Mountain biking - Malawi

Malawi is ideally suited to mountain biking trips for a number of reasons.
- The scenery is spectacular,
- The areas of interest are usually close together and away from the main roads
- There are thousands of rural tracks allowing for easy access to the less well-visited parts of the country.
On most routes it is easy to arrange vehicle support.

This trip is a fantastic combination - you start with a very tough expedition style ride through wild and seldom visited territory and then have a relaxing break on Lake Malawi before continuing on a trip around the exceptionally scenic north. This part of the trip has game, culture, scenery and history and as it follows either well-marked roads or tracks we can cater both for those wanting a stern physical challenge or for those wanting a more relaxed ride with the tougher sections being done by vehicle. You will need to be a fit and regular cyclist to come on this trip. The daily riding times are approximate -as we have vehicle support throughout it is always possible to choose the option of driving and as on most days from Day 7 onwards no daily journey is possible by bike alone, it will be a case of choosing with your guides which sections to cycle and which to drive.

Infrastructure to support mountain biking trips:
We have trained driver guides who are used to the planning and successful execution of these trips. We know how to service the bikes, all guides are trained in first aid and we are experienced in providing superb catering throughout. Although this trip is only open to a maximum of 8 cyclists there will be 2 vehicles and 4 staff on the trip - a cycle guide, 2 driver-guides and a caterer-camp hand. We also have our own quality bikes for hire. We have proper bike racks so that all bikes are moved correctly and with minimal impact.

Itinerary

Day 1: Luwawa Forest Lodge
Arrive at Lilongwe - Meet with guides and vehicles and travel north for 3 hours into the Viphya Mountains of Central Malawi to Luwawa Forest Lodge. The lodge is surrounded by pine plantation but with some great indigenous forest nearby and depending on time of arrival there may be time for a mountain walk, a sail on the nearby dam, kayaking, fishing and biking around the lodge. Accommodation is in en suite chalets - Orientation talk for the bike ride to Chintheche.
Riding today: Maybe time for a short evening ride of an hour around Luwawa Dam.

Day 2: Kasito Lodge Chikangawa
Through the Viphya forests on a combination of walking paths and forestry roads to Chikangawa and overnight at Kasito Lodge. Accommodation is in comfortable non en suite rooms.
Riding today: About 8 hours. Good track but tough with lots of climbing.

Day 3: Kawalazi Tea Estate
Continue north into areas where tourists are very seldom seen, through indigenous forest, and small holder farms eventually entering the Kawalazi Estates -this estate is a large commercial enterprise but is stunningly beautiful with rolling hills of tea, many stream and large areas of thick forest. Camp in the grounds of the estates clubhouse.
Riding today: About 8 hours riding-good tracks but tough with lots of climbing.

Day 4: Chintheche Inn Northern Lakeshore
A challenging morning ride over some steep mountain ridges and through some beautiful forest. The last 30 odd kilometres are on tarmac and we expect most people will want to cover this by vehicle. Afternoon at leisure swimming. Chintheche is a great, atmospheric 26 bedded hotel on an immaculate sandy beach on the most attractive part of the lake -great en suite rooms all facing the beach.
Riding today: 6-8 hours. Starts hard with lots of climbing - last couple of hours on the flat.

Day 5: Chintheche Inn
A number of options today, all included in the tariff-these include snorkelling trips to nearby island, bird watching, fishing village visits, mountain bike trips into the surrounding villages, windsurfing. Available at an extra charge are motorised watersports - water skiing, wake snake, tubing.
Riding today: Optional

Day 6: Lake Kazuni Camp Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve
Today you will probably choose to go by vehicle for the first 3 hours or so and then do the last 30 odd kilometres to the reserve along an attractive rural road. Vwaza is an interesting low lying game reserve which hosts a variety of game including elephant, buffalo, puku, kudu, impala and lion and a great variety of birds. Evening game drive
Riding today: 3-5 hours
Lake Kazuni Camp offers simple grass huts with shared facilities.

Day 7: Chelinda Camp Nyika National Park
The journey today is initially through rural villages before we enter the Nyika National Park and start cycling towards Chelinda. This is a fascinating day with lots of climbing and great variety - starting with game then through rural villages and eventually climbing through the forests of the lower Nyika to reach the magnificent montane grasslands.
Riding today: About 6 hours

Nyika National Park in the far north of Malawi's is scenically the regions' most spectacular wild area and it is with good reason that we have chosen a full 3 nights here. It boasts an incredible mixture of scenery and landscapes – pristine brachystegia woodland, mature montane forest patches, crystal clear running streams and miles and miles of open rolling grassland. Being situated at a mean height of over 2,000 metres guarantees a permanently temperate climate which is of particular contrast to the lakeshore areas of Malawi. Game that can be spotted includes Burchell's Zebra, Roan antelope, Common reedbuck, Eland, Bushbuck, Warthog, leopard, hyena, side-striped jackal and serval. Birdlife is prolific and 'specials' include Churring and Mountain cisticolas, Red-tufted malachite sunbird, Fulleborn's black bou-bou, Bar-tailed trogon, Mountain nightjar and several species of Bulbul which occur deep in the canopy of the forests.

There are many activities available - traditional game drives, night drives, all day drives, walks, mountain biking, fishing and horse riding. Chelinda Camp is situated in the centre of the Nyika Plateau's high grasslands. It consists of comfortable rooms or chalets with shared bathroom facilities. The accommodation is built around a dam and surrounded on 3 sides by Chelinda Pine Plantation. The climate is always cool due to the altitude and night time temperatures particularly in the winter months can be very chilly.

Days 8 and 9: Chelinda Camp
There are a number of riding options here, ranging from full day rides up to the dramatic viewpoints in the north of the park to shorter rides on the game drive loops nearer Chelinda. For those wanting to game drive instead this can also be arranged.
Riding on these days: Optional up to 10 hours

Day 10: Lukwe Permaculture Camp Livingstonia
Today you retrace your steps to Rumphi and then take a ride along the Rukuru River up to the old Missionary settlement of Livingstonia. Situated on a flat mountain top over 5000 feet above Lake Malawi the Mission has a great old world charm. The permaculture camp is basic but comfortable and situated in a forest with wonderful mountain scenery. Some may camp and others will be accommodated in simple wooden chalets.
Riding today: About 6 hours

Day 11: Lukwe Permaculture Camp
There are many great little rides in the area and some good forest to explore, including the impressive waterfalls at nearby Manchewe. A ride to the nearby Mission station is a must.
Riding today: Optional Riding

Day 12: Luwawa Forest Lodge
The first ride today is down the dramatically steep escarpment to Lake Malawi before boarding the vehicles for a stretch. Near to Luwawa you leave the road and start riding again along little known forest tracks towards Luwawa Forest Lodge.
Riding today: About 5 hours

Day 13 Out
It is a 3 hour drive from Luwawa to Lilongwe Airport.

Dates: Please contact us for dates
Group size: Minimum 6 Maximum 8
Price per person: Please contact us for prices
Cost includes: All meals, all accommodation, services of cycle guides and drivers throughout, park entry fees
Cost does not include: Bikes, drinks, laundry, airport departure taxes currently at $20 per person, gratuities, personal items.

Accommodation/camping on a shared basis
This itinerary is a set date departure leaving twice per month.
Please contact us for dates and international air fares