5-Days Malawi Safari Tours to Nyika and Liwonde National Park
Our 5-Days Malawi Safari Tours to Nyika and Liwonde National Park takes you through Malawi's pristine Nyika National Park, known as the "Scotland of Africa" with its rolling montane grasslands, and culminates in the wildlife-rich Liwonde National Park along the Shire River. Our Malawi Safari Tours offer an intimate encounter with nature, combining highland plateau exploration with lowland riverine safari experiences. Experience the warm heart of Africa through landscapes that range from misty mountains to tropical woodlands, making these Malawi Safari Tours an unforgettable adventure.
The Malawi Safari Tours itinerary is designed to immerse you in the country's remarkable biodiversity and stunning natural beauty across five incredible days. Nyika National Park, Malawi's largest protected area covering 3,200 square kilometers, offers unique montane wildlife including roan antelope, eland, and leopard against a backdrop of spectacular wildflower displays. Liwonde National Park provides classic African safari experiences with elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and one of Africa's densest populations of black rhinos. These Malawi Safari Tours perfectly balance adventure, wildlife viewing, and cultural encounters with the friendly Malawian people.
Our Malawi Safari Tours conclude with extraordinary game drives and boat safaris along the Shire River, offering unparalleled photographic opportunities. This five-day journey showcases why Malawi remains one of Africa's best-kept safari secrets, with uncrowded parks and authentic wilderness experiences. From the cool highlands of Nyika to the warm river valleys of Liwonde, these Malawi Safari Tours deliver diverse ecosystems and wildlife encounters. Experience personalized service, expert guides, and comfortable accommodations that make our Malawi Safari Tours the perfect introduction to this remarkable southern African destination.
Tour highlights
Day 1: Arrival and pick up from Lilongwe, transfer to Nyika National Park
Day 2: Proceed to full-day game viewing in Nyika National Park
Day 3: Continue with morning game drive, transfer to Liwonde National Park
Day 4: Proceed to the boat safari and the afternoon game drive in Liwonde
Day 5: Continue with morning game drive and departure transfer to Lilongwe
Price Includes:
- Park fees for Nyika National Park and Liwonde National Park
- All activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- Ground transport per 4WD custom safari vehicle
- Bottled water in the safari vehicle throughout the journey
- Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary (lodges or camps)
- Service of an English-speaking professional driver-guide
- Driver allowances and accommodation
- All mentioned activities except for optional ones
- Boat safari on Shire River
- Game drives in both national parks
- Government taxes and park conservation fees
Price Excludes:
- Malawi Visa fees
- International and internal flights
- Personal needs such as gratuities, beverages, souvenirs, etc.
- Visa processing and application fees
- Air ticket costs (international and domestic)
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Laundry fees and services
- Tips for guides, drivers, lodge staff, and boat crew
- Life insurance coverage
- Other drinks apart from bottled water
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Personal travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Itinary in details
- Day1Arrival and pick up from Lilongwe, transfer to Nyika National Park
Your Malawi Safari Tours adventure begins with arrival and pick up from Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city nestled in the country's central highlands. Upon meeting your professional English-speaking driver-guide, you'll receive a comprehensive briefing about your upcoming Malawi Safari Tours experience before embarking on the scenic journey northward. The 380-kilometer transfer to Nyika National Park takes approximately 7-8 hours through picturesque rural landscapes, passing through Mzuzu city and ascending into the Nyika Plateau. Your Malawi Safari Tours first day concludes with arrival at Chelinda Lodge or Camp, situated at 2,200 meters altitude, where you'll enjoy dinner and overnight accommodation while preparing for tomorrow's highland wilderness exploration.
- Day2Proceed to full-day game viewing in Nyika National Park
Proceed to a full day of intensive game viewing in Nyika National Park, the centerpiece of your Malawi Safari Tours wilderness experience in Africa's largest montane plateau. Early morning game drives at 6:00 AM offer opportunities to spot roan antelope, Nyika's signature species, along with eland, reedbuck, zebra, and the elusive leopard across rolling grasslands that stretch endlessly. The unique ecosystem of this Malawi Safari Tours destination features over 200 orchid species and spectacular wildflower displays during the rainy season, creating a photographer's paradise. Your Malawi Safari Tours day includes visits to Nganda Peak viewpoint at 2,605 meters, offering panoramic vistas across three countries, and afternoon exploration of Juniper Forest where you might encounter bushbuck and various primate species in this distinctive highland environment.
- Day3Continue with morning game drive, transfer to Liwonde National Park
Continue with an early morning game drive through Nyika's misty grasslands before beginning your transfer to Liwonde National Park, transitioning your Malawi Safari Tours from highland to lowland ecosystems. The final Nyika exploration from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM provides last opportunities to photograph the plateau's unique wildlife and landscapes before descending from the cool highlands. Your Malawi Safari Tours journey continues with a 420-kilometer drive taking approximately 8 hours southward through Malawi's diverse landscapes, passing Lake Malawi's western shores and rural villages. The Malawi Safari Tours route takes you through Salima and Balaka before arriving at Liwonde National Park in the late afternoon, where you'll settle into your riverside lodge with views of the magnificent Shire River, preparing for tomorrow's classic safari adventures.
- Day4Proceed to the boat safari and the afternoon game drive in Liwonde
Proceed to an exhilarating boat safari on the Shire River at 6:30 AM, a highlight of your Malawi Safari Tours that offers intimate wildlife encounters from a unique aquatic perspective. This 3-hour river cruise brings you close to massive hippo pods numbering over 1,000 individuals, Nile crocodiles basking on sandbanks, and elephants coming to drink at the water's edge. The Malawi Safari Tours boat experience includes exceptional birdwatching opportunities with over 400 species recorded, including African fish eagles, African skimmers, and countless waterbirds. Your Malawi Safari Tours continues with an afternoon game drive at 3:30 PM through Liwonde's 548 square kilometers of pristine wilderness, where you'll encounter elephants, sable antelope, black rhinos reintroduced through conservation efforts, and possibly lions recently relocated to restore this vital ecosystem's predator population.
- Day5Continue with morning game drive and departure transfer to Lilongwe
Continue with a final morning game drive in Liwonde National Park from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, concluding the wildlife viewing portion of your memorable Malawi Safari Tours experience. This last safari provides opportunities to spot animals you may have missed, including bushbuck, waterbuck, impala, and the rare Lichtenstein's hartebeest, while enjoying the golden morning light. After breakfast and lodge checkout, your Malawi Safari Tours concludes with the 230-kilometer transfer back to Lilongwe, taking approximately 4 hours through scenic rural Malawi. The Malawi Safari Tours departure transfer allows time for reflection on your incredible wildlife encounters, arriving at Lilongwe by early afternoon for connecting flights or optional city exploration, with memories of authentic African wilderness experiences that showcase why Malawi Safari Tours offer such exceptional value and intimate nature encounters.