirds and antelope.
- The inspiring wildlife recovery of Liwonde is a rewarding highlight of this safari. Once poached almost bare, Liwonde has been reborn under African Parks into a thriving reserve, and to visit is to witness conservation working in real time. On game drives through mopane woodland and open floodplain you search for large herds of elephants and buffalo, elegant sable and waterbuck, and for the black rhino, lions and cheetahs reintroduced here in recent years, endangered animals roaming once more where they had vanished. Your guide reads the tracks, shares the stories of individual animals, and explains how the whole ecosystem has been rebuilt.
- The Big Five triumph of Majete Wildlife Reserve is a thrilling highlight of this safari. Majete is perhaps the greatest of all Malawi's conservation stories: once poached out entirely, it was restocked and reborn under African Parks into a full Big Five reserve, where lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino now roam a beautiful landscape of miombo woodland and the Shire valley. On game drives you search for all of these, thrilling to the sight of animals thriving in a place that had lost everything, a living symbol of hope for African wildlife. The reserve is uncrowded and wild, and your presence helps fund its protection.
- Game drives at dawn and dusk in golden light are a magical highlight of this safari. There is no better time in the bush than the first and last hours of the day, and this safari is built around them. In the cool of dawn you set out as the light turns the woodland gold and the animals are most active, tracking big game as your guide reads the fresh signs of the night. Through the heat of midday you rest at the lodge, then head out again as the sun lowers.
- Walking safaris and expert guiding bring the bush to life on this safari. Beyond the vehicle, the parks of Malawi offer the chance to explore on foot with armed, expert guides, one of the most exhilarating ways to experience the wild. On a walking safari you learn to read tracks and signs, to identify birds, trees and insects, and to sense the bush with all your senses, approaching plains game quietly on foot and understanding the intricate web of life around you. Your knowledgeable Malawian guides, among the warmest in Africa, share their deep love and understanding of this land.
- Above all, this safari offers an intimate, uncrowded and genuinely meaningful African adventure. In six days you cruise the Shire River past elephants and hippos, track rhino, lion and cheetah in reborn Liwonde, and search for the Big Five in triumphant Majete, all in reserves that stand among the greatest conservation success stories on the continent. The parks are wild and uncrowded, the lodges characterful, and the guiding superb, while the genuine warmth of the Malawian people gives the whole journey its heart. Best of all, every day of your visit helps fund the rangers and communities protecting this restored wilderness.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 6-day journey.
Your Malawi safari begins as your flight arrives in Lilongwe or Blantyre, where you are met and transferred to Liwonde National Park, the jewel of the country's conservation revival, arriving at your riverside lodge in time to settle in. As the day begins to cool, you head out for your first activity, perhaps a boat safari on the Shire River, gliding past snorting hippos, basking crocodiles and elephants coming down to drink, while fish eagles wheel overhead. As the sun lowers and the river turns to gold, you pause for a sundowner, taking in the peace of the wild. You return to the lodge after dark to the calls of the bush, ready for dinner beneath a canopy of brilliant stars. The famous warmth of Malawi is felt from the moment you arrive, setting the tone for the days ahead.
Today you explore Liwonde in full, rising early for a game drive in the fresh light of dawn when the bush is most active. Through mopane woodland and along open floodplains you search for large herds of elephants and buffalo, elegant sable and waterbuck, and the black rhino, lions and cheetahs that African Parks has reintroduced to this thriving wilderness. Your expert guide reads the tracks, points out birds and smaller creatures, and shares the remarkable story of the park's recovery. After a relaxed lunch and siesta through the heat of midday, you take to the Shire River by boat in the afternoon, drifting close to hippos, crocodiles and elephants at the water's edge as the light softens and the birdlife comes alive. Dinner tonight is enjoyed under the stars, to the distant calls of the African night.
Another full day in Liwonde offers the chance to go deeper into this reborn wilderness. This morning you might join a guided walking safari, setting out on foot with an armed, expert guide to read tracks and signs, identify birds and trees, and approach plains game quietly, one of the most exhilarating ways to experience the bush. There may be the chance to learn about the park's black rhino and the intensive protection that safeguards them, and to hear from the rangers whose work has brought Liwonde back to life. After lunch and a rest, you head out again by vehicle or boat as the day cools, searching for lion, cheetah and the great herds along the river. As the sun sets, you toast another day in the wild with a sundowner, then return to the lodge for dinner beneath the stars.
