This is a comprehensive eight week programme for young people, based at Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe and in Malawi, “The Warm Heart of Africa”. Designed for a group of no more than 16 people the itinerary blends cultural immersion, conservation, hands-on projects, adventure, and personal development.

ZIMBABWE

Week 1: Discover Kariba – Culture, Community & Connection

Step off the plane and into the beating heart of Africa. Your adventure begins in Harare, where you’ll spend the night and meet your tribe of fellow explorers before heading on a scenic road trip the next day through rugged bushlands and rural Zimbabwe. Arrive at Warthogs Safari Camp, nestled on the shimmering shores of Lake Kariba - Africa’s largest man-made lake - surrounded by wildlife and the distant roar of lions at dusk. This is your chance to live the real African experience. From tracking animals through the bush to hooking the famous tiger fish, you’ll be surrounded by nature in its rawest, most beautiful form.

Expect daily encounters with elephants, buffaloes, zebras, crocodiles and hippos, while the cry of the African fish eagle becomes your daily soundtrack.

  • Orientation & Cultural Immersion
    After an extensive safety briefing, you will explore the dramatic Kariba Dam Wall, hear all about Nyami Nyami, the River God, and meet the people who call this region home. Learn bush survival basics, making stretchers for emergencies, and how to handle the challenges of remote living.

  • First Aid & Rural Exposure
    Gain vital wilderness first aid skills. Visit a rural village school and see firsthand the realities of life in the bush – and the strength of the communities within it.

  • Practical Skills
    Learn how to weld, make bricks, cook, make biltong and many other practical skills. You will never know when you might need them. Get hands-on with meaningful development work: from building cultural villages, through glitterstone mining to supporting wildlife protection efforts

Week 2: Build, Create & Make a Difference

Week two is all about rolling up your sleeves and making a real difference. You’ll be involved in powerful hands-on projects focused on conservation, sustainability, and cultural heritage. This week is all about impact - giving back, learning new skills, and bonding through shared purpose.

  • Community Projects Rotation
    Tackle powerful conservation and community projects. From constructing dam walls to crafting eco-bricks, every action makes a difference.

  • Projects You’ll Dive Into:
    Cultural village construction
    Tree planting & elephant protection
    Wildlife rehabilitation
    Plastic recycling & eco-building
    Game-viewing platform building

  • Skills & Teamwork
    Learn how to work as a unit, communicate under pressure and develop practical abilities that stay with you for life.

  • Rest Day Celebration
    Take a breather and soak in Kariba’s thrill factor - paintballing, quad biking, playing football and having a classic African braai on the floodplains, as elephants roam nearby.

Weeks 3 & 4: Into the Wild – Community Participation, Conservation and Raw Camping

Time to unplug. Over the next two weeks, you'll step fully into nature with rotating adventure expeditions. Split into two groups - “Nyati” (Buffalo) and “Shumba” (Lion) - switching between community human/wildlife mitigation work and deep bush training.

  • Group “Nyati”: Raw bush camping in the Gache Gache and Matusadona areas
    Learn survival techniques, cook over open fires, track animals and identify medicinal plants. Real Africa. No filters.

  • Group “Shumba”: Community Participation
    Working with the local communities on projects to mitigate human/wildlife conflict. Whether it’s constructing fences and bomas for livestock, erecting beehives, or making vegetable gardens animal proof, your work will help keep both the communities and the animals safer.

  • After four days the groups will swap around, with “Nyati” taking on the community participation and “Shumba” learning the conservation and survival techniques.

  • Regroup & Recharge
    Return to Warthogs, swap stories, share lessons learned. As your Zimbabwean adventure winds down, it’s time to reflect on everything you’ve experienced – and celebrate just how far you’ve come. Your final days in Kariba are about celebrating the journey, tying it all together with epic adventures and laughter.

  • Team Fun & Final Challenge
    Participate in the legendary Bush Cooking Competition – where teams must cook with utensils made from recycled materials and open fires, bush-style.

  • Houseboat Safari
    Cruise the lake on a houseboat safari, tracking animals along the shoreline, fishing from deck, chilling out, watching the African sunset and sharing stories under the stars. Wrap up with a celebration dinner.

