Day 1: South Luangwa Valley

Arrive in Lilongwe Airport from Johannesburg, Harare, London, etc. Board charter aircraft for flight to Mfuwe and the Luangwa Valley. Transfer to the camp of your choice in the Luangwa Valley. All meals and game activities included. Three nights on full board basis.

The Luangwa Valley, which marks the end of the Great Rift Valley, is one of the last unspoilt wilderness areas and possibly the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa. It covers an area of over 9000 sq. km. through which the meandering Luangwa River runs. The ox bow lagoons, woodland and plains of the valley hosts huge concentrations of game - including elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, giraffe, hippo - and over 400 species of birds

Nkwali Camp is located on Robin Pope's private land, overlooking the National Park. The land is superb game-viewing country, with a beautiful area of ebony woodland and open grass plains. Elephants regularly cross the Luangwa, seen from the bar, or come to the waterhole near the thatched dining room. The chalets are cool and spacious, overlooking the river. Access to the park is by the main park entrance, by boat or by our nearby pontoon. The area is famous for leopard and giraffe sightings.

Room Facilities:

• 12 guests
  
• en suite bathrooms
  
• open April - December
  
• walking safaris, drives, night drives

Tena Tena Camp is altogether beyond superlatives, and must be one of the best safari camps in the whole of Africa", The Times, London. The remote camp within the National Park enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. A grove of mahogany trees shade six large custom-made tents. From the thatched dining room and bar guests can watch the elephants, hippo and antelope on the river banks. Nearby there is a spectacular lagoon, Buca Buca, where a whole morning can be spent quietly sitting while the game comes down to feed and drink. Being remote, we have these scenes to ourselves.

Room Facilities:

• 12 guests
  
• tented accommodation
  
• ensuite bathrooms
  
• open June - October
  
• walking safaris, drives, night drives

Activities will be as follows:

Walking Safaris - The only way to really discover the secrets of the bush. They are led by an experienced naturalist and accompanied by an armed game scout.

Game-Viewing Drives - Conducted in open, four-wheel drive vehicles by knowledgeable safari guides. Special gameviewing seats provide excellent viewing and opportunities for photography.

Night Drives - Set out in the afternoon. Later, after watching the sun set over the river with a sundowner in hand, the drive continues with a powerful spotlight. The nocturnal world of the bush is witnessed from owls, genets to hunting lions and the graceful leopard.

All Robin's camps are intimate and highly personalized. Exceptional service has become the hallmark of all Robin's operations.

Day 4 & 5: Mvuu Lodge, Malawi

Drive back to Mfuwe, fly to Lilongwe and on to Mvuu Lodge. All meals and activities included.The 580,000 hectare Liwonde National Park is situated in the south of Malawi and is Malawi's premier wildlife reserve. Liwonde incorporates the huge and scenic Shire River, as well as quiet backwaters and lagoons, marshes, open savanna country, woodland and hills. As a result of the wide variety of habitats, there is a great diversity of plants, mammals, reptiles and birds. The birdlife is particularly good, and Liwonde is possibly the best birding location in central and southern Africa the record for a two-night stay is 266 species!
Mvuu Wilderness Lodge is a comfortable lodge situated along the banks of the Shire River, within the Liwonde National Park. Mvuu has only ten beds and is a tented lodge with en-suite facilities and a separate dining room/pub/lounge area. Elephant and sable antelope occur in large numbers, as do hippo, crocodile, impala, and waterbuck. Lion, leopard, serval and the rare oribi may occasionally be seen. Black rhino have recently been re-introduced from South Africa's Kruger National Park, and there are plans to bring back white rhino and buffalo. Birds are prolific, especially along the Shire River where African fish eagle, palmnut vulture, African skimmer and Pel's fishing owl are fairly common. Bohm's bee-eater, Lilian's lovebird, bat hawk, Livingstone's flycatcher, whitebacked night heron and brownbreasted barbet are among the 'specials'. The Mvuu hiking trail is now available for those who enjoy walking in game reserves. Two nights' walking and camping out in remote areas of the Liwonde National Park is a highlight, but must be booked in advance.

Day 6 & 7: LAKE MALAWI

Fly or drive to either Livingstonia Beach Hotel or Chinteche Inn on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Motorized water sports excluded.

Day 8: END OF SAFARI.