Malawi
As the best kept secret in Africa, Malawi is a country of unbridled beauty, majestic landscapes and stunning wildlife. From its undulating mountains, high plateaus, vast tracks of forests, grasslands and plantations to its expansive lake, Malawi holds its own unique diversity. Traditionally a relatively forgotten travel destination, Malawi is now emerging in terms of travel and tourism but remains untouched by mass tourism. It offers a true Garden of Eden feel. Nowhere else in Africa can the story of conservation be chartered quite so clearly – with the help of African Parks, both Liwonde and Majete have flourished – both having fascinating stories of restoration.
You’ll find a useful guide to Malawi and some of its attractions at the bottom of this page, along with a sample safari to inspire you. All our private safaris are tailor-made – there are many different combinations possible and we work with a multitude of camps and lodges and not just the ones shown in the sample tour. We are happy to suggest combinations using our personal knowledge and first-hand experience of these areas, but if you have a preferred lodge/camp/experience then please let us know.
For price guides and further information please visit explorersagainstextinction.co.uk
Highlights of Malawi
When To Go
The dry season in Malawi runs from April to October and this is the most popular time to visit. As the grass is low it offers the best game-viewing as the animals can be seem in the undergrowth and tend to congregate around water holes. This is also the prime safari time in Zambia and the two countries combine very well in one itinerary.
The wet season is at the start of the year making some areas very hard to reach because of the state of the roads.
Lake Malawi is a dream throughout the dry season – sail, snorkel, kayak, walk, bird watch, fish (catch & release) or star gaze…
What To Do
Malawi has a total of nine National Parks to explore; in the south are the Lengwe National Park, Majete wildlife reserves, Mwabvi, Lake Malawi and Cape Maclear; Nyika Plateau and Vwaza Wildlife Reserve in the north and in the central area is Kasungu National Park and Nkhotakota Reserve.
The most famous is the world’s first freshwater National Park and a World Heritage Site, Lake Malawi National Park. It offers crystal clear warm waters and sandy beaches against a stunning backdrop of high mountains. Designated to protect the diversity of tropical fish, some not found anywhere else on earth, the Park encompasses the popular Cape Maclear as well as the Lake and its Islands stretching 100 metres offshore.
The Nankhumba Peninsula, the centrepiece of a miniature archipelago of twelve islands, offers spectacular scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities. Travellers can also enjoy a kayaking expedition, boat trips and even live aboard a luxury yacht sailing around the lake. Water skiing and sailboarding are also popular activities on the lake. While on land the park is home to an extraordinary concentration of species of bird, plant and animal including baboons, antelope and hyrax as well as fish eagles, cormorants and hammerkops.
Choose from an open-sided 4×4 game drive or maybe opt for a walking safari in Malawi. There are also opportunities for a boat safari travelling along the Shire River spotting elephant just a few meters away or saddle up for a safari on horseback as you ride amongst zebra and antelope.
You may be interested to read our blog on Malawi here.
Why We Love
We’ve long been a fan of Malawi. Varied scenery, ranging from the dramatic peaks of Nyika National Park, Malawi’s oldest national reserve, to the stunning lake shore which separates Malawi from its eastern neighbours, along with friendly locals, a low crime rate and good network of roads means that Malawi really is ‘the warm heart of Africa’.
This compact and very beautiful country provides the opportunity to visit enriching community projects, spend time on safari spotting a variety of wildlife and enjoy lazy days by the lake fishing, snorkelling and swimming easily all in one holiday. It was no surprise to us to see Malawi Tourism inundated with enquiries at the recent Times Destinations Show. Malawi is certainly a rising star in Africa.