  • Farewell & Departure
    Return to Harare and your final night in Zimbabwe. Say goodbye (for now!) with a walk through Harare’s beautiful Botanical Gardens before flying to Malawi full of stories, friendships, and unforgettable memories.

MALAWI

WEEKS 5 & 6: Conservation & Community at Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

Dzalanyama Forest Reserve
Arriving in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital city, you will be transported to Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, which is located just two hours away, nestled in ancient woodland.

Overview:
Begin your Malawi adventure with two weeks immersed in sustainable conservation, community development, and unspoiled wilderness. Dzalanyama offers rich biodiversity, crystal-clear streams, and a deeply connected local culture. Settle into your pre-made camp, near the river and waterfall.

Highlights:

  • Trail clearing and erosion prevention

  • Tree planting and seedling nursery work

  • Bird monitoring and mammal tracking

  • Sustainable woodlot development to reduce deforestation

  • Help in local schools or assist with school refurbishment

  • Work with women’s groups and youth clubs on livelihood projects

  • Further first aid training

  • Help with eco-brick construction, permaculture gardening, and more

  • Learn how to harvest honey

  • Forest hikes to secret waterfalls and granite outcrops

  • Evenings around the fire sharing stories with local guides and other volunteers

  • Birdwatching in one of Malawi’s premier birding destinations

  • Learn how to handle snakes under expert supervision

WEEK 7: Challenge Yourself on Mount Mulanje

Base: Around Mount Mulanje, Southern Malawi
Malawi’s highest peak (3,002m) and a trekker’s paradise, nicknamed "The Island in the Sky."

Overview:
Prepare to be awed by rugged granite peaks, plunging waterfalls, and ethereal mist forests. This week is a thrilling physical and mental challenge - perfectly timed after your grounding time at Dzalanyama.

Highlights:

  • Trekking and Orienteering

    • Multi-day hikes to stunning viewpoints 

    • Camping in mountain huts with panoramic sunrise views

    • Learn map-reading and compass skills with local guides

    • Navigate river crossings, jungle paths, and high ridges

  • Rock Climbing and Rappelling

    • Introduction to climbing on ancient granite cliffs

    • Safety and rope techniques taught by experienced instructors

  • Explore Mulanje’s Hidden Wonders

    • Swim in ice-cold mountain pools

    • Storytelling nights under starry skies

WEEK 8: Watersports & Wind-down at Lake Malawi

Base: Thumbi View
The perfect ending: palm-fringed beaches, crystalline waters, and vibrant lake life.

Overview:
After the physical rigours of Mount Mulanje, it’s time to unwind on the shores of Lake Malawi, Africa’s third-largest lake and one of its clearest. Dive into vibrant aquatic life and soak up the last week in paradise before heading home.

Highlights:

  • Aquatic Adventures

    • Snorkelling with colourful cichlids in the UNESCO-listed Lake Malawi National Park

    • Kayaking to secluded bays and rocky islands

    • Fishing trips with local fishermen at sunrise

    • Jet skiing and scuba diving (with beginner courses available)

  • Relax & Reflect

    • Hammock time under the trees

    • Fresh fish barbecues on the beach

    • Massage sessions and yoga with lake views

    • Diary writing and storytelling sessions to capture your journey

  • Final Night Celebration

    • Lakeside bonfire

    • Farewell dinner under the stars with local drumming and dancing

    • Group reflection and "what’s next" circle

Departure: Fly Home Recharged, Inspired & Transformed

After eight incredible, life-changing weeks in Zimbabwe and Malawi, you’ll leave not just with memories, but with a deeper understanding of yourself, the world, and your place in it.

Why Choose This Adventure?

This is not a tour – it’s a full-blown African experience. You’ll gain:

  • Lifelong friendships

  • Hard skills in conservation, community work, and survival

  • Soft skills in leadership, communication & resilience

  • A real sense of purpose and contribution

What Makes This Experience Wildly Unforgettable?

  • Regular wildlife encounters with Africa’s iconic animals

  • Real-life conservation, leadership & survival skills

  • Deep cultural immersion and community connection

  • Raw, unplugged African bush adventure