The Trade Route is an extraordinary journey across South Eastern Africa. Active days canoeing on the Zambezi River and, game viewing in the world famous Kruger and bush walks in South Luangwa. We recommend Malaria prophylactics. Border crossings can be slow, so you need to be prepared for the experience. This journey has challenges and is for the adventurous traveller but also has magnificent highlights.

Day 1 - 2 LIVINGSTONE [camping Bx1 --]
(B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner)
The group will meet in Livingstone, in Zambia, at 14:00 where we have 2 days to explore Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the Zambezi Gorge. Adventure activities abound, white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, or a 111m bungi jump (own expense).

Day 3 KAFUE RIVER [camping BLD]
A long drive takes us across the rolling Miombo forested hills of southern Zambia to the Kafue River where we camp the night. 

Day 4 - 5 LOWER ZAMBEZI CANOEING [camping BLD]
We paddle down the mighty Zambezi River, home of the tribal mythical god – Nyami Nyami. Canoeing past local riverside villages and magnificent scenery. We camp wild on an island in the heart of untamed Africa. The following morning we continue our canoe safari through an area teaming with elephants, hippos and other wildlife. We will be collected by a motorboat, and are transferred back up river to our starting campsite.

Day 6 LUSAKA - GREAT EAST ROAD [chalet BLD]
We head to Lusaka where we stock up on supplies in the bustling shops and markets of the Zambian capital. Taking the Great East Road we drive this afternoon until sunset. (This is a very long day of travel, original 2019 itinerary had camping on this day, but that campsite closed down, so now we travel a bit further on the day, but have upgraded the night to lodge. This also allows us to get to South Luangwa sooner on day 7).

Day 7 - 9 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK [camping BLD]
Make our way down into “the valley” of the South Luangwa National Park. This remote region is one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries where hippo, elephants, lion and leopard abound. We camp on the banks of the Luangwa River and explore the area on 2 game walks and 2 open 4WD game drives, one at night with spotlights, to see nocturnal animals. (In the green season, Dec – Apr, walks may not be possible in which case we’ll do extra game drives).

Day 10 - 11 LAKE MALAWI [camping BLD]
Malawi “the warm heart of Africa”. We re-stock with fresh supplies in the markets of Lilongwe before heading to our camp on the beach at Lake Malawi. We’ll take a boat out to the islands to explore the fantastic bays and coves in the area.

Day 12 - 13 TRANSIT MOZAMBIQUE [camping BLD]
Heading south again we enter Mozambique at Zobue border post. Making our way back over the Zambezi we travel through the Tete region, camping en route in this remote part of Mozambique. (Campsite facilities are very basic.)

Day 14 - 15 BAZARUTO ISLANDS [chalets Bx2 Lx2 Dx1]
Upon reaching the Indian Ocean we stay overnight in Vilankulos. We take a full day to explore the Magaruque Island on a local dhow, a traditional ocean going trade vessel. Beautiful blue sea, snorkeling, expansive white beaches and some excellent seafood available – what a day! 

Day 16 - 17 INHAMBANE [chalets Bx2 Lx2 Dx1]

Arab influences are strong in Inhambane dating back to when slaves, ivory, gold and spices were traded. Explore Inhambane and its 200-year-old cathedral, before moving to our casitas (reed cabin) under the palms next to the beach. Dhow rides and scuba diving on coral reefs are available (own expense).

Day 18 CHIZAVANE [casitas BLD]
We turn south along the coast to a secluded fishing lodge on the beach north of Xai-Xai. The lodge is perched on the coastal dunes with a magnificent view of the surrounding natural bush and expansive beach. Low tide exposes a long rocky reef parallel to the beach, which creates a shallow, calm pool ideal for snorkelling and swimming. For our last night on the beach we enjoy a fish braai (barbeque) dinner at the lodge restaurant overlooking the warm Indian Ocean.

Day 19 - 20 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK [camping BLD] 
We travel through the Transfrontier Limpopo Park into Kruger National Park - visit big game country! Exciting game drives to spot lions, giraffe and the mighty elephant. Relaxing in the tranquil bush we experience a land forgotten by time, a true African wilderness.