This morning you leave Liwonde and travel to Majete Wildlife Reserve, perhaps the greatest of all Malawi's conservation triumphs, arriving at your lodge in time for lunch. Once poached out entirely, Majete was restocked and reborn under African Parks into a full Big Five reserve, a beautiful landscape of miombo woodland tumbling down to the Shire valley. After settling in, you head out on an afternoon game drive as the day cools, thrilling to the sight of animals thriving in a place that had lost everything. You search for elephant, buffalo and antelope, and for the lion, leopard and rhino that make Majete complete, your guide sharing the extraordinary story of the reserve's recovery. As the sun sets over the wild woodland, you pause for a sundowner before returning to the lodge for dinner, surrounded by the sounds of a restored wilderness.
A full day in Majete is devoted to the search for the Big Five in one of Africa's most inspiring reserves. You set out at dawn in the cool, golden light when the animals are most active, tracking lion and leopard, watching elephant and buffalo, and searching the woodland and river valley for both black and white rhino, all thriving where poaching had once left nothing. Your guide reads the fresh signs of the night and shares the reserve's remarkable story, in which local communities have become partners and beneficiaries in conservation. Through the heat of midday you rest at the lodge, then head out again in the afternoon, ending with a sundowner as the sky blazes over the miombo woodland. Every sighting here feels like a small miracle. Dinner tonight is a celebration of a wilderness reborn, enjoyed under the brilliant African stars.
After a final morning game drive or gentle activity in Majete, savouring the last of this reborn wilderness, you bid farewell to the bush and transfer by road or light aircraft to Blantyre or Lilongwe for your onward international flight. You leave having experienced two of Africa's greatest conservation success stories at first hand: the elephants, hippos and reintroduced rhino, lion and cheetah of Liwonde, and the full Big Five of triumphant Majete, both reborn from near-empty land into thriving wilderness. Above all, you carry with you the genuine warmth of the Malawian people and the knowledge that your visit has helped protect these remarkable places. The images of the Shire River at dawn and the wild woodland of Majete stay vivid long after you land, and you depart already dreaming of a return to the Warm Heart of Africa.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 5 nights accommodation, all meals on safari on a full-board basis
- Airport and park transfers by road and light aircraft as per itinerary
- Game drives, boat safaris and guided activities as per itinerary with expert local guides
- Park and reserve conservation fees as per itinerary
- Bottled water and refreshments on safari activities
- Boat safaris, game drives and guided bush walks in Liwonde and Majete, road and light-aircraft transfers between the reserves, and all park and conservation fees
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Premium imported drinks and champagne
- Balloon or helicopter flights where available, and tips for guides and lodge staff
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or an eVisa online for Malawi, and some enjoy visa-free entry; a passport valid for at least six months with blank pages is required. Requirements change from time to time, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality and help arrange the eVisa where it is needed before you travel
- Currency: The currency is the Malawian Kwacha (MWK); US dollars in good condition are widely accepted at lodges and for park fees, and are useful to carry. Cards are accepted at some lodges and city hotels but not in rural areas, so carry cash for tips, curios, markets and small purchases. ATMs are found in Lilongwe, Blantyre and larger towns only
- Best time to visit: The dry season from May to October is ideal for wildlife, as animals gather at the Shire River and waterholes and the bush thins out; September and October are hot but superb for game viewing. The green season from November to April brings lush landscapes, birdlife and calving, with warm days and afternoon rains, while the lake is beautiful year round
- Language & etiquette: English is an official language and widely spoken, alongside Chichewa; a friendly greeting is always appreciated. Malawi is known as the Warm Heart of Africa for its genuinely welcoming people, and courtesy, patience and a smile go a long way. Dress is casual and modest in villages and towns, and it is polite to ask before photographing people
- Getting around: Distances are covered by a mix of road transfers in comfortable 4x4 vehicles and short scheduled or charter light-aircraft flights between the parks and the lake, which save long drives and offer wonderful aerial views. Roads between the main centres are reasonable, though rural and park tracks are rough; all touring is with experienced local guides and drivers
- Health & safety: Malawi lies in a malaria area, so antimalarial precautions, repellent and covering up at dusk are recommended, and we advise consulting a travel clinic about vaccinations before you go. Bilharzia can occur in parts of the lake, so we swim at recommended lodge locations; tap water is best avoided in favour of bottled or filtered water. Malawi is welcoming and generally safe with sensible precautions
- Culture & conservation: Malawi's parks have been transformed by conservation partnerships, notably African Parks in Liwonde and Majete, bringing back elephants, rhino, lions and cheetahs; your visit supports this remarkable recovery and the communities around the parks. Lakeside villages, colourful markets, music and dance reflect a rich, gentle culture that rewards curious and respectful travellers
- Power & practicalities: Power is 230V using UK-style three-pin type G plugs, so bring an adapter; power can be intermittent, though lodges use solar and generators. Bring neutral-coloured clothing for safari, warm layers for cool mornings and highland nights, swimwear for the lake, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and insect repellent. Tipping guides and lodge staff is customary and appreciated
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Liwonde and Majete special?
