Adventure Guest Packages

An adventure expedition for paying participants is offered to use the elephant translocation experience to leverage funds for the monitoring efforts and for fencing the reserve. The guests will be given a clear understanding of the reasons for the project and its objectives and why peripheral fencing is required.

It is anticipated that 14 capture operations can confidently be made available for guests, and that each guest will see two separate operations (bulls and family group). The total package covering a guest’s costs and a contribution to the operations will come to US$10 000 per person sharing.

The participation needs of adventure guests will be met with the use of a second helicopter. This will allow guests to participate in locating the elephants, driving them towards the capture site, and observing the darting itself. A Bell 407 helicopter will transport five guests per capture operation (each with a window seat). A sixth guest will be seated in the capture helicopter. The remaining guests will be part of the ground crew. All guests will have the opportunity to experience the capture operation from the air and from the ground. The helicopter flights will include a return flight from Mvuu (lodge in Liwonde National Park ) to the capture site, the flying for each capture operation, and a return flight from Mvuu to Majete. Each guest group will be limited to a maximum of 10 persons (all 10 guests can be accommodated in the capture helicopter and the Bell 407 to commute from Mvuu to Majete).

Comfortable en-suite tented accommodation is provided at the Mvuu Wilderness Camp in the Liwonde National Park. Accommodation at Majete will be in en-suite tents at Thawale Camp. Good quality cuisine will be offered at Mvuu and at Thawale.

After the capture operations guests can relax for three nights at Club Makokola, a full-service hotel on the shore of lake Malawi. A beautiful boat safari up the Shire River will take the guests from Mvuu Camp to Club Makokola.

An extension of the adventure expedition to a luxury lodge or bush camp in other wilderness areas in Southern Africa (e.g. the South Luangwa National Park or the Lower Zambezi National Park of Zambia, the Okavango Delta or Chobe National Park of Botswana) is also possible - please contact us separately for additional information.

Scheduled flight with SAA or Air Malawi to Lilongwe , departure in the morning at 10h20 from Johannesburg International Airport (flight not included in the package price)

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Mvuu Camp   You will be met upon arrival at Lilongwe International Airport . Once you have cleared customs and immigration, you will be assisted on to your light aircraft charter to Mvuu. This is a scenic 45minute flight over the western edge of the Great African Rift to Liwonde National Park . Afternoon game drive in the Liwonde NP.

Liwonde National Park is considered to be the finest in Malawi and one of the best birding locations in Africa . The park well deserves these accolades as it offers some of the most scenic game viewing, beautiful riverine surroundings and varied bird watching you could wish to find.

A great deal of the terrain is Shire River floodplains, much loved by the healthy population of elephants in this park. They are best viewed during your boat safari on the Shire River , one of the many highlights of a stay at Mvuu Camp. As well as boat safaris, game drives and nature walks enable guests to experience a wide range of game, including large numbers of sable antelope, hippo, crocodile, impala, and waterbuck. Jackal, civet, hyena, genet and serval cat are also fairly common. Birds are prolific, especially along the Shire River , where the African Fish Eagle and the Pel’s Fishing Owl are frequently sighted, as well as Böhm’s Bee-eater, White Backed Night Heron, and a host of local "specials".

Mvuu Camp is situated just south of Mvuu Lodge on the banks of the Shire River in Malawi 's Liwonde National Park . 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. There are 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

Day 3

In the morning the bulls are released into the Majete Wildlife Reserve, we then will visit of some of the African Parks community projects in Majete (e.g. bore holes, organic gardening projects, school).

A scenic flight takes us back to Mvuu camp where lunch and an afternoon game drive in the Liwonde NP are waiting for us.

Day 5

In the morning the family group is released into the Majete Wildlife Reserve.

A scenic flight takes us back to Mvuu camp where lunch and an afternoon game drive/boat trip in the Liwonde NP are waiting for us.

Day 6 Club Makakola Lake Malawi

After breakfast we take a leisurely cruise north in the MV Sunbird - a comfortable motor vessel with a spacious upstairs viewing deck - the journey takes about 5 hours, with drinks & lunch on board. (Please note that the viability of this transfer will depend on water levels).

Offered activities: many sport facilities from golf, tennis, squash, to water activities, shopping for Malawi curios, various excursions (Cape Maclear, Mua Mission, Mangochi Boma, Boadzulu Island )

Lake Malawi is one of the Great Rift Valley lakes and lies in a depression which plunges well below sea level - to a depth of at 2,300ft ( ) in the north. It is the third largest lake in Africa and has impressive proportions with approximate dimensions of 365 miles (584km) north to south and 52 miles (83km) wide. Half the south-eastern section of the lake belongs to Mozambique with the border running through the centre of the water, while Tanzania lies along the north-eastern shore.

Malawi is a long thin landlocked country, so the lake is extremely important as it takes up about one fifth of the country and many people make their living from it.

