Rift Valley Descent
The long, exhilarating drop from the high plateau down the edge of the Great Rift Valley to the lake.
Mountain Biking · Malawi ·
The Warm Heart of AfricaThe Malawi
The Warm Heart of Africa
The Malawi
MTB Mission
The second in our MTB Mission Series, and a real African bucket-list experience: five days of cycling through the bush and down the edge of the Great Rift Valley, then two days kayaking the crystal water of Lake Malawi to a pristine, deserted island.
5 + 2
Days cycling & kayaking
~400
Kilometres cycled
500+
Fish species in the lake
The Adventure
Cycle the bush, kayak
Cycle the bush, kayak
the lake
Come and join us for the second of our MTB Mission Series, this time to the warm heart of Africa, Malawi. Your guide, Adriaan Hefer, has travelled the globe seeking out the greatest adventure experiences, and this is rated amongst the very best.
The adventure starts from Lilongwe before five days of cycling through the African bush and dramatic scenery, including an exhilarating descent from the plateau down the edge of the Great Rift Valley to the shores of Lake Malawi. We ride the ridge roads and grasslands, the Luwawa Wilderness Trail and the tea and rubber estates, camping three nights under the African sky and staying the rest in forest and lakeside lodges.
Lake Malawi is the jewel in the crown, a vast body of freshwater fringed by golden sand, holding the largest number of fish species of any lake on earth. The mission finishes with a kayak across the water to Mumbo Island: pristine, never populated, and still cloaked in ancient baobab and fig, the kind of place you never quite leave behind.
Down the edge of the Great
Rift Valley
Rift Valley
What Awaits
A proper bush &
A proper bush &
water mission
Luwawa Wilderness Trail
Ridge road through the pines and out onto virgin high-plateau grasslands, big-country riding at its best.
Lake Malawi
Warm, clear, idyllic water with over 500 fish species, superb snorkelling and scuba right off the beach.
Mumbo Island
A pristine, deserted tropical island of baobab and fig, with playful otters that join you for a swim.
Cape Maclear
A beach village in Lake Malawi National Park, the first freshwater reserve on earth, and the party stop.
Fully Supported
A backup team and 4×4 carry baggage, spares, water and food, set up camp and cook up sumptuous meals.
Day by Day
Five days riding, two
Five days riding, two
on the water
The shape of the mission, five cycling days of 55, 110, 60, 85 and 90 km, then the paddle to Mumbo. Day two is the big challenge.
Day 01
Arrive in Lilongwe
Travel
Brief
Fly in and gather in Lilongwe at 1,000 m. Build and check the bikes, meet the backup team and settle in for the mission briefing
over a cold beer.
Day 02
Into the African Bush
Cycling
An easier first day in the saddle, easing into the rhythm of the mission on jeep track and gravel through the bush and dramatic scenery.
Approx. 55 km
Day 03
The Rift Valley Descent
Cycling
Big Day
The big challenge day: a long distance to cover, including the exhilarating descent from the plateau down the edge of the Great Rift Valley toward the shores of Lake Malawi.
Approx. 110 km
Day 04
Luwawa & the Wilderness Trail
Cycling
Camping
Into the Luwawa country and onto the Wilderness Trail, following an old ridge road through the pines and out onto the virgin grasslands of the high plateau, then down through indigenous woodland.
Approx. 60 km
Day 05
Escarpment to the Lakeshore
Cycling
Chintheche
Descend the rift-lake escarpment with amazing panoramic views, climbing through Chome tea estate and Vizara rubber estate to finish on the shore of Lake Malawi at the Chintheche
Inn, in luxury.
Day 06
Lakeshore to Cape Maclear
Cycling
Party
An easier final ride down to the lake and along the lakeshore to Cape Maclear, home of Kayak Africa in Lake Malawi National Park. Overnight at Gecko Lounge and Mgoza Lodge, and a chance for a party night.
Approx. 90 km
Day 07
Kayak to Mumbo Island
Kayak
Snorkel · Dive
Not too hungover: a 10 km kayak across the lake to Mumbo Island, the highlight of the mission. Snorkel, dive and swim in
calm, clean water with the island's playful spotted-necked otters. Overnight in the tented island camp.
Day 08
Paddle Back & Farewell
Kayak
Farewell
Set off back to Cape Maclear in the kayaks for the final night in the village and our big farewell party. A fitting end to a
real African
bucket-list mission.
Good To Know
What a Malawi
What a Malawi
mission includes
Almost everything is covered from Johannesburg and back. Please email us
for the cost per person.
What's included
- All flights (ex Johannesburg)
- Accommodation in lodges and camping
- All meals on the mission
- Expert guides and backup team
- All transfers and the two kayak days
- 4×4 support carrying baggage, spares
& food
Not included
- Beverages
- Gifts and personal extras
- Scuba diving
- Travel insurance
Fitness & bikes: the route is challenging and requires a good level of fitness, mostly jeep track, singletrack and off-the-beaten-track gravel. It is highly recommended that you bring your own mountain bike and spares.
Scheduled & Tailor-Made
Malawi your way
Join a scheduled departure or let us build this trip around your group. Tell us your dates and we’ll put together the itinerary,
logistics and pricing.