Zambia fruit bat migration, Malawi and Zimbabwe Eastern highlands 2026
Overview
It has been in my mind for a long time. This tour is the combination of three different tours. The best time for the bat migration in Kasanka national park and comprehensive Malawi, and eastern Zimbabwe is the first few weeks of November.
To see the Bat migration first hand is one of those weird experiences. It is one of those that you just don’t know what to expect. But it is one of the top 10 things to see in Southern Africa. You can not see anything like it anywhere else in the world.
The experience itself is very different from what you would expect. The bats fly overhead in their millions and all you can hear is the sound of the wind. In a silent peaceful manner the 8 million fruit bats, each the size of a Hadeda, take to the skies just before sunset and head out to feed for the night.
No screeching, no getting stuck in your hair, no blood sucking, no chaos. The bats emerge and take flight peacefully and silently, passing overhead on their way to the feeding grounds. It is amazing!
It is a bit far to drive just for the bats so once we have taken a break at Kapishya hot springs we make our way over to Northern Malawi and travel down the length of the country. 2 nights Nyika Plato national park, 4 nights lake Malawi, 2 nights Majete national park.
Then down in to Zimbabwe to the great Eastern highlands, Nyanga and Chimanimani national parks and back down to South Africa
Join me on this epic journey to see this massive mammal migration and then enjoy the beauty of Malawi and Eastern Zimbabwe in one of its best seasons.
The Itinerary
Day 1.
We meet at our campsite near Kasane in Botswana for our first night. They have a good restaurant and the great Pizzas.
Day 2.
After breakfast we set off towards Zambia border, we cross the border and head towards Lusaka.
We are skipping Vic falls as it is at its low season and we want to make up a bit of time to get north.
Day 3.
We pass through Lusaka, we change our money, do our final shopping and have a cup of coffee. We travel further north to a staging campsite from where we will enter Kasanka national park the next day.
Day 4.
We enter the Kasanka National park and experience the fruit bat migration over the next 2 nights.
We stay inside the park at for these two nights.
Bats departing at sunset and returning at dawn are the main viewing times.
Day 6.
We leave Kasanka national park and head further north to a very popular hot spring for 2 nights. Time for a rest and catching up with a bit of laundry.
Day 8.
An early morning we depart north to the Malawi border. This border post is not used very much but it takes us on to the heart of the Nyika Plato.
We spend two nights here. There are game in the park and it has a very unique vegetation and feel. You could visit the Juniper forest during the day.
Day 10.
We leave the park and travel down the edge of the lake and drive through some magic scenery and interesting places. We stop for groceries on the way.
We sleep our first night on the lake shore. A nice restaurant for some local fish is available.
Day 11
Further south we arrive in Cape McClear and spend three nights just enjoying the area. During the day there is time for snorkelling and boat rides. Restaurant meals and a bit of a holiday.
We also catch up on laundry.
Day 14
We make our further south to Majete National park.
We stop for groceries in Blantyre and then on to the park.
We spend two nights in the park, and for the day go out on a game drive and exploration of the area.
Day 16
We head through Tete in to Zimbabwe on our way south. We sleep on route to Nyanga national park to shorten the day.
Day 17
We travel further south and make our way to Nyanga national park for two nights.
Birding, fishing, hiking and enjoying the higher altitude temperatures are good to close off the tour.
Day 19
We travel further south and spend two nights at the Chimanimani national park. A bit more wild and rugget than Nyanga.
Day 21
We head east towards Beit bridge. We sleep our last night just before the border.
Day 22
Our tour concludes and in the morning, I head back to JHB.
Tour specific comments
Vehicle:
A 4×4 as you buy them from the shop floor is all you need. It is getting to the rainy season and we need to be prepared if we get rain on a gravel road
No special kit required. Normal tyres or all terrain tyres are good
Drivers:
No experience required, I personally guide the tour and will give you everything you need as we go.
Towing:
No, this is the first time I am doing this specific road in Northern Zambia and towing might cause a problem.
