Re: Botswana/Zimbabwe/Zambia/Malawi - Easter 2017

Originally Posted by
johanncbotha
Hi all
We are setting off on a trip to Malawi on 14 April 2017.
I am familiar with Botswana and Zimbabwe but its my first time tackling Zambia and Malawi.
Herewith our planned route.
Day 1 Pretoria to Elephant Sands;
Day 2 Elephant Sands to Vic Falls via Matetsi Safari Area;
Day 3 Vic Falls to Pioneer Camp/Lusaka via T1/T2;
Day 4 Pioneer Camp/Lusaka to Wildlife Camp/SLNP via T4/Petauke/Ukwimi/Chimuka;
Day 6 - Wildlife Camp/SLNP to Majizuwa Lodge/Chilumba via D104 Lundazi/Mqocha/Mtyocha/M20/M1;
Day 8 - Majizuwa Lodge/Chilumba to Makuzi Beach Lodge/Chintheche via M1/M5;
Day 10 - Makuzi Beach Lodge/Chintheche to Chembe Eagles Nest/Chembe via M5/M10;
Day 13 - Chembe Eagles Nest/Chembe to Eureka Camp/Lusaka via M10/M5/M14/T4 (Im stressed about this stretch in one day);
Day 14 - Eureka Camp/Lusaka to Chobe Safari Lodge/Kasane via T2/T1/M10/Kazungula Ferry;
Day 16 - Chobe Safari Lodge/Kasane to Kubu Island;
Day 17 Kubu Island to Khama Rhino Sanctuary/Serowe; and
Day 18 - Khama Rhino Sanctuary/Serowe to Pretoria.
As mentioned, this is an insanely hectic schedule, and with several sections that are simply not possible.
Day 3: Vic Falls to Pioneer is pushing it - you have to get through the border, and negotiate Lusaka traffic which can be a nightmare.
Day 4: If by this you mean the back track on dirt, this is not possible in the rainy season - there are several river crossings on the route that will be too dangerous and the road itself will be very treacherous. You would have to stick to the T4 to Chipata and then across to SLNP.
Day 6: The Lundazi route into Malawi will be very treacherous and possibly impassable in the wet.
Day 13: Chembe to Lusaka impossible in one day.
Good luck! I would scale the trip down to half this amount of travelling, and it will still be quite hectic - if the aim is to be in Malawi, look at alternative routes, eg through Zimbabwe and the Tete Corridor, or through Moz the whole way.
Tony Weaver
2010 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 3.2l diesel
Previously
1991 Land Rover 110 Hi-Line 3.5l V8; 1968 2.25l Land Rover SII; 1969 2.6l SIIA; 1973 2.25l SIII
1983 Toyota HiLux 2l 4x4
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