Zambia & Malawi: From the Falls to the Lakes in Style

Imagine bookending your safari with a trip to Victoria Falls and a few days spent relaxing on a secluded island in the middle of a lake. Sounds like a couple of weeks well spent to us and on this 12 night trip to Zambia and Malawi you can do exactly that. Start flying high over the wonder of the world, Victoria Falls, before heading to Luangwa Valley in search of big predators and game animals. End a rather action-packed holiday with some downtime in the sun on Lake Malawi where you can choose to do nothing other than soak up some rays. Just like that, you have the perfect safari adventure across the plains of Zambia into the sun-dappled waters of Malawi. So pack your binoculars and your bikinis and brace yourself for this perfect combination.

Falling for the falls

Begin your luxury getaway by flying into Zambia and heading straight to Tongabezi where you will rest your head for the first four nights. A beautiful lodge on the water’s edge of the Zambezi River, Tongabezi is the perfect romantic retreat where you can while away the hours taking a dip in your private pool, warming up around the fire pit, enjoying sun-downers and indulging in sampan dinners in the middle of the river. The highlight of Tongabezi, though, has to be its location, just 15 km upstream from the gushing Victoria Falls which we will take you to not by car, but by helicopter. Fly high to see rainbows arching over the water and revel in the beauty of this natural wonder of the world thundering below you. If you’re a bit of a thrill seeker, you can take a dip in the Devil’s Pool, a natural infinity pool at the top of the falls, and peak over the edge to see the mighty drop. Exhilarating.

Safaris and sun-downers

After all that sky-high excitement, it’s time to plant your feet firmly back on the ground and turn your attention to safari. You will be moving on to Chinzombo Camp for three nights in the Luangwa Valley. With some of the highest concentration of Big Game in the whole of Africa, you really are in for a wildlife-packed treat here. You will be taken out on private game drives to see impressive big predators such as lions, night drives to see nocturnal animals at their most active and walking safaris to learn about the spectacular flora and bird life of the region. When you’ve had enough of photographing elephants and basking in the beauty of the Luangwa National Park (how could you ever?), Chinzombo is primed to help you unwind with a plunge pool and yoga mat in each luxury tented suite and masseurs on call for an in-villa spa treatment. Come evening, quench your thirst with sun-downers overlooking the beautiful and peaceful Luangwa River.

Escape to the Lake

Your week in Zambia has been pretty spectacular we bet – but we’re here to give you the best, so why settle for one country when you can visit two? With that in mind, you will be whisked over the border into Malawi to spend a week on Likoma Island on Lake Malawi. Here, you will stay at the barefoot-luxe Kaya Mawa and spend your time really taking it easy. You can literally lie on a sun lounger for a week if you wish but with endless water sports on offer from kayaking, fishing and sailing to diving, water skiing and even doughnuting, we definitely think you should make the most of your time on the Lake. You can also explore the lovely Likoma Island by mountain bike, quad bike or by hiking with the lakeshores boasting colourful cultures just waiting to be discovered. What better way to finish a spectacular safari than this? Beauty and seclusion; Kaya Mawa has it all.

After experiencing some of the best Sub-Saharan Africa has to offer, head home with a camera full of pictures, a golden glow to the skin and an endless number of stories to tell.