Both parks are among the most inspiring conservation success stories in Africa, restored from near-empty land by African Parks working with local communities. Liwonde offers superb boat safaris on the Shire River past elephants, hippos and crocodiles, plus reintroduced black rhino, lions and cheetahs. Majete is a full Big Five reserve, once poached out entirely and now home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. They are wild, uncrowded and deeply meaningful, and every visit helps fund the rangers and communities who protect them, making your safari both thrilling and genuinely purposeful.
Will I see the Big Five on this safari?
Majete is a full Big Five reserve, so there is a real chance of seeing lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, while Liwonde adds elephants, hippos, crocodiles and reintroduced black rhino, lion and cheetah. As with any genuine wilderness, sightings can never be guaranteed, which is part of the thrill of the wild, but the density and variety of wildlife in these restored reserves is excellent and improving every year. Your expert guides greatly increase your chances, and the beauty and meaning of these reborn parks make every drive rewarding.
What meals are included?
Most safari lodges and lakeshore stays are run on a full-board or all-inclusive basis, so breakfast, lunch and dinner are typically included once you are in the parks and at the lake, along with safari activities; the exact meal plan is listed for each night in your itinerary. Malawian cooking is fresh and flavourful, from lake fish such as chambo and grilled tilapia to nsima, stews and tropical fruit, and we are happy to cater for dietary needs with advance notice.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Your safari is private by default, with your own expert local guide and vehicle for game drives and activities, giving you flexibility and an unhurried pace; at some lodges, game drives and boat safaris may be shared with a few other guests in the classic safari style. Light-aircraft flights between the parks and the lake are on scheduled or shared charters. Malawi's warm, knowledgeable guides bring the wildlife, birds, landscapes and culture vividly to life.
Do I need a visa for Malawi?
Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an eVisa online before travel, while some enjoy visa-free entry; a passport valid for at least six months with blank pages is required. We confirm the current, exact requirements for your nationality, advise on the best option and help arrange the eVisa where needed, so that your arrival in the Warm Heart of Africa is smooth and stress-free.
Is Malawi safe to visit?
Malawi is one of Africa's most welcoming and peaceful countries, famously known as the Warm Heart of Africa, and travel here is relaxed and rewarding with sensible precautions. We use trusted lodges, experienced guides and reliable transfers throughout, monitor conditions and follow official guidance. As anywhere, we advise normal care with valuables, malaria precautions and safe swimming at recommended lake locations, and our team is on hand throughout your journey.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry season from May to October is the prime time for wildlife, as animals concentrate along the Shire River and waterholes and the vegetation thins, with September and October outstanding for game viewing. The green season from November to April is lush and excellent for birds and dramatic skies, with warm days and afternoon showers, while Lake Malawi is beautiful all year. We advise on the best timing for your interests.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of safari and lake, add nights in Liwonde, Majete, Nyika or on Likoma Island, include Zomba Plateau or a Mount Mulanje trek, upgrade to more luxurious lodges, add a honeymoon or family focus, or combine Malawi with neighbouring Zambia or Zanzibar. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point that we tailor to your interests, pace, comfort and budget for your ideal journey.
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