Since the beginning of May volunteer, Bruce Taylor, has been working with the Bua River Lodge personnel and staff from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to open up exciting new walking trails inside the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Bua River Lodge is aiming to become a destination of choice in Malawi for those who enjoy the experience of walking safaris in beautiful wilderness scenery.

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - June 28th, 2013 - Since the beginning of May volunteer, Bruce Taylor, has been working with the Bua River Lodge personnel and staff from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to open up exciting new walking trails inside the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Bua River Lodge is aiming to become a destination of choice in Malawi for those who enjoy the experience of walking safaris in beautiful wilderness scenery.

So far Bruce has cleared and mapped a 12 km trail from Bua River Lodge along the banks of the Bua River, past waterfalls, rapids and tranquil pools and through the Bua gorge to the Bua River’s confluence with the Dwamfuni stream. This trail gives guests a choice of various riverside walking safaris from short morning strolls to the nearby Chisaka Falls to strenuous all day hikes. He has also pioneered and cleared a route across the river into the Bvundikira Hills to the north of the Bua, which provides magnificent views of the river, the reserve and out to Lake Malawi. This route can be combined with the Bua River-side trail for a two-day hike with overnight camping.

Bua River Lodge has levelled and put in basic infrastructure at two camp sites on the banks of the Bua. The first, at the Dwamfuni Confluence, will provide the overnight stop for the Bvundikira safari. The second, at Nyankhoma Pool on the Bua, much closer to the Lodge, will provide an opportunity for guests to experience the magic of camping in the bush, without a long hike to reach the camp site. Both sites are accessible by vehicle, allowing the camp to be set up when guests arrive, cold drinks will be available and one of the Lodge cooks will prepare dinner and cooked breakfast.

In addition, Bruce and his team have cleared the trail leading from Chipata Camp to the summit of Chipata Mountain at nearly 1,700 metres in the west of the Reserve and opened a new, descent trail with an offshoot to the crags on the western face of the mountain. These cliffs appear to have great potential for rock climbing.

Next, a far more adventurous route will be explored. From Bua River Lodge, the trail will cross the Bua and follow the Lisitu valley to the Djong’ombe Hills, a distance of 12 km as the crow flies, but further on foot. These hills contain some magnificent granite cliffs and are in the truly wild area of the Reserve. From Djong’ombe, the team will trace a path back to the Bua along the Dwamfuni River valley. The feasibility of this route will largely depend on the existence of perennial water at the Djong’ombe Hills. If successful, this will be a three-day, two-night expedition, unsupported from the Lodge – a true wilderness adventure!

Bua River Lodge will also soon be offering weekend and longer packages which will include the longer walking safaris and overnight camping at Nyankhoma Pool.

For more information about the lodge please click here

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