Day 21 - 22 GREATER KRUGER - JOHANNESBURG [lodge Bx2 Lx1 Dx1]
Departing Kruger, we overnight at a private game lodge in the Greater Kruger for our final dinner under the stars.  The following morning we tour the Panorama Route, visiting God’s Window and the Three Sisters.

We return to Johannesburg in the afternoon of day 22, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to rejoin life. Tour ends @ 17:00.

Please note: we do a free drop off at Johannesburg airport on day 22 at +/- 17:00pm so you can book your flight out for the last day of tour.

Highlights

	Victoria Falls – natural wonder of the world
	Lower Zambezi – canoeing
	South Luangwa NP – game walk & 4WD game drives
	Lake Malawi – snorkelling & beaches
	Benguerra Island – explore islands on a dhow
	Inhambane – beaches and scuba diving
	Kruger National Park – morning and afternoon game drives

This tour departs at 14:00 from Livingstone, Zambia. Most flights into LVI and VFA arrive in the morning. We recommend that you fly into Livingstone airport (LVI) in Zambia on the day the tour starts, or Victoria Falls airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe - but this will require an additional visa (the Uni-visa applies for most nationals from the EU).

The tour ends in Johannesburg, South Africa at approximately 17:00 and we do a free drop off on day 22 at the OR Tambo International airport (JNB) in Johannesburg so that you can arrange flights for the same day.

If you would like to book any pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, please indicate your required airport transfers and the number of nights required when you submit your enquiry below.

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REPEAT TRAVELERS SPECIAL DISCOUNT:

If you have travelled with Sunway before and would like to return to Africa and do another safari with us, we can offer you a repeat Sunway travellers discount of 5% on any scheduled tour booked.

This discount is also available if you book through your original travel agent again. When you make your booking please make sure you tell your agent the date of your previous tour.

Safari Grade: Camping

	Overnight: 14 nights on safari designated campsites, in national parks and towns. Campsites have hot showers. Please note there is 1 night of very basic camping with poor facilities.
	Overnight:  2 nights guest house twin bed accommodation in Vilankulos with ablutions shared between several rooms. 2 nights in lodges in Inhambane, 1 in Petauke and 1 night Chizavane - twin bedrooms with en suite facilities. 1 night in the Greater Kruger NP in a lod

Meals: 21 breakfasts, 19 lunches and 16 dinners will be provided by the Sunway crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the camp fire or in the boma.

Transport: Due to sometimes poor roads we only use Sunway Safari trucks for this tour. Potholes, damaged gravel roads and livestock on the roads can make travel slow, you’ll pass through villages and witness the local lifestyle all the way. For the game drives in South Luangwa we use open 4WD.

Limited Participation: An essential part of your safari is participation. From putting up your tent to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. There are some long travel days which means early morning starts so we all need to get involved to make the day run efficiently.

Responsible Tourism

In the Luangwa Valley we stay at Wildlife Camp . Wildlife Camp is situated on land owned by Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ), Wildlife camp operate under their authority and proudly donate a 60% of their revenue to the Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia.

 

The lodge is dedicated to the protection of the environment, and the sustainable utilisation of this precious resource. Your visit will also support the conservation of the wildlife and employment opportunities for the people of the Luangwa Valley and Zambia.

 

AGE POLICY

We accept children 12-18 with accompanying adults on scheduled tours (for private groups we can accept younger children).

 

If the clients are older than 65 years, then we require a medical certificate too (stating client is fit and healthy to embark on a multi-day tour covering long distances etc).

 

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ZAMBIA, MALAWI & MOZAMBIQUE

The Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique Trade Route is a unique trip that travels through four different countries and covers vastly different climate and environmental zones.

