9 DAYS MALAWI & ZAMBIA FAMILY FLY IN SAFARI

When you arrive in Lusaka, our representative will be waiting for you at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to assist you with your onward journey to Mfuwe International Airport in Zambia’s Eastern Province. Here you will meet your guide, who will be waiting to transport you to Robin’s House on the banks of the Luangwa River. Settling into your attractively appointed en suite room, you may then enjoy the scenery from your wraparound balcony. The rich riverine woods and stunning escarpments of the Luangwa Valley represent the spot where the Great Rift Valley divides in two, making this one of the continent’s few unspoiled wildernesses. Enjoy a leisurely outdoor meal while watching the river under the ebony tree, followed by an afternoon game drive that lasts through sundowners and into the night.

Start your day off right with breakfast at dawn. The animal population around the Luangwa River is among the most exceptional in all of Africa, thanks to the area’s dense flora and untamed, rugged beauty, which are nourished by dozens of transient rivers that overflow during the rainy season. Set off by foot or by boat from the lodge, stopping for coffee and cake in the middle of the morning next to a lagoon. At noon, we will return to Robin’s House for lunch. Sit back and relax by the pool while taking a nap. Your late-afternoon game drive begins with afternoon tea, with spotlights cutting through the deepest shadows and luring you into its nocturnal realm. South Luangwa has one of the highest densities of leopards in all of Africa.

You get to decide where and how to spend your time. Choose between the traditional morning and afternoon wildlife drives or hire a professional scout to accompany you on an all-day walking safari that includes a picnic in the open. Choose a boat or canoe safari to observe elephant herds, many hippos, and crocodiles along the river’s banks. The river is home to hundreds of aquatic birds. Alternately, spend the afternoon reading at Robin’s House before enjoying a romantic meal al fresco. You can also visit the nearby Kawaza Village to learn more about the neighborhood.

After breakfast, make the short trip to Mfuwe International Airport to catch your hour-long flight to Lilongwe. Upon arrival you will meet your guide who will help you with your next trip to Monkey Bay. After being greeted, you will be driven to Pumulani Lake Lodge. The Pumulani Lake Lodge offers 10 air-conditioned villas with distinctive grass roofs designed to reflect the African sun. Each villa has a spacious main bedroom with an en suite bathroom that opens onto a private deck and is located in the hills of the Nankumba Peninsula in Lake Malawi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After arriving and settling in, take some time to freshen yourself. Then, slide open the glass doors leading from your lounge to your terrace and take some time to silently take it all in. The local Chichewa word for “rest well,” pumulani, sums up your upcoming three days well.

Spend the morning zipping across the lake while wakeboarding or water skiing behind one of Pumulani’s two speedboats, or work up an appetite for lunch by going on a guided hike into the hills. As you return, a kayak will be waiting for you, and you can paddle back to the lodge while admiring the breathtaking scenery. Children of all ages are welcome at Pumulani, and the lake’s crystal-clear freshwater is great for swimming because it lacks waves, currents, or salt. This lake has an immensely alluring clarity as the sun dances delicately across its surface. It is simple to understand why David Livingstone dubbed it the Lake of Stars. Take a magical sunset tour on the lodge’s traditional dhow as the day comes to an end, and enjoy sundowners while cruising over the wide waters as the horizon turns a brilliant gold.

After breakfast and a final parting swim, return to Lilongwe’s Kamuzu International Airport for your international journey back home.