+44 (0) 1275 877172
Newsletter Sign Up

Africa

Asia

tailor-made holidays

Tailor made holidays

your bespoke itinerary

tailor-made holidays

Small Group Trips

join a guided holiday

students at work

School Expeditions

participate in a project

Travel to Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, and is one of Africa’s smallest and most beautiful nations. It’s a truly overlooked travel destination, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and genuine hospitality. Known for its welcoming people and serene pace of life, alongside an extraordinary freshwater lake and stunning landscapes, Malawi has earned its reputation as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.

This allure ensures that trips to Malawi create unforgettable memories for both newcomers to Africa and experienced safari enthusiasts.

This is a fantastic wildlife safari and a bird watchers paradise.

5 Highlights of MALAWI

Lake Malawi

The jewel in the crown of the country’s tourist attractions is Lake Malawi – the Rift Valley’s ‘Lake of Stars’. Home to the world’s first freshwater National Park and covering a third of the country, Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa.

Although a lake of crystal-clear fresh water, its size and depth gives it a sea-like appearance, with one side rarely visible from the other, and a shoreline of idyllic golden sandy beaches lapped by gentle waves. The Lake is a real-life aquarium, home to up to 1000 species of brightly coloured tropical fish, many unique to the Lake.

Wildlife Reserves

Malawi’s nine National Parks and Wildlife Reserves offer game viewing and tracking as it should be … intimate and exclusive! Each park has only two or three lodges, so you can view the the Big 5 without the crowds. Malawi’s nine protected parks include Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park. The parks and reserves cover a great variety of landscape and vegetation types and include areas of genuine unspoilt wilderness.

Mountain Scenery

The natural scenery of Malawi is stunningly beautiful and incredibly diverse. The breathtaking landscapes and their lush vegetation transform around every turn, revealing untouched wilderness, high plateaux like Zomba, and the towering mountain peaks of Mulanje. You can find everything from riverine lowlands and vast forests to grasslands and plantations of sugar and tea.

This great contrast in elevation, with peaks reaching nearly 3,000 meters and lowlands barely above sea level, makes Malawi’s landscape one of the most varied in Africa—all within a country smaller than England.

Outdoor Adventure

With its varied landscapes, Malawi is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. The country’s highlands, forests, and plateaux offer endless opportunities for discovery on foot, from gazing out over vast distances from the top of the Zomba Plateau to hiking through the rugged wilderness of Nkhotakota and exploring the rolling hills of Nyika. You can also find all kinds of water sports on Lake Malawi, tackle a challenging trek up Mount Mulanje, or enjoy a more leisurely pace. Beyond trekking and water activities, Malawi is gaining a reputation for mountain biking and offers fantastic opportunities for birdwatching and horse riding.

Cultural Experiences

The people of Malawi are the country’s greatest charm. Known for being friendly and welcoming, their vibrant culture is impossible to ignore. Adding to this liveliness is a thriving festival and music scene, which features year-round events and has helped Malawian artists achieve global recognition

Malawi’s rich history is accessible to all. Visitors can explore prehistoric artifacts at the Cultural & Museum Centre in Karonga and view ancient rock paintings near Dedza. A special highlight is the Mua Mission near Zomba, celebrated for its superb cultural museum and extraordinary wood carvings. 

Travelling in MALAWI

  • Capital: Lilongwe
  • Area: 118,480 km²
  • Languages: English, Chichewa and Chitumbuka.
  • Where to visit: Lake Malawi, Majete Wildlife Reserve, Liwonde National Park & Zomba Plateau.
  • Wildlife to spot: elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo.

Malawi is modest in size compared to surrounding neighbours, but it is rich in natural wonders, featuring diverse habitats from forests to a major inland lake, and several different wildlife areas.

Journey through Malawi’s diverse natural beauty with dramatic highlands and a variety of wildlife reserves.

Malawi currently has three sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List; two cultural and one natural site.