The best time to travel in the Trade Route tour is traditionally during the autumn - winter – spring months (April – November). This is typically the dry season when days are clear and warm but can get cold during the evening. If you’re interested in wildlife viewing, then this is the best period to visit. Wildlife congregates at the dwindling water points, the wildlife is generally more active, and the vegetation is sparse allowing for easy game viewing. As you travel towards Malawi & Mozambique, the winter temperatures are actually quite warm during the day and evenings. Shorts & T-shirts are the order of the day (& night) throughout the year in Malawi & Mozambique. As winter is the period of low rainfall, time spent on the shores of Lake Malawi & Mozambique will not be interrupted by any rainfall.

The peak summer months (December - March) are characterised by hot, sunny days and spectacular afternoon thunder showers. During the summer months the countryside is lush, with plentiful wild flowers and new floral growth. For birders, this is prime birding season, all of the migrant species return to take advantage of the abundance of insect and plant life. The summer months provide the avid photographer with amazing colours and spectacular scenery. During the times of increased rainfall, malaria becomes more of a risk, so preventative measures are essential. Please bear in mind that all of our tents have built in mosquito nets, and all accommodation establishments used along the route do provide mosquito nets if required.

 

 

 

 

Lislotte Sweden - Oct22

Hey! I want to thank you for a very fine camping trip to Zambia and Malawi. I especially appreciated the walks we did in villages both in Zambia and Malawi. Both Wayn and Joseph were fantastic leaders for the trip.

Gordon UK - Aug19

Hello Sunway Safaris,

We have just returned back to England after a fabulous 20+ days with Shandle and Marcus. Both were excellent tour guides but I just wanted to pay an individual tribute to Marcus.

Throughout the tour, he worked so hard every day! His main focus after supporting Shandle was to make sure everyone was having a good time. He was fantastic with our two boys who both took to him really well and developed a good relationship with him as the time went on. He made a significant contribution to our enjoyment with his easy approach and great knowledge about the plants and animals we encountered.

If I'm honest, there were times that I found some of the other guests a little difficult. But he remained professional throughout and treated every one with equal importance. He is a real asset to your company.

Please pass on our thanks to him!

Andrea Germany - Aug15

Excellent trip with perfect guides, thank you! This was a very exciting tour, even with some long driving days. So many things included, game drives, snorkeling were my favourite!

Juliane - Aug15

I just returned home from an amazing 2 week camping safari through Zambia and Malawi. Starting at the mighty Victoria Falls and ending at Lake Malawi, the tour "Zambia & Malawi Trail" combined so many highlights that it's hard to mention the most outstanding ones. It was for example a wonderful experience to paddle down Zambezi River and to camp wild on an island, to do game walks and game drives in South Luangwa National Park and to swim in Lake Malawi. It was my first trip to Southern Africa and I want to express a huge THANK YOU to Sunway and of course to the guides for having made this trip unforgettable. Patrick and Jefias did an incredibly good job and formed a very good team. Our group of 6 people highly appreciated their ability and experience in guiding such tours. So thanks for this fantastic adventure!.

kind regards Juliane

Doris Germany - Aug13

I’ve been on a tour (Trade Route) with Annika and Kalunga. I had a wonderful time with this two guides and 8 other people and I enjoyed every minute of it! Annika and Kalunga were very competent, kind, helpful, heartedly, although strict in their „red thread“ (central theme)! I appreciated their cooking, it was very various, looking very nicely and even healthy! They were helpful, joyous and knew a lot to tell about animals, the countries and the nature.

I’m sure, I will travel again with Sunway Safaris and I also will recommend Sunway Safaris to my friends.

kind regards Doris Stahel

Kristiane Grunack - 08Aug13

Hallo,

seit gut 2 Wochen schwitzen wir schon wieder auf Arbeit – volles Kontrastprogramm in jeder Hinsicht zu unserem tollen Urlaub.

