Itinerary

Day 1/2 - Chintheche Inn Cycling Distance = 38 Km

Upong arrival at Lilongwe you will be transferred to Chintheche Inn - the starting point for Riding the Rift. The first day you will relax and enjoy the activities offered at Chintheche Inn.

Set in well established gardens with lush green lawns and beautiful views of the lake, Chintheche is an ideal location for exploring or simply relaxing by the pool, and offers a wide range of activities including hiking, bird watching, water sports, horse riding, cultural walks and tours.

On the second day you'll be cycling through patches of forest and past villages with crop fields. It involves a total of approximately 15km tarmac and the rest of the route is one-track without vehicle backup. This is one of the most varied and interesting tracks of the whole trip – a good way to start.

Day 3 - Aqua Africa Cycling Distance = 49 Km

You will cycle from Chintheche, all the way to Nkhata Bay, where you’ll be staying at Aqua Africa. You will be going to go past indigenous forests and the Vizara Rubber Plantation, after which you turn off onto a lovely, challenging gravel track. This track leads up to the top of a hill that opens up into the most stunning view, and then it’s all downhill into town and onto the bay where Aqua Africa overlooks – make sure you know which side your rear brake lever is!

Perched on the shores of Lake Malawi, on a sloping acre or so with its own small beach, awaits Aqua Africa, your home for the night.

Day 4 - Mzuzu Tourist Lodge Cycling Distance = 45 Km

Leaving Nkhata Bay along the main road is initially a steady climb. Soon after this you enter the Kawalazi tea estate via the Vizara Rubber Plantation. These routes lead you through thick forest and picturesque tea and coffee fields. It has some fabulous dirt tracks that lead you back to the main road linking Nkhata Bay with Mzuzu. It is a challenging day since it’s more uphill than downhill.

Mzuzu is little more than a market centre for its immediate surroundings. Set in a shallow depression at the northern limits of the Viphya Highlands, the town has all he appearances of a completely unplanned settlement. The town’s redeeming feature is its central position. It’s undeniably the obvious place from which to make excursions into the surrounding country side.

Day 5/6 - Chelinda camp Cycling Distance = 55 Km

After the short visit of Mzuzu's market you will be transferred to Rumphi, the last town en-route to the Nyika Plateau. From here you will cycle to the Thazima Gate which is the main entrance to Nyika National Park From the gate we transfer again to Chelinda camp over the last stretch. It’s again a tough ride.

Nyika National Park in the far north of Malawi is scenically the regions’ most spectacular wild area. 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 Zebra, Roan Antelope, Mountain Reedbuck, Eland, Bushbuck, Warthog, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Side-striped Jackal and Serval.

Day 7/8 - Kuzini camp Cycling Distance = 80 Km

Although it is mainly downhill from Chelinda to Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, it’s not too leisurely due to  all the hills. This road will lead us past some more intricate Malawian villages and also some schools.

This is a long day of riding but once you get to Kazuni you will get tor elax and enjoy your first safari. Game viewing as with any reserve will vary depending on the season but one can experience excellent encounters with Elephants – particularly in the dry season (which is now), as well as good viewing of Buffalo, Impala, Puku and Hippo.

The reed and thatch chalets of Kuzini camp are basic and non en suite but the scenery more than makes up for this!

Day 9/10 - Lukwe Eco Camp Cycling Distance = 70 Km

For the first part of today you will retrace your tracks, back to the North-Rukuru Bridge. Here, at Njakwa Gorge, we would start cycling, with the Rukuru River to our right, and the steep walls of the Nyika Plateau to our left. This is arguably one of the prettiest roads in Malawi, gradually climbing up to Livingstonia, through the beautiful Henga Valley.

You home for the next two night is Lukwe Eco Camp, a lovely little lodge nestled on the edge of the Khondowe Plateau, having stunning views down to Lake Malawi, 750m up from the lake.

Lukwe is rustic, yet homey; basic, yet sufficient! Accomodation is in “Bush Cabins” using eco-loos and outdoor showers – all sharing - with completely overwhelming views, all of this makes the effort worth the while.

On Day 10 you will get to relax and tour around Livingstonia and Lukwe.

Day 11 - Luwawa Forest Lodge Cycling Distance = 28 Km

Today's day starts with a mountain biker's dream- 10km of non stop downhill. After reaching the main road you will continue along it for another ±15km. This stretch of tarmac continues right next to the lake and at the end of this we will stop for a quick swim, an early lunch, and then the transfer to Luwawa Forest Lodge continues.

Luwawa Forest Lodge is located in the Viphya Mountains, in an invigorating, safe and malaria free climate. Relax by the open fire after an exhilarating day’s cycling in the mountains, or walking between the profusion of wild flowers (when in season). If in the right season you will also have the option of fishing at the Luwawa Dam.

Day 12 - Luwawa Forest Lodge Cycling Distance = 43 Km

Today you will do a loop ride in the Viphya Mountains, starting and ending at Luwawa. It’s mostly one-track cycling so vehicle support is going to be the bare minimum. Being the last day of cycling, you will definitely be ending on a high. You will once again past some village life and crop fields. Today’s ride is quite tough in stretches; it’s mainly single-track and loads of fun. You will be back at Luwawa for late lunch

 To visit the Viphya is to experience the wild. The vast area of the plateau is a place to wander and to commune with nature. In the forest plantations there is a sense of peace and tranquillity as one cycle through some of the dense, sweet-smelling pines.

Much of the Viphya Highlands’ attraction is, paradoxically, because so much is uninhabited. The vast areas of primary montane forest and plantations of high standing pine, patches of Brachystegia woodland and riverine forest are home to wildlife but not to man. While the birdlife is widely spread, mammals tend to be seen more easily near the dambos and along the stream courses.

Day 13 - Luwawa To Lilongwe

It’s the last day today with about 250km to Lilongwe. You will leave around 07:30 after a fairly early breakfast, no cycling, except for the people staying over in Lilongwe who feel that they haven’t had enough yet.   


       

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