There are four busy ports and hundreds of fishing villages. However, there are still many stretches that are completely deserted with plenty of sandy beaches.

Lake Malawi bears many qualities of a sea except salty water and for much of the year it is placid and welcoming, while at other times strong winds and storms can produce surfable waves. A section of the lake at Cape Maclear in the south, has been declared the world's first freshwater National Park and includes the peninsula of land and several islands.

The national park is a sanctuary for the biologically unique, often brightly coloured little fish called cichlids, much prized by freshwater aquarium enthusiasts. These fish have adapted very quickly in evolutionary terms, resulting in a prolific number of species. More than 500 have been recorded but it is thought there could be 1,000 different species in the lake.

Lake Malawi 's sub-aqua life is astounding and it can be like snorkelling in an aquarium. Many of the chichlids shine like polished silver as the sun refracts in the water, but there are many others like Cobalt Zebras and Mumbo Yellow (only found around Mumbo island within the national park), whose names reveal their dazzling colours.

Bird watching is an absolute pleasure and can be bewildering, as there is sometimes too much to look at! Within the national park it is not uncommon to find a pair of territorial fish eagles every 100 yards (100 metres). There are also countless kingfishers, herons and cormorants, all patrolling for food at different heights.

Reptile life is excellent with large monitor lizards, shiny skinks warming themselves on rocks and opaque geckos that come to life at night. Animals that might be seen on land are baboons, antelopes and hyrax.

Club Makakola is situated on the southern shores of Lake Malawi about 30 kms north of the bustling town of Mangochi . Set in ten acres of immaculate gardens with a large white sandy beach, it has wonderful views over to the lakes’ eastern shores and to nearby Boadzulu Island .

The hotel has two swimming pools, a squash court, two tennis courts and a mini soccer field. The brand new Mlambe Golf Club - a 9 hole, 3 par course, beautifully sited adjacent to the hotel in a grove of Baobab trees with spectacular water hazards provides both experienced and amateur golfers with a challenging and enjoyable course. All water sports are available from fishing to para sailing and diving. Sailing safaris may be organised to the islands in the Lake Malawi National Park, the world's first fresh water conservation area.

Non motorized watersports are included in the general tariff while several extra activities are available for a small fee payable locally. These include road transfers to visit the scenic Cape Maclear area and boat cruises on the luxurious MV Sunbird, a motor launch fitted out for comfortable local cruising. The rooms have recently been refurbished with local designs and crafts and the hotel manages to offer the luxury and amenities of a resort style hotel while still being small enough to focus on superb service in a friendly atmosphere. Days 6,7,8 relax at Club Makakola

Day 9 Depart by light aircraft after breakfast for Lilongwe and your international return flight back to Johannesburg or to other destinations in Southern Africa .

End of services

1. 3 July - 11 July
2. 8 July - 16 July
3. 13 July - 21 July
4. 18 July - 26 July
5. 23 July - 31 July
6. 28 July - 5 August
7. 2 August - 10 August

Rate: US$ 10 000.00 per person sharing

Includes: private charter flights to and from Lilongwe; accommodation, all meals (excludes drinks), two game activities per day, and park fees at Mvuu; Sunbird cruise from Mvuu to Club Makakola; accommodation, breakfast & dinner, and non motorized watersports at Club Makakola.

Excludes: international flights, lunches and motorized watersports at Club Makakola, airport departure taxes currently at US$30 per person.

PLEASE NOTE:

Visas are your responsibility. If you need information or assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Baggage in charter aircraft is restricted to 12 KGS per person in a soft bag. This includes camera equipment and carry on baggage. We will make a plan to arrange road transfers for additional baggage.

Travel insurance for cancellation, default, baggage, and emergency evacuation and medical assistance for the duration of your trip is compulsory.

Please note that our cancellation policy will apply should you fail to join or start your safari due to airline delays or missed connections. Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance for this purpose.

Please note that air charter is subject to schedule changes at short notice and reserves the right not to take the most direct route. Road transfers may be substituted in the event that the aircraft may not fly for whatsoever reason.

Malawi is a malarial area and we recommend you seek medical advice for prophylactics.

Cancellation policy:

Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification. Cancellation prior to 10 weeks before departure your deposit is forfeited. If your cancellation is made after the due date for full payment of your tour fare, charges will be levied. The scale of charges, expressed as a percentage of the tour prices, is as follows:-

More than 10 weeks notice - Deposit forfeited

Less than 10 weeks notice - Deposit plus 25%

Less than 5 weeks notice - 50%

Less than 4 weeks notice - 60 %

Less than 3 weeks notice - 100 %

Should you fail to join a safari, or join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no tour refund can be made. [Please note that if the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of any holiday insurance policy that you hold, then, subject to the terms of the insurance policy, you will normally be refunded any such charges.]