Cape clawless otter safari: In full

On arrival at Lilongwe Airport you will be transferred by road to Liwonde National Park, a 4-hour journey. Liwonde National Park encompasses the wide Shire River, as well as lagoons, open savanna and mopane woodland – all of which support a wide variety of plants, animals and birdlife. Here you will spend 4 nights at Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, situated in the north-west of this lush and tropical park. It offers boat trips and games drives both during the day and at night. Boat trips on the Shire River are the highlight and the best way to seeing the park's elephants as well as the huge crocodiles and the birdlife. Walks with qualified scouts are also possible.

After a leisurely breakfast, your days will be spent relaxing on your private deck viewing the game that come to drink from the river or going for drives and walks with experienced guides. There are huge numbers of hippo and crocodile which are best viewed from the water during a morning or an afternoon boat trip. Watch them lazing on the banks of the river in the sunshine. Open savannah attracts antelope such as sable and bushbuck, while waterbuck take advantage of the lagoons and marshes.
Along the banks of the Shire River are the plains and forests of the park which are home to herds of elephant and abundant birdlife, including species from both Eastern and Southern Africa. Amongst others, Boehm's bee-eater, the palmnut vulture and Pel's fishing owl have all been spotted in the park.

After breakfast you will be driven by road to the southern shore of Lake Malawi, a journey of roughly four hours, where you will be staying at The Makokola Retreat. This very comfortable beach lodge is located on a lovely 600m long golden beach.

Spend the next few days here on the lake – swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing or sailing – or just relaxing on the beach or by the pool. There is even a tennis court, a squash court as well as a nine-hole golf course.