Our Travel Itinerary

Malawi Study Abroad 2009 Itinerary

June 21
Leave Dulles Airport on Ethiopian Airlines at 10:05 AM (Boeing 767) ET503. We will arrive in Addis Ababa on June 22 8:20 AM. Leave Addis Ababa on ET 873 at 9:30 AM (Ethiopia is 7 hours difference in time).

June 22
Leave Addis Ababa at 9:30 AM (Boeing 757) ET 873 on ET 873; arrive Lilongwe, at 12:05 p.m. Pick up at airport, transport to Budget Lodge (contact # 265-1-759 666 or email budgetlodge@gmail.com. We’re on daylight time, so there’s 6 hours difference in time. Some sightseeing in the capital city. Go to to see Budget Lodge. Bus transportation arranged with Malawi Institute of Education (MIE)

June 23
Freedom Gardens in the morning (a sustainable village setting—an experimental project). Lunch there. More sightseeing in the capital

June 24
Leave Lilongwe after breakfast; travel to Zomba. All transportation while in Malawi furnished by rented bus from Domasi College of Education. Stops at Dedza Pottery; paper making facility that makes art paper from elephant dung; other stops to see villages, etc. Arrive Annie’s Lodge by dark (contact no. for Annie’s Lodge 011 265 1 527 002)
(email for Annie’s Lodge: annieslodge@globemw.net -- an efficient, quick way to contact in an emergency)

June 25
Travel to Domasi for orientation to all schools’ location (Domasi Government School, Domasi Demonstration School, and Malemia Primary School) Classes at Malawi Institute of Education (MIE); (MIE contact is William Susuwele-Banda, who is deputy director and a former VT student: wsusuwel@vt.edu), a good way to contact anyone. His home number: 265 0152 6225; his office number: 265 0153 6300

June 26
Go to school assignment in Domasi; (schools do not have telephones) classes in afternoon at MIE

June 27
Orientation to Zomba, walk around town, etc.

June 28
Annie’s Lodge, Zomba town, local church, study and class meeting

June 29
Go to school assignment; classes at MIE and project work. One day this week we will go to a village church for singing and dancing

June 30
Go to school assignment: classes and project work

July 1
Go to school assignment: classes and project work

July 2
Go to school assignment; classes at MIE

July 3
Go to school assignment; classes

July 4
Study and classes, rest, and town

July 5
Travel south to Mt. Mulanje; see tea plantations; hike on Mt. Mulanje, third highest mountain in Africa (not to the top!!) Check out Mt. Mulanje at www.mountmulanje.org.mw
Return to Annie’s Lodge, on way visit other sights as time permits. This will be a long day!!

July 6
No school. Malawi Independence Day; study and classes

July 7
Go to school assignment; classes and project work

July 8
Travel to Mvuu Camp for safari; overnight at camp; river safari, afternoon and evening safari; all meals included (lunch on arrival, dinner included -- pay for your drinks) (no contact number)
Check out Mvuu at http://malawi.lodgesafari.com/Malawi_Safari_Lodge_Options-travel/malawi-lodges-mvuu-camp-liwonde-park.html

July 9
Morning guided walk; leave after breakfast to return to Annie’s Lodge (Zomba). We’ll stop at wood carvers in Liwonde on the way

July 10
Go to school assignment; classes and project work

July 11
Visit an orphanage

July 12
Study, rest, local church

July 13
Go to school assignment; classes and project work

July 14
Go to school assignment; classes; Farewell Dinner for teachers and various dignitaries

July 15
Leave for Mangochi; visit a village; stay overnight at Club Makokola on Lake Malawi (contact no. cell: +265 (0)8 830077; ground: +265 (0))1 580244
Check out Club Mak at www.clubmak.com (dinner included and breakfast before departure); traditional dancing performed by local villagers.
To see some information on Lake Malawi check out www.clubmak.com/lakemalawi.htm

July 16
Leave after breakfast; visit Mua Mission (famous for museum quality carvings and visit the museum to learn about various tribal rituals; arrive at Budget Lodge in Lilongwe (contact no. 265+1759666)

July 17
Leave Lilongwe on Ethiopian Airlines ET872 at 1:05 p.m (Boeing 757). Arrive in
Addis Ababa at 8:15 p.m. Take flight to Washington at 10:15 p.m. on ET500 (Boeing 767)

July 18
Arrive Dulles at 7:55 AM