The Land & Lake Team
Land & Lake Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 1986)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $3,472 to $34,718 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Carol | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
What a disappointment!!!!
I booked through African Budget Safari and they contracted with Land and Lakes Safaris ( L&L) in Malawi. I had a good experience with African Budget Safari. I would use them again in a heartbeat. But I would never use Land and Lakes again.
We had one major issue occurred 3 days into our 7 day tour. We are seasoned travelers having visited over 140 countries and we often travel up to 4 months a year. The major issue we encountered was unique but strange things happen while traveling. We had driven from Malawi to Zambia and arrived at Thornicroft Lodge ( which is wonderful). After checking emails we received 2 of significance. One from African Budget Safari saying that our tour might get screwed up because of civil unrest and demonstrations which were expected to block flights out of Malawi the following week including the day of our departure. An email from the US State Department strongly suggested not flying in or out that week. This major event was beyond anyone’s control, which we understand, but what we don’t understand is why Land and Lakes did nothing to assist us in making alternative arrangements.
I asked our guide, Eric, to check into the situation at dinner that night. He was already aware of the situation but seemed nonplussed. I asked him to follow up with the L&L home office and get back to me after our game drive the next morning.
I also sent the email from the state department to the (L&L) home office saying we may need to change our itinerary to fly out of Lusaka, Zambia instead of Llongwe 4 days later ( airport closures were suppose to start the day before our departure). We were flying on to Uganda so we could not afford to be delayed 3 extra days.
When we got back from the game drive the next morning our guide had no suggestions for what to do, no alternatives, and the home office took until 12:30 to speak to me and say basically “ we know this is serious but you are on your own. You either follow the itinerary and see what happens or you lose what you have already paid plus all costs and inconveniences and changes in hotels, flights and transportation are your responsibility. File with your insurance.”
This was not about insurance! This was about being in a remote place with very spotty internet, trying to book lodges, book a new flight, change an existing flight and arrange transportation! Thank goodness for Thornicroft Lodge ( Nadia and Dylan). They could not accommodate us but they called another lodge and got us a room. They loaned me their phone to call South African Air. They helped me book a flight from the local airport to Lusaka. Are you getting the picture? They did everything over 5 hours that Land and Lakes,which had better phones and constant internet at the home office, should have done. We understand it was our financial responsibility and we will deal with the insurance when we get home but where was Land and Lakes, our tour company?
Why no suggestion such as stay one more night nearby and your guide will drive you to Lusaka and see sights along the way? It is no further than Lake Malawi. Or suggest another itinerary of sights within Zambia? Again Thornicroft got info on driving to Lusaka $80 US pp versus flying $300pp so all the options were provided by them and not Land and Lakes.
Our guide was not allowed to accompany us into the game park and he had meals with us but otherwise was unoccupied. After we reworked our schedule, he informed us he was going back to LLongwe.
I asked our guide what would have happen if we had followed the original itinerary and the airports did shut down - would his company have left us to our own devices? His answer was of course not. So why did they leave us to our own devices in a remote location ? Malawi has been experiencing turmoil since the election in May and I believe any responsible tour company would have an emergency plan in place to assist when problem occurs. If not, they have the resources and should have offered to rework our schedule, at our cost, and see us safely on out way,
As I am writing this it is still a day away from the planned demonstrations and for Malawi’s sake I hope they do not happen. But whatever occurs, safety is first and and L & L let us down on that
front.
A loveless performance of the tour with poor information
The tour has a great potential for a very good safari, but it's not used! For example: 3 hole-day-trips by bus occur on 4 succesive days (10 of the 12 participiants were mostly reading, sleeping oder gaming with smartphone during the bus-trips). Therefore the order of events should be changed. The information about land and people was poor.
The highlights of the trip were performed from other business-men (lodges, guides), not from land and lake safaris!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Let down
We used Land and Lake to take us on a 3 day safari to South Luangwa and while there were no problems with the lodge or the safari drives, Land and Lake let us down on both transport and also failed to communicate with the lodge. 30 minutes outside of Lilongwe we broke down and had to spend over 2 hours by the side of the road while a replacement vehicle was brought out. On the way we met up with another Land and Lake vehicle that had broken down the day before. We arrived at the lodge after almost 8 hours after leaving and missed an hour of our afternoon drive. The lodge (not a part of Land and Lake) and the manager were superb but dietary requirements of half of our party were not passed on to them. Land and Lake have proved unreliable and although I would use the lodge again I would not use or recommend Land and Lake.
DE
Email Jürgen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very varied journey in original Malawi
The service and accomodations were good. Malawi is not that touristic as other African countries.
Unfortunately one of our interpreters (Andreas) was not very helpful.
However the second interpreter (Patrick) did a great job and we had some nice conversations.
Guide Saidi was very experienced and well known in the country and the people. Great!
AT
Email Nina and Gernot | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A good organized Team, we felt well taken care of.
We made an individual self drive tour. We had no Problems with the car, it was equipped good. The communication was very good, we always were connected via WhatsApp.
Malawi was a great experience we visited the north, lake Malawi and some National Parks.
