This trip combines three of the best destinations in Malawi and linked them by charter aircraft.  Malawi is called "the warm heart of Africa" and it is truly a warm, friendly and welcoming country that offers visitors great scenery, interesting parks and some of the friendliest villagers in all of Africa.  If you are interested in experiencing African culture, Malawi is possibly the best country for this.

This safari explores three diverse areas in Malawi.  The Nyika National Park is located on a highland plateau with an amazing combination of scenery and topography, as well as prolific wildlife.  Lake Malawi is the ninth largest lake in the world and rests along the Great Rift Valley of Africa.  Finally, the safari visits the southern end of the lake and Liwonde National Park, Malawi's premier wildlife reserve along the Shire river.  Birding is also fantastic throughout this safari.

The Best of Malawi trip is quite simply the best way to see the 3 major attractions of this beautiful land in superb comfort and at a relaxed pace.  The distance covered in a week is about 1600 kilometres and the light aircraft transfers are one of the trip's highlights - not just a mode of getting from place to place, but an opportunity of seeing the sweeping vistas and dramatic landscapes of the great African Rift from the best viewpoint.  Each area visited is unique and all the lodges on this journey are very comfortable with a focus on great service.  In just 8 days you will experience great game, wonderful scenery, history and culture.

DAYS 1 - 2; (2 Nights)
CHELINDA LODGE, Nyika National Park

Upon arrival at Lilongwe International Airport, you will be met and assisted with immigration formalities before joining your charter aircraft for the flight to Chelinda Lodge, Nyika National Park.  The flight takes about 90 minutes and you will fly north along the spine of Malawi, over the Viphya Mountains, and then onto the Nyika Plateau. Usually, with clear skies you will get good views of Lake Malawi off to your east.

Nyika National Park is scenically Malawi's most spectacular wild area and is worthy of a visit as much for the scenery as for the wildlife.  It boasts an incredible mixture of scenery and landscapes - pristine brachystegia woodland, mature montane forest patches, crystal clear running streams and miles and miles of open rolling grassland.  Being situated at a mean height of over 2,000 metres guarantees a permanently temperate climate which is of particular contrast to the lakeshore areas of Malawi.

Days can be spent walking, game driving and relaxing at the lodge  There are also horse riding opportunities for keen riders. Game that can be spotted includes Burchell's Zebra, Roan antelope, Common reedbuck, Eland, Bushbuck, Warthog, Leopard, Hyena, Side-striped jackal and Serval.  Birdlife is prolific, and specials include Churring and Mountain cisticolas, Red-tufted malachite sunbird, Fulleborn's black bou-bou, Bar-tailed trogon, Mountain nightjar and several species of Bulbul which occur deep in the canopy of the forests.

With panoramic views over the rolling grasslands of the Plateau, Chelinda Lodge has one of the most magnificent settings in Africa. Sixteen guests can be accommodated in eight individual en-suite log cabins, each with its own log fire. The log cabins surround the main dining area and are connected by raised wooden walkways.  The lodge offers a fully inclusive stay of all meals, accommodation and activities of game drives by day and night, walks, and mountain biking.

At Chelinda  -your exact daily routine will be tailor made to suit your requirements and interests but on offer are excellent guided walks and game drives by day and by night.  Horse riding and trout fishing are available at extra cost. Park fees and drinks are also included.

DAYS 3 - 5; (3 Nights)
KAYA MAWA LODGE, Likoma Island, Lake Malawi            Jump to Kaya Mawa Lodge

After breakfast you will board the aircraft for your scenic flight to Likoma Island. The flight takes about 45 minutes, and offers spectacular vistas as you fly over the edge of the great Nyika escarpment and over Lake Malawi towards Tanzania’s Livingstone Mountains before turning south along the Mozambican shores of the lake to Likoma.

Likoma is the larger of 2 small islands situated in the far north of Lake Malawi and is well over on the east side of the lake, very close to  Mozambique.  Its first contact with the outside world was with the English Missionaries of the University Missions of Central Africa,  who had followed the original Scottish presbyterian Missionaries into this part of Africa and  chose Likoma Island as a suitable and safe place for a base.  The island thus remained under the protection of the British and eventually became a part of independent Malawi in 1964.

