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Malawi Guest Trip Report
David Chamberlain
vacationtechnician.com
Dear David,
I am trying to send you my feedback now, but it is very difficult as everything was perfect.
Lilongwe: Mr. Zack was the first person whom we met and he was so friendly. He organised everything for us and even cleared my chaos as we returned (I lost my boarding card!).
Heuglins: Lovely Tammy, heartily and sweet, wonderful accommodation and food! What was the building used for in former days?
Mvuu Lodge: Richard was so nice, he did everything for us, we had a different schedule every day, we visited the school, went up by speed boat to Lake Malombe, had breakfast in the bush etc. I think you know the lodge there. For me it was the one with the most "heart", the scenery, the tents, the inside of the tents, the welcome letter, the good-bye hippo, the friendly staff etc. etc. I just felt at home there and I was very sad to leave. Thank you again for offering this destination.
Transfer in Malawi: Private charter with Frank, punctual and a wonderful scenic flight underneath the clouds.
Kafunta: First a little disappointment, so big and "civilised" after Mvuu. But then we felt very comfortable too and were able to love the incredible view ! Tourists not so "serious" as in Mvuu.
Ron and Greg took us and 2 other visitors to the Island Bush Camp, it was wonderful. We did a lot of hiking, no buffalos or lions (Thank God for it!). Very well organised, we always had tea and sundowner in the bush, crossed the Lunga River barefoot and other adventures.
Suggestion: 2 nights after the bush in the lodge would be better, you can have your laundry done and relax a little bit because it was very strenuous (long trip during the day).
Transfer flight to Lower Zambesi was changed, we flew early in the morning and had to change planes in Lusaka. Usually we were a bit worried because nobody was able to tell us which plane we should catch in Lusaka but stuff from Airwaves did everything for us and we had just a brake for the toilet.
Lower Zambesi: Thanks god, only 2 nights in Sausage Tree! But wait a moment, I will explain.Transfer was by boat what we really enjoyed after all the driving in Kafunta. They kept us in Sausage Tree for lunch and a little rest and in the afternoon we arrived in Old Mondoro. There was no manager there, just Andrew our guide and the staff did everything perfect, just themselves, amazing! I really loved it there, we had the elephants crossing the river, only 2 or 4 guests, a wonderful scenery (have you ever been there? The woods are like in a fairy tale there!), beautiful walks and game drives and a really bush atmosphere!
The transfer to Sausage Tree was a game drive and we were able to realize the change of the vegetation and scenery. Great!
Sausage Tree: No critics at all but not what I expected! After this incredible trip with just a few guests the 14 tourist in Sausage Tree nearly "killed" us. Mostly English because of the BBC report I think the majority of them didn`t go there because of the bush but because it is a "must" and many of them felt very proud of being in a camp which was on TV! We were used to serious and interested safari guests who always were punctual. In Sausage Tree we always were delayed because people didn`t come in time. Nevertheless Kelly did a great job and organised a schedule for everybody.
So Mvuu was more and Sausage Tree was less of what I expected, but no critic at all! Maybe there is more tourism in the Lower Zambesi NP because of the Vic Falls. People visit the Falls and the park and then fly to Mauritius and so the 2 other places were more authentic for us.
Lusaka: Our pilot found the Holiday Inn shuttle bus for us and helped us with our luggage. In the hotel we were informed that we had a private transfer back to the airport, I think you booked us as VIPs everywhere?!
We went shopping there. As they changed our schedule in Mfuwe we only had 15 minutes for Tribal Textiles which I really regretted as I would have been interested in the production. But you can`t get everything! So Kelley wrote us down some markets in Lusaka where we were able to do our shopping. And as this was our "hippo Holiday" I bought a really big one (15 kgs!) which I packed in a new backpack and it arrived here! I am very happy because it is standing in front of our front door and is reminding me of this incredible trip. By the way I named it Richard!
Thank you very much for this perfect and well done organisation, I doubt if such a trip would be possible in Europe! I hope I can afford a trip sometimes again, my biggest wish is to go to the bush with my husband. But he can`t take any malaria prophylaxis so we won`t risk it. But if I could, I would take him to the Mvuu Lodge!
I hope that we keep contact somehow and I hope Ursula will send her feedback too. But no complaints from her either!
