Orbis Expeditions Launches New Sport for Impact Malawi Expeditions for 2027

UK-based Orbis Expeditions, sister company to Malawi’s own Orbis DMC, is offering a series of exciting new Sport for Impact Expeditions for 2027, with two very different adventures set to bring travellers to the Warm Heart of Africa.

Orbis Expeditions specialises in purpose-driven travel, using sport and adventure to connect visitors with communities and projects across Africa. Rather than sport simply being part of the holiday, its Sport for Impact programme uses it as a way to bring people together, support local initiatives and create lasting connections between participants and the destinations they visit.

Working closely with its team on the ground in Malawi, Orbis combines these social impact experiences with some of the country’s best-known travel highlights, giving participants the chance to discover Malawi’s landscapes, wildlife, culture and communities along the way.

Beast’s Rugby for Development Malawi Expedition

One of the headline expeditions for 2027 will be led by rugby legend Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, the former Springbok prop who helped South Africa win the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Rugby for Development Malawi Expedition will give a small group of participants the opportunity to travel alongside Beast while experiencing the role rugby can play in supporting and engaging young people.

Working in partnership with Bhubesi Pride Foundation, the expedition will include visits to schools and communities, grassroots rugby coaching and opportunities to meet young people involved in sport and education programmes in Malawi.

Bhubesi Pride Foundation works with children and young people through sport, education and leadership, with its community centre in the Lilongwe area providing a base for a range of youth-led programmes.

Away from the rugby pitch, participants will also have the opportunity to experience Malawi’s culture, communities and natural attractions, creating a wider journey through the country alongside the expedition’s social impact work.

Places are deliberately limited, with just 20 available for the 2027 expedition.

Take a look at the itinerary here.

Gemma Rosell’s Malawi Challenge

Also heading to Malawi in 2027 is Spanish endurance athlete, entrepreneur and coach Gemma Rosell, who will lead a very different kind of Sport for Impact adventure.

Gemma Rosell’s Malawi Challenge is a nine-day, eight-night endurance expedition combining running and cycling through Malawi with cultural experiences, community engagement and time to enjoy the country’s scenery and wildlife.

Rosell is no stranger to demanding endurance events, having taken part in disciplines including triathlons, ultratrails and mountain biking. The Malawi Challenge will draw on that experience as participants take on a multi-day physical adventure across the country.

A key part of the expedition will be its support for Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP), a Malawian organisation working with children and young people. Orbis has a longstanding relationship with YODEP and its wider approach to community tourism focuses on supporting locally led initiatives and generating income through tourism rather than creating short-term projects.

Alongside the physical challenge and community experiences, the itinerary will also introduce participants to another side of Malawi, including a safari and opportunities to experience the country’s landscapes, hospitality and local culture.

Just 20 places are available on Gemma Rosell’s Malawi Challenge.

Take a look at the itinerary here.

Sport, Travel and Positive Impact in Malawi

The two expeditions form part of a growing programme from Orbis Expeditions that brings sporting personalities and travellers together through purpose-led journeys across Africa.

Malawi has long been at the heart of the company’s work. Through its close relationship with Malawi-based Orbis DMC and its established partnerships with local organisations and communities, the company has developed a range of expeditions designed to ensure tourism contributes directly to the places and people visitors encounter.

For 2027, the new Sport for Impact programme offers another way for visitors to experience the Warm Heart of Africa, whether through the shared language of rugby or the challenge of running and cycling across the country.