Malawi Warm Heart Safari (9 or 12 Days)

Malawi is known as the “Warm Heart of Africa”, as it is a landlocked country, running down the end of the Great Rift Valley so this tour is called Warm Heart Safari. It visits 3 attractions in Malawi – Majete Wildlife Reserve, Liwonde National Park and Lake Malawi National Park. Malawi is dominated by Lake Malawi, which is the third largest lake in Africa and the surrounding country is exceptionally beautiful with dramatic scenery.

Choose to extend this tour on the 12 day Malawi Southern Circuit Package Tour which includes the scenic Thyolo District and an extra night in Liwonde National Park.

This Malawi Tour is available from March to early January.

Skip to 9 day Malawi Warm Heart Safari Rates or 12 day Malawi Southern Circuit Package Tour Info and Rates

Full Itinerary for Warm Heart Safari Package day by day

Day 1: Majete Wildlife Reserve

On arrival at Blantyre International Airport a guide will meet you and drive you to Majete. The drive to the lodge is approximately 2.5hours through colorful local scenes of villages, agriculture, as well as bush. The camp is 70km South West of Blantyre, Southern Malawi.

Majete is Malawi’s only Big 5 Reserve and one of the largest protected areas, and covers an area of over 70,000ha. The Reserve is one of the outstanding success stories of African conservation. Granted protected status in 1955, it became the subject of extensive poaching in the 1980s and 1990s. But a concerted joint effort since 2003 by the African Parks Network and the Malawi government has turned it into a model of sustainable development and biodiversity. Today visitors enjoy sightings of elephants, leopards, rhinos, zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, lions and giraffe among many other species.

Mkulumadzi Lodge is on the confluence of the Shire and Mkulumadzi River; within Majete Wildlife Reserve. Game viewing activities include game drives each morning or afternoon. With the evening drives lasting into the early evening, giving guests a chance to experience the park after dark. Mkulumadzi Lodge has 8 stunning chalets where you can relax and fall under the spell of the sights and sounds of the river. Guests arrive by a footbridge suspended over the Mkulumadzi River to discover a friendly welcome and many home comforts. The lodge has a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, a lounge and terrace, a bar and shop, swimming pool, viewing deck, sleep-out star deck and a lapa for evening campfires.

Day 2 – 3: Majete Wildlife Reserve

The luxurious lodge is in a stunning location where you will enjoy great game viewing. Guests are free to be as energetic or as idle as they please. The lush banks of the Shire are popular with elephant and buffalo. Plus of course, hippo and crocodile, and birdlife is abundant.

Day 4: Liwonde National Park

After breakfast and farewells, you will be transferred by road to Kuthengo Camp, in Liwonde National Park. This is approximately a 4.5-hour journey. Depending on your arrival time in the day you will enjoy a lunch looking out over the Shire River. Followed by afternoon tea and the evening game drive.

Liwonde National Park is considered one of the top birding locations in Southern Africa. The park offers some of the most scenic game viewing, beautiful riverine surroundings and varied bird watching you could wish to find.

Located on a large open plain stretching towards the Shire River in Liwonde National Park, you will find Kuthengo Camp nestled among Fever trees and Baobabs. With resident fish eagles nesting in these Baobabs, you will be woken to ‘Africa’s voice’ calling as you rise in this wild and natural paradise. There are five spacious and modern safari tents. They are all en-suite, each with a bathtub and an outdoor shower. Cool off in our plunge pool and enjoy the view from there.

Apart from safari activities, you can also enjoy the wildlife and beautiful scenery from the plunge pool in the hotter months or from your private viewing deck. There is a viewing hide on a tributary of the Shire River and also some interesting visits to the local school and surrounding rural communities.