Wir alle, d.h. inkl. beider Teenager (!), waren sehr zufrieden mit dieser tollen Reise, es war super organisiert, wir fühlten uns gut aufgehoben und im Wesentlichen sicher. Durch die Abwechslung im Programm war für jeden was dabei, für die Teens besonders schön waren das Schnorcheln im Malawisee u. Indischen Ozean und Quadfahren (offiziell verboten unter 16 Jahren, aber egal) mit Linksverkehr. Mein Highlight waren die Game walks und drives mit echter afrikanischer Wildnis und das wilde Zelten auf der Insel, einfach ein Traum und ich will mehr davon. Mir wurden schon die Touren nach Botswana und Namibia empfohlen... Auch das Volunteer-Programm bei Löwen oder Geparden finde ich total spannend, Großkatzen sind schon immer meine Leidenschaft gewesen. Leider weiß ich nur nicht, wie ich das in meinen Arbeitsplan im Jahr einbauen soll, denn unter 2 Wochen Dauer macht das keinen Sinn dorthin zu reisen, ist einfach zu weit.

Die Reisegruppe hat sich ganz gut zusammengerauft und auch unsere beiden Guides Annika und Kalunga haben sehr gut und professionell zusammengearbeitet, haben uns toll bekocht und behütet. Es lief alles wohltuend ruhig aber gezielt ab, die Reisebeschreibung war gut nachvollziehbar. Nur die Kathedrale in Inhambane (?) hat mittlerweile seit diesem Jahr geschlossen, was mich aber überhaupt nicht tangierte, ich war auf Natur pur eingestellt und so toll sah die auch nicht aus. Nur ein bisschen mehr Zeit für lokale Märkte haben wir vermisst, denn die sind so spannend mit ihren Angeboten und das Feilschen braucht Geduld.

Jetzt bastel ich seit 1 Woche am Fotobuch und bin jeden Abend stundenlang am PC – wir haben von 3 Leuten Bilder aus 5 Fotoapparaten, das muss erst mal sortiert werden. Mein Sohn begnügt sich mit ein paar Handyknipsern und sucht sich dann einige von uns raus, die Fotoleidenschaft hat er nicht geerbt. Beim Duchsuchen der Bilder kann man wieder in das Urlaubsfeeling abtauchen, eine perfekte Entspannung am Abend mit einem Hauch Sehnsucht zurück nach Afrika.

Vielen Dank für die super Betreuung und hoffentlich dauert es nicht zu lange bis zur nächsten Reise !

Viele Grüße

Kristiane Grunack & Co.

Kirsty Simcox - 16Sep12

Hi,

I am writing this email to thank Sunway Safaris for a fantastic holiday.

My partner and I went on the Trade Route on 16/09/2012 and our guides were Henry and Cronje.

The tour completely exceeded our expectations. It was so well organised, the food was fantastic and the tour itself was extremely memorable.

Henry and Cronje were fantastic guides. They could not do enough for us. They are truly a credit to your company. They were professional, polite and really good fun. Their knowledge of wildlife, the countries we were travelling through, flora and fauna was exceptional.

There was only one hiccup on the tour which was a flat tyre. However, 15 minutes later Henry and Cronje had it sorted and we were back on the road again. I was very impressed at how fast they could change a tyre on that truck!

Please pass on our utmost thanks to them as if it wasn't for their professionalism and great personalities we would not have had the most amazing, memorabe holiday that we did.

I would definately recommend Sunway to all my friends and family and I am sure we will be returning on another tour of yours in the future.

Kirsty and Gareth, UK.

Mel Jagoda - 15Aug11

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know that Lyne and I had a fantastic time on our tour through Africa. The Sunway guides were great and helped make our experience memorable. It was one marvelous sight after another.

Thanks for all your help.

We really enjoyed your hometown of Capetown as well. We got 2 unseasonably warm days when we arrived and were able to have great views from Table Mountain.

Thanks again,
Mel

Anke Mueller - 15Nov10

Hello,

having just come back from the "Trade Route" I want to say thanks a lot again to our marvellous guides Wayne and Charles for a really great and unforgettable time ! "Our boys" surprised us again and again with their enormous knowlegde which they shared with us, their professional guiding with always a big smile on their faces and a very very warmhearted attitude, wonderful first class cooking, extremely safe and secure driving skills even on the worst gravel and bumpy roads (Charles)!

They were always encouraging the group to learn more about Africa and give us a deeper understanding of the various countries we went through and thus made this trip a lifetime experience!

With Love from Germany
Anke

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