The Highlights
The Orbis Family Challenge is designed for families with children aged 6+. The expedition is brimming full of incredible experiences that aim to promote global citizenship and broaden horizons. Combining culture, physical challenge, wildlife and out of the box educational experiences, it is a chance to do something totally different as a family. A chance to step out of your bubble and reconnect. Including in your seven day adventure: Community Visits, Mulanje Mountain Hike Challenge, Wildlife Safari, Island Hideaway and time spent at a Malawian School.
Mulanje Mountain Hike Challenge
Your family challenge is hiking to the plateau of Mulanje Mountain- Malawi’s Island in the Sky.
Begin your hike around 7am and aim to arrive at your basic mountain hut accommodation mid afternoon. You will hike 1,000km in elevation and it should take between 4-7hrs. There will be plenty of stops on route for snacks, resting and taking in the stunning scenery. You will be crossing streams, passing through forests, valleys and steeper mountain tracks. The beauty is in the remoteness- but you do have to be physically fit and determined and don’t mind roughing it in the mountain hut overnight!
Your group will be accompanied by a full support team including a basic medic. NB There is an alternative option to go on a day hike to a waterfall around 1-2 hr hike from base camp.
Wildlife Safari and Domwe Island
Liwonde National Park is Malawi’s wildlife gem! During your stay you will be treated to elephants, crocodiles, plains game and even perhaps the possibility of lions!
Wildlife activities include 2 x Safari Game Drives and 1 x River Boat Safari. Expect stunning scenery, amazing wildlife sightings and sounds, smells and atmosphere that will make you tingle!
You will stay within the park at Mvuu Camp. This is a tented camp with wonderful river views. Expert wildlife guides will accompany you during your activities and meals are served at the riverside open sided restaurant.
There is very little that beats this off the beaten track Malawian wildlife experience!
Community and School Visits
The highlight…your emotions will be pushed to their limits and your children’s boundaries widened by the opportunity to engage with inspiring local community initiatives and time spent at our linked Malawian school.
Malawi is known as The Warm Heart of Africa and this is never more true than when you arrive at a village and are greeted by the children and wider community. You will get a chance to visit a community run recoiled paper project, a fair trade tea estate and finish with an afternoon spent at a local Malawian school. We hope that you will start getting involved with the community parts of your trip in the run up to your time in Malawi too.
NB. Please note that every visit your group makes to the local community a fee is paid- we strongly believe in the power of tourism to support the local economy in Malawi.
The Purpose
During your time in Malawi you will visit a lakeside secondary/primary school. Prior to your trip there will a chance to fundraise for much needed resources for the school you are visiting including desks, chairs and educational books.
While in Malawi it is a great opportunity to attend school, read with the younger children and even play a game of football or netball. Malawians are hugely welcoming and would love you to join them for some time at their school. Learn more Our impact
Logistics…
We live and breathe Malawi. It is the only country we sell and we are here with you from the booking process to welcoming you off the plane, full event support, community days, lighting that camp fire on the final night and ogling over your photos when you return home. Your health and safety are our paramount concern and we will be with you every step of the way providing 24hr in country support. Our Malawi company, The Responsible Safari Company, will be your hosts and our UK Company, Orbis Expeditions, will be your booking agents- Orbis Expeditions is ABTA and ATOL bonded. Kate and Dom (owners of both) will be your points of contact and might even join you for a run! Find our more about us and our story.