Thanks again for having organised and booked this wonderful trip for us and greetings to everybody I mentioned.
Many greetings from Austria.
Yours,
Martina
Mvuu Camp is situated just south of Mvuu Lodge on the banks of the Shire River in Malawi's Liwonde National Park.
It offers a wide range of options including camping, self catering and full board rates with activities. The activities on offer are the same as Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, but the camp is better suited either to families or those on a budget as rates are very reasonable.
A particularly rewarding way of arriving at Mvuu Camp is via the boat trip from Liwonde Town. This river trip takes you 30 kilometres along the Shire offering an excellent chance to see game and birds en route and also the ever changing scenery and vegetation along the banks.
There are nine comfortable walk in tents with shared facilities and five en suite brick chalets. A large wood and thatch dining and lounge area is situated nearby and offers a magnificent view upstream to the north. There is also a specially constructed boma for dinners under the stars.
among the "specials".
Elephant and Sable Antelope occur in large numbers, as do Hippo, Crocodile, Impala and Waterbuck. Leopard, Serval and the rare Oribi may occasionally be seen. Black Rhino have been reintroduced from South Africa's Kruger National Park, as have Zebra, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, and Buffalo from elsewhere within Malawi.
Birds are prolific, especially along the Shire River where African Fish Eagle, Palmnut Vulture, African Skimmer and Pel's Fishing Owl are fairly common. Bohm's Beeeater, Lilian's Lovebird, Bat Hawk, Livingstone's Flycatcher, Whitebacked Night Heron and Brownbreasted Barbet are among the "specials".
LOCATION� Situated to the south of Lake Malawi in the Liwonde National Park, the camp is built overlooking the Shire River, the main drainage river from Lake Malawi.
PRICING / CHILD POLICY
High Season: July to October, Easter and Christmas
Low Season: Rest of the year
Children over the age of 8 are welcome.
ACCOMMODATION
Number of tents:
5 Tents in total consisting of:
� 4 twin bedded tents
� 1 honeymoon tent with bath
� Guides/tour leaders accommodated in guest accommodation if available otherwise in staff quarters
This camp can accommodate ten guests; larger groups can also be accommodated in the nearby Mvuu Camp which sleeps up to 36 guests.
Tent details:� Private veranda overlooking secluded lagoon
� En-suite facilities with a shower
� Tents are mosquito proofed
� Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
CAMP DESCRIPTION
Communal Area:
� Dining room and pub under thatch
� Swimming pool
GAME VIEWING
Superb area for Elephant, Hippo and Crocodile during the drier months in the middle of the year. Kudu, Sable, Impala, Waterbuck and Warthog are seen as well as Serval, Civet, Mongoose and Genets on night drives. Baboon, Vervet Monkeys, Bushbuck, Oribi, Leopard, Lion and Bush pig are also found and the birdlife is spectacular all year - Boems Bee-eater.
ACTIVITIES� Game drives in 1 x 10 seater vehicle
� Night drives
� Boating in 1 x 10 seater safari boat
� Walks with experienced guides
� River Safaris
� The highlight here is superb river cruises where guests may get close to Hippos, Crocodile and wonderful birdlife. There is a Black Rhino re-introduction program and it is possible (with special permission) to visit the Rhino sanctuary in the park, which also contains Liechtenstein's Hartebeest and Buffalo.
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
06h00 Game Walk
07h00 Breakfast
08h00 Boat safari
12h00 Lunch
16h00 Game Drive
19h00 Dinner, table d' h�te or occasionally curry buffet or braai (barbecue)
ELECTRICITY & WATER� 220v generator
� 12v solar for lights in the tents
� No plugs in the tents but can use plugs at reception if necessary
DRINKS POLICY
Drinks are not included in the nightly tariff and are charged to the guests account.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Daily service, included in the nightly tariff
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Payment can be affected by cash or the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
FLYING TIMES
To/from Lilongwe 55 minutes
To/from Blantyre 40 minutes
To/from Club Makalolo 20 minutes
AIRSTRIP DETAILS
Mvuu (Makanga)
Airstrip co-ordinates:
S 14.15, E35.18
1000m long
GRATUITY SCHEDULE
The following is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General Camp Staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist Guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day
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