Zambia and Malawi Safari and Beach Holiday

You’ll be met on arrival by a Wayfairer representative at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. They will escort you through the airport to your private vehicle for your approx. 3.5 hour road transfer to Ila Safari Lodge in Kafue National Park.

Enjoy three nights in Kafue National Park at Ila Safari Lodge, one of the most sustainably conscious camps in Africa. From solar power, to local building materials and Zambia’s first electric game viewing vehicle, they have drawn their inspiration from the local Ila tribe. The Ila people were a cattle-herding tribe in the valley of the Kafue River and wore unique hairstyles whilst hunting or war fighting. Learn more of the history of the region from your guides here, as well as the intricacies of the local ecosystems.

You stay here for three nights in a standard tent, which is sublime, includes all meals, drinks (excluding premium brands), scheduled activities and park fees.

As Zambia’s biggest and oldest national park with a larger variety of species than anywhere else, Kafue is also the only place in Zambia where you can spot the elusive cheetah.

For two full days, enjoy dawn game drives, lunch back at camp, or even a picnic and bush walk. Afternoons are spent relaxing with a book on your deck, or at the pool. Enjoy afternoon tea before setting out for your sunset wildlife viewing drive, boat cruise, fishing trip or bush walk.

At Ila Safari Lodge the e-Cruisers are fully electric, silent game drive vehicles that are charged on solar farms at the main camp. They are the first of their kind in Zambia. The solar-powered e-Boat also awaits, ready to glide you across the Kafue River in style.

Today you wake at sunrise with the dawn bird chorus, hot tea and light breakfast before a morning wildlife viewing activity. Return to camp for breakfast, check out and transfer by road back to Lusaka internal airport for your 1 hour 10 mins light aircraft flight Northeast to South Luangwa National Park.

Fly to Mfuwe, the hub for safaris in South Luangwa then be driven West for one hour to the iconic Shawa Luangwa Camp, opened in June 2021.

Voted one of Wanderlust’s top 8 best professional guides and one of the finest people you will meet, Jacob Shawa is at the heart of Shawa Luangwa’s story. If you’re lucky enough, head out on a walking safari with Jacob and witness the phenomenal wildlife South Luangwa has to offer along the banks of the river. If not guided by Jacob, fear not, his enthusiasm and knowledge is felt throughout his team of guides. Locally known as the Zambian David Attenborough, it’s a treat for all guests to learn about nature from his team.

Stay at Shawa Luangwa Camp for 3 nights, in a luxury tent with all meals, drinks (excluding premium brands), scheduled camp activities, park and conservation fees included.

Continue your search for Africa’s most iconic animals. With over 60 mammal species and around 450 bird species and incredibly high concentrations of wildlife, South Luangwa is Zambia’s premier wildlife destination. It’s prime location between the Luangwa River and the Mchinga escarpment mean that large numbers of animals flock to these water sources, making for fantastic sighting opportunities.

You can spot plenty of wildlife during the day, but a night game drive gives you the opportunity to spot the park’s nocturnal creatures. You’ll feel the bush come alive with the calls and yowls of the wild and it’s a thrilling experience. You’ll have an excellent chance of spotting leopards as they are particularly active under the cover of darkness. You’ll have spotlights to help sight these elusive creatures, found in exceptionally high concentrations in the national park.

End the day around the campfire with researchers and wildlife biologists from the Luangwa area who can be invited to speak with you if you let us know in advance that you would like to learn more about conservation in the region.

Today you return by one hour road transfer to Mfuwe airport to fly East to Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. This light aircraft flight is just an hour and very scenic, you may even have the opportunity to assist in flying if your pilot deems it sensible. A phenomenal experience which is so much more than just a transfer to a new camp.

In Lilongwe, the team will assist you with simple immigration paperwork before you connect to a one-hour flight North to Likoma Island on the Eastern shores of Lake Malawi, near the Mozambican border. Upon arrival in Likoma, you’ll be transferred by road in just 20 mins to Kaya Mawa Lodge.

Stay in harmony at Kaya Mawa for 3 nights, in a standard room, with all meals, drinks (excluding premium brands) and scheduled activities (excluding motorized activities, Scuba Diving and Spa Treatments). No need to bring your own goggles, snorkel and fins as each House and Room at Kaya Mawa has its own snorkelling gear.

Kaya Mawa means ‘maybe tomorrow’ in Chichewa/Nyanja, highlighting the ethos of relaxed, stylish lakeside living. Malawi’s first resort run solely on renewable-energy, Kaya Mawa is firmly grounded in sustainability, community empowerment and ethical trade.

Time to swim, snorkel, splash and perhaps even sail or speedboat on Lake Malawi. Stand-Up-Paddle Boarding and Kayaking is also on offer as a soothing form of exercise on the lake. For the more adrenaline seeking guests, Kaya Mawa also offers PADI Scuba Diving courses, wakeboarding, waterskiing, solar powered e-mountain biking, quad biking and fishing trips.

Enjoy walks to admire the birding on the shores and inland island forests; Likoma is home to over 100 different birds species, including huge colonies of white-breasted cormorants, black-shouldered and yellow-billed kites, and four types of kingfisher.

Spot the world famous cichlid fish whilst out on the water. Cichlids are found all over the world, mainly in Africa and Latin America, but they’re especially abundant in Lake Malawi, where they’ve diverged into at least 850 species. That’s more species of fish than can be found in all of the freshwater bodies of Europe combined. Africa’s second largest lake, Lake Malawi is home to remarkable fish evolution.

For something a little different, you could visit a community-run tree nursery, as of 2021 Kaya Mawa have set one up in every village throughout Likoma Island. Each nursery site aims to plant 2,000 trees, totalling 24,000 trees per year. You can plant seeds, care for saplings, or if you’re at Kaya Mawa in December/January, maybe even help with the re-planting as they move stronger plants to their new homes around the island. Deforestation is serious concern throughout all of Malawi, so this project is exceptionally important to tackle mindsets towards trees and respect for nature. 

Enjoy your last breakfast on Lake Malawi before being transferred by road in 20 mins back to Likoma airstrip for your 1-hour flight to Lilongwe. Upon arrival back in Malawi’s capital, your safari comes to an end, but the team will of course assist you with checking in to your flight home.

Saying goodbye isn’t easy, we know, but you’ll take with you some beautiful memories, photos and souvenirs to remember these precious two weeks for life.