9-Day Malawi Liwonde Safari & Likomo Island Itinerary

A 9-Day Malawi Liwonde Safari & Likomo Island Itinerary. A Nine-day combination of Liwonde National Park and Likoma Island offers a premier Malawi experience, blending premier river-based wildlife safaris with tranquil lake relaxation. Guests typically spend four days viewing elephants, hippos, and rare black rhino on the Shire River before taking a scenic flight to Likoma Island for snorkeling, scuba diving, and history at Kaya Mawa.

From the verdant floodplains of Liwonde National Park to the serene shores of Lake Malawi, this 9-day Liwonde Safari & Likomo Island | safari and beach experience will showcase the warmest aspects of Malawi.

After touching down in Blantyre, make your way to Mvuu Camp, situated on the verdant, palm-lined banks of the Shire River in the world-renowned Liwonde National Park in Malawi. Here, you’ll have an unforgettable four days of unparalleled game viewing. Savour sunset cocktails on a mirror-still lagoon, go on an early morning boat through waterways abounding with hippos and crocodiles, and wander through mopane trees with a guide.

The next stop is the picturesque southern point of Likoma Island, where you may unwind at the picturesque Kaya Mawa. The island is located in the pristine waters of Lake Malawi, and it is a short flight north of Lilongwe. Sunbathe on the shore of the lake and go windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, kayaking or any of a number of other water sports.

A Detailed 9-Day Malawi Liwonde Safari & Likomo Island Itinerary

Days 1-4: Travel to Remote Liwonde National Park | 4 Nights

You will be met at Chileka International Airport by your representative upon your arrival in Blantyre. They will bring you to Mvuu Camp in Liwonde National Park, which is a gorgeous 3-hour drive from the airport. During the wet season, there is an exciting 30-minute boat voyage.

Located on the Shire River, Mvuu translates as “hippo” in the indigenous Chichewa language. After a long day on the road, unwind in your roomy stone and canvas chalet, wash up, and then take a seat on the porch to watch the crocodiles and hippos that call the river their home.

The sluggish floodplains and riverine woods of Liwonde National Park are eerily beautiful, and they provide a home to a diverse assortment of animals, including enormous herds of elephant. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable four days of wildlife viewing as you tuck into dinner in the thatched dining area nestled between two massive baobab trees.

In the mornings after breakfast, you can go on a cruise down the river and see the crocodiles sunning themselves or sliding softly into the water. Its reeds are ruffled by weaver birds, while vervet monkeys play in the branches above.

Guests of Mvuu Camp can take advantage of day and night boat rides, wildlife drives, and guided hikes led by trained scouts. Along the shore, you can see hippos, sable antelope, and elephants. You may observe a wide variety of birds at Liwonde National Park, making it one of the best places in Africa to go birdwatching. Some of the birds you might see include blue-cheeked bee-eaters, African fish eagles, squacco herons, and African open-bill storks.

You may go on a wildlife drive through the mopane forests and Rhino Sanctuary to see buffalo, hartebeests, and the uncommon black rhino. Alternatively, you may spend the afternoon at camp, where you can swim in the natural-rock pool or read a book on your own verandah. Then, as the sun goes down, you can enjoy a sundowner by the river while animals come to drink. Enjoy your dinner beneath the twinkling stars in the traditional boma or on the riverbank as you listen to the call of Pel’s fishing owls at dusk and bat hawks soaring over the river.

Days 5-8: Switch Off and Relax in Paradise | 4 Nights

Your hour-long flight to Likoma Island in glistening Lake Malawi departs from Lilongwe’s Kamuzu International Airport, so be sure to have breakfast early. Upon your arrival, someone will be there to bring you to Kaya Mawa, which is just a 10-minute drive from the airport.

Secluded on a granite outcrop at the island’s southernmost point, Kaya Mawa translates to “maybe tomorrow” in the native Chinyanja language. From here, you can see the golden sands of a crescent-shaped beach. Immerse yourself in the enchantment of your isolated stone-and-thatch cottage situated on the rocks, with a view of the lake. Ascend to a state of blissful relaxation on your private deck. The local people worked hand in hand with mahogany, teak, and stone to construct Kaya Mawa, which is surrounded by mango trees and old baobabs. Visit the main bar and restaurant on the rocky headland near the beach’s end for a leisurely lunch of lake fish with garden-fresh herbs, and then succumb to sun-kissed relaxation and pleasure on the multi-level decks and lounging areas that offer breathtaking views to the horizon.

Indulge in a variety of water sports, such as windsurfing, water skiing, kayaking, or simply lounging on the beach with a good book. More than 300 species of vividly coloured African cichlids, or mbuma as they are called in Malawi, call the world’s most profound and pristine lake home.

You may go quad-riding, mountain biking around the island, or taking a 45-minute stroll into town via traditional fishing villages and past towering baobabs to see the lively cobblestone market in Mbamba. St. Peter’s Cathedral, constructed more than a century ago and said to be the size of Winchester Cathedral—its carved soapstone and stained-glass windows standing in stark contrast to its modest surrounds—is an anomaly. Marvel at it while joining the locals on the beach as Mozambican dhows arrive to trade.

Come back to Kaya Mawa for sundowners at the bar as the day warms up to a fiery end, and then have a romantic dinner under the stars on the beach or on the terrace, with the golden sand between your toes and the reflection of innumerable stars in the water.

Day 9: Transfer to Lilongwe for your Onward Journey Home

Having had breakfast and a last swim before saying goodbye, you will be transferred to the Likoma airstrip to catch your connecting aircraft to the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe. From there, you will continue your journey home, with Malawi having won your heart.

End of the 9-Day Malawi Liwonde Safari & Likomo Island Itinerary

Inclusions

  • Meals:
    Mvuu Lodge : Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
    Kaya Mawa Lodge : Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • All necessary permits, conservancy and park fees
  • All activities specified, including morning and evening game drives each full day on safari
  • 24/7 assistance and support during your trip

Exclusions

  • Your international flights to and from Africa + any related taxes
  • Any travel visas you require (though we help you with this)
  • Tips
  • Personal items (eg. travel insurance, souvenirs)