Our exciting cycle challenge takes us south from Cape Maclear, at the southern end of Lake Malawi, to Mulanje, famous for its dramatic granite cliff-walls. En route we visit Liwonde National Park, the best place to spot wildlife, and take a day-trek up Mulanje Mountain. This is a very varied challenge, providing us with an unique glimpse into Malawi past and present. With a visit to a Link Community Development project at the end, this will be an unforgettable achievement.
- DAY 1: Depart London.
- DAY 2: We arrive in Lilongwe mid-afternoon, then transfer to Cape Maclear, a beautiful drive along the southern shore of Lake Malawi. We make time to ensure our kit is all ready for tomorrow before dinner and a detailed trip briefing.
- DAY 3: We set off from Monkey Bay at Cape Maclear following the southern shores of Lake Malawi on quiet roads towards Mangochi. Our route climbs to start with but then settles into fairly flat terrain. We ride parallel to the lakeside most of the time, and the views are beautiful. Our day’s ride ends at the lovely old colonial town of Mangochi.
- DAY 4: Our destination today is Liwonde National Park, one of the best game-viewing parks in Malawi. Our terrain is mainly flat and on good tar roads as we ride along the valley, part of the East African Rift Valley system.
- DAY 5: We leave the National Park behind us as we ride out of the valley and head predominantly south to Zomba. We climb more today, our route taking us uphill towards Zomba and its plateau; it is steep in places.
- DAY 6: Our last day of cycling, and our longest starts gently with a downhill stretch towards Mulanje. We take a flat dirt road along Palombe Plain, towards the impressive sight of the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve. Part of our ride takes us through tea plantations, and our route undulates as we wind our way towards Mulanje and Likhubula, lying at the foot of the mountain.
- DAY 7: Mulanje Mountain is known as the Island in the sky. We trek up into the Lichenya Basin, where we stay overnight in a mountain hut at the foot of Chilemba peak. The scenery is beautiful and this is a wonderful climax to our challenge.
- DAY 8: We trek downhill off the mountain and continue on to visit the School project at Mulanje. We transfer to Blantyre. After checking into our hotel we are free to relax, meeting up again in the evening for a slap-up celebration meal to mark our achievements this week.
- DAY 9: After breakfast we transfer back to Lilongwe airport where we take our mid-afternoon flight back home.
- DAY 10: Arrive UK.