Land and Lake Safaris 2010

29 Day Matapila / Katondo orphan care with a lake visit and a safari 

COST – US$ 2360.00 p/p sharing

Inclusive of a donation of US$ 600 to the project
(US$ 500 to Ministry of Hope and US$ 100 to purchase Village supplies)

Area: - Matapila/ Katondo
Duration: - 29 days / 28 nights
Season: - Set dates - see below
Persons: - Minimum 2

Day 1: Arrive in Lilongwe. On arrival at the Lilongwe international airport you will be collected and transferred to the Lilongwe volunteer guest house. You can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 2: Today starts with an orientation at the MOH office. After the orientation its time to prepare for the village, some last shopping then depart to the village. Arrival at the village and you will be shown around by a member of the MOH staff. Overnight in one of the staff houses, this is on accommodation only basis. There is a kitchen on site and you will prepare the supplies you have brought with you from Lilongwe.

Day 3 and 4: Working at the play school, help prepare lunches, help with feeding the orphans. In the afternoon you assist with the school activities: - Sports, bible lessons, life skills, music and dance.

Day 5: Today visit the village, with the MOH staff members and have a look around. Here you will experience how village people live. You will visiting vulnerable households with the aim of cheering them up, help them in their compound i.e. clearing, cleaning, donations are gladly received like - soap, lotion, sugar, salt [part of the above $ 100 budget is for this]. These things will be purchased by the volunteers when they buy their supplies prior to the relocation. It is a gesture of good will and social responsibility to those who are very poor and elderly.

Day 6: The morning starts with helping in the MOH garden and in the afternoon depart back to Lilongwe. Overnight
at the volunteer guest house on dinner bed and breakfast basis.

Day 7: This morning you prepare and purchase supplies for your return. The remainder of the day at leisure, an overnight at the guest house on dinner bed and breakfast basis.

Day 8: Morning at leisure then depart to the Village and prepare for the following week.

Day 9, 10 and 11: This week you work at the local high school and in the afternoon you help with the activities.

Day 12: Today you return for the second time into the village with one of the MOH staff members. Make sure you have your donation / gifts ready and you will interact with the village as needed.

Day 13: Morning spent working in the MOH Garden and in the afternoon you return to Lilongwe. Overnight at the
Volunteer Guest house on dinner bed and breakfast basis.

Day 14: In the morning you again prepare for your return to the site with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight at the Guest house on dinner bed and breakfast basis.

Day 15: Morning at leisure, afternoon depart to the Village and prepare for the following week.

Day 16, 17 and 18: This week you work in the morning at the play school or the local high school, then in the afternoon, help with activities.

Day 19: Today you go for the last time into the village with one of the MOH staff members. Make sure you have your donation / gifts ready.

Day 20: Your last day working and time to say goodbye, afternoon depart to Lilongwe. Overnight at the Guest
House on dinner bed and breakfast basis.

Day 21: A day at leisure in Lilongwe, option to visit the Wildlife Centre. Overnight at the Guest house on Dinner,
bed and breakfast basis.

Day 22: Departure for Senga Bay on Lake Malawi. Just after Salima a stop at the craft Market. ETA at Lake Malawi in the early afternoon. Overnight Coolrunnings on accommodation basis only.

Day 23: The day at your leisure, relaxing at Lake Activity options are, snorkelling, boat trip to the island or a walk at Senga Bay Village.

Day 24: Depart back to Lilongwe via Mua Mission a picnic Lunch is taken and ETA in Lilongwe is mid afternoon. Overnight at the Guest house on dinner bed and breakfast basis.

Day 25: Meet at the Land and Lake Office at 0830 in the morning. Depart Lilongwe at approx 0900. Continue to Mchinji. [1&1/2 hr drive] Here we complete immigration formalities and continue to Mwami - [the Zambian border]. From the border it is a short drive to Chipata - Zambia's capital of the Eastern Province. Proceed on a dirt road to Luangwa Valley - Mfuwe sector. A picnic lunch is enjoyed en route and ETA at the Lodge is mid afternoon. On arrival and after checking in, we enjoy tea and coffee along the rivers edge. Evening dinner

Day 26: Tea, coffee and a light snack follow an early morning wake up call. Our aim is to be on our first game drive by 6.15 am. Game drives are done in open safari vehicles, to optimise your pleasure and experience. Drinks and snacks are taken along for your enjoyment whilst in the park. Depending on game sightings, we return to the lodge at 11 for a scrumptious "brunch". An afternoon rest then we again head out for our afternoon drive at around 1600 - returning to the lodge at 2000. Evening Dinner [Night drive – Luangwa is renowned for the night drives and this is INCLUDED in your safari. - a powerful spotlight is used to spot nocturnal creatures that frequent this habitat.]

Day 27: - Tea, coffee and a light snack follow an early morning wake up call. Our aim again is to depart as early as possible. Drinks and snacks are taken with for your enjoyment whilst in the park. Depending on game sightings, we return to the lodge at 11 for a delicious "brunch". An afternoon rest, swim or visit to one of the local craft stores or tribal textiles is followed by tea, coffee and biscuits. We again head out for our afternoon drive at around 1600 - returning to the lodge at 2000, Dinner.

Day 28: - After a more leisurely start to the morning and a full breakfast, we pack up and depart back to Lilongwe. Departure time is around 0900. A picnic lunch is eaten en route and ETA in the city is 1500. Overnight at the Guest house on dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 29: - A transfer to the airport in time to catch their International flight.

Included in the above package: Transport from accommodation to work and back during working hours. All meals as indicated, return transfer to Lake Malawi and day tour to Mua mission, all inclusive Zambian Safari.
Excluded in the above package: drinks, Malawi / Zambia visa fees [if applicable], entry fees Mua mission museum, park fees Luangwa (USD 50 pp).

Lake Malawi -The world’s 3rd largest fresh water lake and home to over 800 fish species, a greater number of freshwater species than are found in Europe and N America combined. The vast majority of these fish belong to the Cichlid group, brightly coloured and plentiful.

Luangwa Valley - 9050 sq km of pristine woodland and riverine vegetation plays host to over 40 mammal and 650 bird species. The South Luangwa has been described as the premier park in Africa foremost for the variety of species seen when visiting. A visit to Malawi and Zambia would be totally incomplete without experiencing the sheer magnitude and delight of this unique area.
On this budget safari we use Wildlife Camp Tented Camp. The en suite walk in tents are basic and functional with superb views of the river and park beyond. There is a swimming pool for guests use and meals are served in the main lodge dining room, a short distance from the Camp.  There is absolutely no problem traveling as a single woman, you are always part of a group and looked after by a qualified throughout safari activities.