Email NeilG | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An exceptional bespoke safari organised by Land and Lake Safaris
I recently completed a 9-day bespoke safari of southern Malawi, organised and run by Land & Lake Safaris (LLS). It was excellent and met all of my expectations. Starting from Lilongwe, I visited Blantyre (The Leslie), Majete Wildlife Reserve (Thawale Lodge), Zomba Plateau (Zomba Forest Lodge), Liwonde National Park (Mvuu Lodge) and Dzalanyama Forest (Dzalanyama Forest Lodge) before returning to Lilongwe (Kumbali Country Lodge). All the places that I stayed at were very good but I would make special mention of Zomba Forest Lodge and Mvuu Lodge which were truly outstanding.
My particular thanks go to two members of the LLS staff for their massive contributions to the enjoyment of my safari. Firstly, Reservations Consultant, Denzel Banda, produced the initial itinerary and then worked patiently with me over several iterations to bring the schedule in line with my preferences. It was Denzel who booked all of the accommodation and ensured that the safari ran smoothly. Secondly, Jim Katengu was my guide for the whole of the safari and could not have been a more knowledgeable and entertaining companion. He was a brilliant guide, an exceptionally safe driver and willingly shared his great knowledge of Malawi’s wildlife, ecology, people, geography, history and culture. He is also one of Malawi's top birders, as he ably demonstrated during our two walks in Dzalanyama Forest.
My sincere thanks go to Land & Lake Safaris in general and to Denzel and Jim in particular. Hopefully, I will revisit Malawi and use LLS again in the foreseeable future.
Email David & Suzie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Super organised, courteous, efficient and helpful in all respects
We hired a 4 x 4 from Land & Lake for 17 days for our self-drive, lodge-based holiday in Zambia and Malawi, and also used them for transport to and from the airport and our Lilongwe accommodation. The planning and booking process by email, spread over several weeks, was most efficient with all queries answered promptly and thoroughly.
The service we received on arrival and throughout our stay was excellent in all respects: quick, courteous, thorough and clear. Jim was at the airport to meet us and help with getting a local Airtel sim (excellent value at £5 for 25 GB, valid 30 days!) and currency from an ATM. He gave us a very clear and thorough briefing on the vehicle, whilst Khama dealt with insurance, documentation and suchlike including setting up a WhatsApp group to allow contact with all relevant parties as the trip progressed, and providing a “fixer” at the Zambian border in both directions to deal with all formalities: a real boon.
The Toyota Hilux was almost new and thus in excellent condition and just perfect for the trip. It had an excellent ‘fridge for cooling drinks and a basket of essential picnic items etc. Its return was equally efficient as collection and all transport arrangements reassuringly reliable and cheerfully conducted. All in all, we would – as very seasoned Africa self-drive travellers - have no hesitation in using Land & Lake again, or recommending them to others, whether they are first-timers or most experienced.
DE
Email Manuel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Malawi self-drive trip 2024
I can highly recommend Land and Lake. Very well organized trip. We had great experiences as a self-drive safari. The rental car Toyota Hilux that Land and Lake provided us with was very, very good. Communication during the trip worked perfectly and quickly via WhatsApp
Best regards
Manuel Lausmann
Email Steffi and Axel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional, very helpful and service-oriented
We rented a 4x4 with rooftop tent and fully kitted kitchen for a 10 days selfdrive trip through Malawi. The communication was very good in the booking phase, when renting out and upon return of the car as well as during the whole trip. We very much liked the idea of a whatsapp group with all crucial team members that could address potential issues during the trip.
Upon pick-up from the airport we also got assistance to purchase a local SIM card and bilharzia medication. It was very helpful to discuss the planned tour and potential sites to stay as well as receiving a contact for a competent mountain guide for a three-day-tour on Mount Mulanje.
We were very happy with the car and the equipment and had a great trip.
Email Becky and Ben | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely fantastic
By far the best trip we have had. We did a last minute booking with not much idea of where exactly we wanted to go. Our booking was handled by Tanith who gave us excellent advice and planned our trip so well. We did a self drive trip, dtaying at Liwonde, Mumbo Island and South Luangwa. The self drive was the part we felt a bit nervous about when booking but we certainly didn't need to be. The vehicle was great and had everything we could have needed. Ollie went through everything with us so we set off feeling confident and well looked after.
All the lodges were wonderful and each a bit different so we had a unique experience at each of them. We were assured that the lodges would cater for vegan diets and had been notified when booking - they certinely did not dissapoint. The food was delicious.
The animal sightings at Liwonde were great and the drives felt so private because we hardly saw any other vehicle. Our guide, David was excellent. Mvuu Lodge is absolutely somewhere we will stay again.
Mumbo Island was an excellent relaxing, mid holiday stop. A tropical paradise!
South Luangwa was definitely the highlight. Flatdogs Loddge was fantastic and the animal sightings we excperienced were beyond what we anticipated. Our guide Malama was fantastic and respectful of the wildlife.
An absolutely fantastic trip that we will never forget. Thank you Tanith and Ollie for an incredible time. We will be booking again for next year!