To visit the island is to step back in time.  Just 17 sq kilometres, with one small dirt road and 2 vehicles, the local population survives largely by fishing, and rice and cassava farming.  The island has hundreds of huge baobab trees and a number of glorious sandy beaches and rocky coves.  The waters are crystal clear throughout the year and the diving and snorkeling is among the best in Lake Malawi. The feeling of being of another era is completed by the impressive Anglican Cathedral built in the early 1900s.

Kaya  Mawa Lodge is situated on the south-western tip of the Island at the head of a crescent-shaped bay, surrounded by mango trees and ancient baobabs.  Translating as “Maybe tomorrow” in the local Tonga dialect, the lodge is the brainchild of 2 eccentric Englishmen, Will Sutton and Andrew Came, who have used the stunning natural surroundings of beach, rock, island and lake to create a lodge of unique character, imagination and very special ambience.  With no  machinery available on the island, Kaya Mawa Lodge was built entirely by hand, in partnership with the local community.  It consists of seven stone and teak framed thatched cottages set into a granite headland.  There is a honeymoon house tucked away on its own private island that is reached by boat.

Each cottage faces the lake and has  a 7-foot by 6-foot mahogany 4 poster bed, a shower, a sunken stone bath tub and a loo with a view.  All the cottages have private terraces with direct access to the water and some can only be reached by walkways built over the lake.

The stunning setting of the lodge and the unique comfort of the rooms means that many guests choose to make relaxation their main activity but enough activities are on offer to keep guests busy .

Walking or biking around the island
This is one activity you simply should not miss. Likoma is 100% safe and the local population is legendary both for its friendliness and its curiosity-a simple unescorted stroll around the island perhaps with a knapsack full of cold drinks and a few snacks is a wonderful experience-you can stop off to swim en route, engage the locals in conversation and visit the cathedral and the lively market nearby.

Swimming and snorkeling
The waters around the lodge are safe and clear—some of the best snorkeling on the island is right at the lodge-snorkels and masks are provided. Alternatively there is a rock swimming pool right by the bar.

Motorized water sports
Water-skiing, tube riding and wake snaking are offered as well as fishing trips.

Sailing safaris
The lodge has a small wooden skip for journeys around the island.

All meals and non motorized watersports are included.  Motorized watersports and local excursions are available at a small extra charge, payable locally.

DAYS 6 - 7 ; (2 Nights)
MVUU WILDERNESS LODGE, Liwonde National Park, Malawi            Jump to Mvuu Wilderness Lodge

Today you will fly from Chintheche to Mvuu.   This is a truly wonderful flight that follows the shores of Lake Malawi for much of the way and takes about90 minutes. You will fly over the scenic Cape Maclear Peninsula, and the port of Monkey Bay and see hundreds of idyllic fishing villages that have existed unchanged for hundreds of years. As you approach Liwonde National Park you fly along the Shire River, and may well see herds of elephant and sable on the floodplains as you descend to land at Mvuu.

Mvuu Wilderness  Lodge is situated in the heart of Liwonde National Park on the banks of a quiet lagoon flowing off the Shire River. 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.

The lodge has a swimming pool, sun deck and al fresco dining platform overlooking the river and lagoon.  Your stay on is on a full board basis, including the game activities which centre around game drives by day and by night in open vehicles, walks and boat safaris, a unique activity at Mvuu.

We explore the Shire River and lagoons - an excellent opportunity for sightings of elephants, hippo, crocodile and bird life. Birding is rewarding - specialties include Lillian's lovebird, brown breasted  barbet, osprey, palmnut 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 local bicycle to the local school and surrounding rural communities.

Included in your stay are all meals,  game activities, and park fees. Drinks and laundry are extra and can be settled on departure.

DAY 8;
Safari ends.

Today a 45 minute flight west over the mountains of the Great African Rift will take you back to Lilongwe for your flight out.