Trek Malawi 2012

This promises to be a cracker of a trip. It's the first ever charity challenge trek up Mount Mulanje in Malawi and it will be well worth the effort. As with so much of Malawi, the countryside is of astonishing beauty and the views from the summit are unparallelled. It's rare to get a chance to see this part of the world and when you couple this with the challenge, the great cause and the great companionship that our events are noted for, this really is a "must do"!
 
We're raising money for Primary Health Care at Mulanje and you'll get to see Mulanje Hospital and to meet the staff who are doing such an amazing job there. Primary Healthcare really does save lives: clean water - to protect from cholera & typhoid - anti-malarial nets and education, sanitation and teaching of the dangers of HIV and AIDS. These small but vital elements are cheap to undertake and make a massive difference. With your help we can make 72 villages safer places and help Malawi create a prosperous future.
 
Here's the plan:
 
Day 1 – 11th October 2012
London to Lilongwe
Depart London for an overnight flight to Lilongwe via Nairobi or Johannesburg or Addis Ababa.
 
Day 2 – 12th October 2012
300km transfer
We arrive Lilongwe and transfer south east of Malawi for approx.300km to Zomba.
Overnight Sunbird Kuchawe Inn.
 
Day 3 – 13th October 2012
Warm up hike: 30 minutes
Depart Zomba plateau, and transfer 100km to Phalombe / Mulanje Mountain, this is the mountain we have come to Malawi for, and our challenge will be to trek to the summit. Upon arrival at Likhubula (Mulanje), check in at Likhubula House Chalets. Depending on time of arrival, a stroll to the nearby rock pools is recommended. Before dinner there will be a detailed briefing.
Overnight Likhubula House Chalets.
 
Day 4 – 14th October 2012
Lujeri Tea Estate                                                                                        Trek approx. 5 hours
Short transfer from Likhubula to Lujeri Tea Estate. Meet with porters and trek to Madzeka Hut. Today the route is steep and follows part of the shimmering tropical rain forest to the head of River Ruo. Each evening we will have dinner together and hear about the route from our guides for the following day’s trek.
Overnight at  Madzeka Forest Hut.
 
Day 5 – 15th October 2012
Madzeka Forest Hut - Thuchila Forest Hut                                         Trek approx. 6 hours
We begin with a gentle hike to Chinzama Hut where we break for lunch. In the afternoon we continue  to Thuchila Hut, where we are in for a real treat as we walk up to Elephant Head view point to watch the sun set overlooking Zomba plateau and Phalombe plain.
Overnight at Thuchila Forest Hut.  
 
Day 6 – 16th October 2012
Thuchila Forest Hut - Chisepo Forest Hut                                          Trek approx. 3 hours
Our third trek day will be to Chisepo Hut, a short 3 hour hike. There are options of taking detours to local waterfalls en route to break the day’s trek, as well as an additional trek to a view point on arrival at the hut (an extra 3 hour round trip).
Overnight at Chisepo Forest Hut. 
 
Day 7 – 17th October 2012
Summit day of Mt Mulanje                                                                       Trek approx. 9-10 hours
An early start for the most challenging day of the trek as we summit Mount Mulanje, a large granite massif rising from the plains to peak Sapitwa, 3,000m. After an early breakfast we set off at 6am. Our aim is to reach the peak by 9am before the heat and haze hit the mountain. On arrival at the summit, we enjoy a break and  views of the Zomba plateau and Lake Chilwa.
and a group photo before heading along the Western Ridge and down to Lichenya Hut, which will take us approx 4-5 hours, arriving at Lichenya mid afternoon.
Overnight at Lichenya Forest Hut
 
Day 8 – 18th October 2012
Return to base                                                                                            Trek approx. 5-6 hours
Our final trek day. We depart Lichenya hut and descend down the Likhubula Valley to the base station via the well-trodden donkey trail. The Dziwelankhalamba falls and pools are on our way, and there will be time to break here for a refreshing & well-deserved swim before the final leg down to Likhubula. Arrive at the base of the mountain around mid-afternoon. This afternoon (or tomorrow morning) we meet the staff and visit the hospital at Mulanje which is supported by the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society. Tonight we celebrate together with a farewell dinner.
 
Day 9 – 19th October 2012
Free day to enjoy a rest, or take part in an optional tour.
Lunch not included today.
 
Day 10 – 20th October 2012
Transfer 400km to Lilongwe for the return flight at midday to the UK via Addis Ababa or similar.
 
Day 11 – 21st October 2012
Arrive in the UK
 
Please Note: Malawi is a country which is not fully geared up to tourism. You should therefore be prepared for changes to the route and accommodation right up to the last minute.  This is a complex itinerary which is subject to change
 
 
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 The practical details:

• our trips all start from London Heathrow so you need to make arrangements to get their. We'll let you know the flight details in good time to book a cheap fare.
• you will need to raise a minimum sponsorship of £2,950. We provide lots of help on how to raise this sum and most of our riders surprise themselves by raising well over this. We'd like you to raise as much as you can as every penny over this makes a huge difference to the support we can give. Don't forget that Gift Aid can add 25% to donations from tax-payers.
• to cover the basic administration fees there is a £250 non-refundable registration fees. As an incentive, if you register before 31st March 2012, you pay only £200.
• meals and accommodation (with the exception of lunch on the final day) are provided.
• you'll need to consult your GP about any vaccinations required and, if you're over 65 (we have many riders over this age!), to get their sign off.
• insurance: once you've signed up then you need to arrange insurance either through our tour operators, Classic Tours, or your own insurance company. This should cover both the trip itself and the cost of the trip should you need to pull out at the last minute.
• taxes and fuel surcharges: you will be liable for any airport taxes and fuel surcharges. Current estimates are that these will be in the region of £300.
• we are charged for the trip 8 weeks before leaving and so by then we do need to have received 75% of the minimum sponsorship to cover our outlay. This will be £2,213. If you have any other questions then please contact mike.millar@emms.org or ring Mike on 0131 313 3828.