Day 5: Liwonde National Park

The park is home to crocodiles, hippos, elephants, antelopes, klipspringers, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, cheetah, and lions. Black rhino, roan, hartebeest and kudu are also regularly spotted in Liwonde. A great deal of the terrain is Shire River floodplains, much loved by the healthy population of elephants in this park. They are best viewed during your boat safari on the Shire River (year round). Bird specialties include Lillian’s lovebird, brown breasted barbet, osprey, palmnut vulture, Pel’s fishing owl and Livingstone’s flycatcher. Liwonde is another African Parks success story which promises an ultimate safari retreat.

There is no such thing as a typical day on safari as one never knows what lies in store however an early morning start is always advisable in order to get out in the park when the animals are active. Game drives allow you to cover more ground, and the afternoon drives that last into the early evening give you the chance to experience the nocturnal wildlife.

Day 6 – 8: Lake Malawi National Park

Transfer to Pumulani will be after breakfast, by a beautiful and scenic drive north (around 2.5 hours). Then you will reach the Nankumba Peninsula of Lake Malawi. This is one of the most beautiful shores of the Lake and borders Lake Malawi National Park. This is the last part of the Warm Heart Safari, rest and relaxation is key, allowing you to do as little or as much as you like.

Lake Malawi is the world’s most ecologically diverse lake and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its crystal clear waters are home to more than a thousand species of fish, including hundreds of species of colorful cichlids. Many of these fish are unique to the area.

Pumulani Lodge has ten villas scattered around the hillside and they are individual in shape and style but all have a spacious bedroom, bathroom and extensive sitting area. The front sliding doors open onto the deck. Elevated above the ground giving optimal views.

Activities here vary from snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, mountain biking, sailing, and birding. Pumulani offer diving courses at the best diving spots near one of the islands. For those who are interested in the real Malawian village life, enjoy a guided walk through one of the local villages. Malawians are amongst the friendliest people in Africa and during your stay you will have the opportunity to experience this for yourself. At the end of the day climb aboard the dhow and let the experienced local crewmen take you sailing into the sunset.

Day 7 – 8: Lake Malawi National Park

This is the perfect ending to the safari where you can enjoy being active or simply relax in the beautiful and tranquil scenery. This remote beach setting is ideal for those who simply want to soak up the sun and swim in the clear blue waters of the lake. There is an infinity pool near the central dining area with grand views over the lake. As well as another infinity pool on beach level.

Day 9: End of the Warm Heart Safari tour

A sad goodbye to Pumulani and transfer to Lilongwe in time for your onward connection.

Malawi Warm Heart Safari Tour Rates

These rates are a guide. This package offers a saving of between $394 – $780.

Single Supplement on request.

Itinerary: 3 nights at Mkulumadzi,  2 nights at Kuthengo and 3 nights at Pumulani. These lodges close from the 2nd Sunday in January until the 3rd Thursday of March.

Includes: All transfers by road starting in Blantyre and ending in Lilongwe, local drinks, accommodation on full board basis, activities (except motorized water sports) and laundry.

Excludes: Gratuities, visa fees where applicable + international flights. All motorized activities at Pumulani are excluded.

Malawi Southern Circuit Package Tour extension

Add 2 nights at Huntingdon House at the beginning and an extra night at Kuthengo for the Malawi Southern Circuit Package Tour.

Day 1 – 2:

Huntingdon House on Satemwa Tea Estate, is located in the Thyolo District which is arguably the most scenically beautiful regions of Malawi. The Thyolo district forms the heart of Malawi’s tea producing region with rolling hills of immaculately cultivated, emerald green plantations and some of the oldest estates in the country. With magnificent views of Mount Mulanje (the highest peak in Malawi) and the Lower Shire valley to the west, the Thyolo District is picturesque and a photographer’s dream.

These are two full day to explore the surrounding area. Tour the tea and coffee factory, visit to the Mount Mulanje Massif (it rises to 2,380m above sea level). Or perhaps a short hike to Dziwe la Nkhalamba rock pool and falls. You set your own pace of how you want to spend your days here.

Our Malawi Tours

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Malawi Warm Heart Safari (9 or 12 Days)

Malawi is known as the “Warm Heart of Africa”, as it is a landlocked country, running down the...