Lake Malawi National Park, Lake Malawi, is Africa’s first freshwater aquatic national park and a site of exceptional natural beauty and global scientific importance.

Chongoni Rock-Art Area, inscribed in 2006, is located in the Central Region of Malawi and features a dense concentration of ancient rock art. The recently (2025) inscribed, Mount Mulanje Cultural landscape, encompasses the Mount Mulanje massif, a massive island mountain, holding spiritual significance, in the south of the country.

Contact Us

Looking for a safari to see the sights of Malawi? We would be delighted to give you some ideas and to create your holiday. We hope this travel guide to Malawi has inspired!

Contact us about Malawi

When to Go to Malawi

January

The wet season (November to April) is the best time for bird enthusiasts, as migratory birds arrive in large numbers. January is suitable for those interested in birdlife, photography and experiencing Malawi at its most verdant and least crowded. Game viewing is more challenging since the bush is thick with vegetation.

February

The country transforms into a vibrant, lush green landscape, offering spectacular photographic opportunities. In essence, February is a challenging but rewarding time for specific niche interests, demanding flexibility and an ability to manage significant rain and potential accessibility issues.

March

Visiting in March demands flexibility and a tolerance for heavy rain, offering experiences centred on vibrant nature and birdlife rather than wildlife safaris. The scenery is incredibly lush and green but storms are frequent, and visibility for water activities on Lake Malawi like diving and snorkelling is poor due to runoff.

April

April is a great time to visit if you want to experience Malawi’s stunning green landscapes and have a less crowded, more affordable trip, while still enjoying good weather and decent opportunities for general outdoor activities and some wildlife viewing.

May

The start of the dry season where the rain has mostly stopped, leaving green landscapes and favourable conditions for wildlife viewing, hiking and lake activities. In essence, May offers the best of both worlds; the beauty of the “green season” and the accessibility of the “dry season”.

June

June offers near-perfect conditions for a trip: it’s the heart of the cool, dry season, with excellent wildlife viewing, ideal weather for hiking and outdoor activities, and reliable access across the entire country. An outstanding month for a wide-ranging Malawian adventure!

July

An outstanding month for a Malawian experience, when it’s possibly the best conditions for viewing wildlife and enjoying the country’s natural landscapes; it’s dry and sparse, visibility is excellent and animals gather consistently at central water sources in parks like Liwonde and Majete.

August

Expect uninterrupted sunshine, clear blue skies, and very little chance of rain. Humidity remains low. The weather is perfect for hiking trails on Mount Mulanje and Nyika Plateau which are dry and easily navigable. Lake conditions are excellent for water sports and water temperatures comfortable for swimming.

September

September marks the transition to the hot part of the dry season, offering superb conditions for dedicated safaris and excellent lake activities, but with increasingly intense heat and dryness. The ideal month if you’re wanting to maximise your chances of seeing wildlife in a classic safari setting.

October

October is for the dedicated safari enthusiast who prioritises guaranteed animal sightings over comfort and lush scenery. It is the hottest and driest month of the year in Malawi with peak wildlife action, optimal lake visibility and demands a tolerance for extreme heat and very dry conditions.

November

The start of the wet season (November – April) it’s a month of significant transition. It marks the shift from the hot, dry season to the beginning of the wet “green season,” offering opportunities for specialised interests like birdwatching and lush scenery rather than a guaranteed “Big Five” safari experience.

December

A specific, nature-focused experience centred on the beauty of the green season and birdlife but it is generally not recommended for a traditional “Big Five” safari, as heavy rains present significant travel challenges. The abundance of migratory birds makes it one of the best months for birdwatching.

Malawi Itinerary suggestions

wildlife Guide to Zimbabwe
12 Nights 6 Lodgings From £6,150

Women's Safari Holiday to Malawi

Malawi has an extraordinary freshwater lake and stunning landscapes, and has earned its reputation as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.
Read more