Tailor Made Holidays in Malawi: Highlights

Climb St Peter's Cathedral

St Peter's Cathedral is on a hillside on Likoma Island, towering above the small but sprawling lakeside village. If you're feeling energetic, take the opportunity to climb up the tower and discover sweeping views across the lake to the Mozambiquan shores. The charming old - though incredibly agile - curator will lead you up tight passages, climbing steep stone stairwells in the pitch black. Shimmy up rickety ladders and clamber over the bell tower and workings of the clock before finally heaving yourself out onto the top of the tower. Highly exhilarating, but well worth the climb.

Read more about: Likoma Island & Mozambique Lakeshore
 
Dive and snorkel in Lake Malawi

For the freshwater and cychlid enthusiast, Lake Malawi is a spectacular snorkelling or diving arena. There are several places off Lake Malawi that cater for divers including Kaya Mawa off Likoma Island and Danforth Yachting and Kayak Africa in the Cape Maclear area. Lake Malawi has more freshwater fish species than Europe and North America combined, and its sparkling tropical waters are filled with over 1,000 different rainbow-coloured cychlid fish endemic to the lake.

 
Explore the Nyika Plateau

The Nyika Plateau is a beautiful highlands destination where the sheer escarpments, dramatic peaks and pockets of dense pine forest provide a refreshing and startling contrast to the low lying lakeshores and forests found elsewhere in Malawi. The scenery is similar to the Scottish highlands but here you will see eland, zebras, bushbuck, and the rare roan on the Malawi highlands. You can fish for rainbow trout in the lakes and explore the plateau on drives or on long walks as the cool clear mountain air charges your lungs.

 
Fly across Malawi and over the lake

Flying around Lake Malawi is one of the main ways of getting from one end of the country to the other, being the quickest and most direct route to a large number of destinations. It is a fantastic way to view the country and gives you an idea of the sheer immensity of the lake. You can fly great distances and still see nothing but a faint shadow of the plane in the shimmering waters below, and maybe the faded shorelines in the distance.

 
Kayak off Mumbo Island

One of the best places to go kayaking is with Kayak Africa off Cape Maclear in the southern stretches of Lake Malawi. It is an adventure from the moment of reaching the lake shores, as you can take the stable kayaks all the way across to Mumbo Island if you're feeling energetic. Whilst staying on Mumbo Island it is possible to take the kayaks all around the island, brave the winds and battle the waves on the windy side and then glide across smooth waters on the sheltered side. Ride the swell of the lakes, edge your way into little caves hidden by a woven trellis of hanging vegetation, and take a break by climbing out at a small cove to grab your mask and fins for a spot of snorkelling.

Read more about: The Southern Lakeshore & Cape Maclear
 
Find out why it's known as the Lake of Stars

No trip to Malawi is complete without seeing Lake Malawi, otherwise known as the Lake of Stars. This enormous lake covers a fifth of the country and stretches for 500 kilometres, with the wild and mountainous Tanzanian and Mozambique terrain along its eastern border. The sparkling fresh water is fringed by lush vegetation and idyllic soft white sandy beaches, and is more reminiscent of seas off a tropical island rather than a landlocked country in the middle of Africa. The waters can be smooth and flat or behave like turbulent seas, crashing to the shore when storms approach.

 
Discover Malawi's abundant wildlife

For a wildlife enthusiast, Malawi has a couple of destinations where the game will be a wonderful addition to your other cultural and lakeside experiences in the country. While you will not see as much game as in other Southern African countries, the wildlife is still rewarding especially during the drier months of June to October. To the south is Liwonde Game Reserve, where elephants and hippos can be seen on game drives from Mvuu Lodge and Camp, and to the west is the rustic Vwaza Reserve,well off the beaten track in the middle of nowhere. This area is particularly good for viewing large herds of elephants coming through to the water hole close to camp. Accommodation is in simple huts at Kazuni Safari Camp, and though a strong sense of adventure is required it will be amply rewarded.

Read more about: Malawi's Wildlife
 
Sail on the catamaran Mufasa

One incredible way to view Malawi's lake shores and find your sea feet is to go sailing with Howard, owner of Danforth Yachting, on his beautiful catamaran, the Mufasa. There are daily excursions or the yacht can be chartered for several days, comfortably berthing six passengers and crew, to cruise from Cape Maclear to the far-off reaches on the lake. With the wind filling the sails and the spacious yacht gliding across the lake, take a pew in the aft with the charming skipper and sip on chilled wine. Magical.

Read more about: Danforth Yachting
 
Trek around the splendid Thyolo region

Mount Mulanje is an impressive sight, with its misty peaks rising far above the tea plantations of the Thyolo region below. Mulanje is an isolated granite massif rising steeply from plains and these highlands are fine hiking areas, being one of the finest mahogany forests in the country and well worth a day out whilst staying on one of the tea estates. Trails cross the many peaks and ridges found to the south and east of Blantyre and the rolling hills of the Shire Highlands.

Read more about: Thyolo Region
 
Walk the Zomba Plateau

Taking a hike through the hills and waterfalls of the Zomba Plateau is a refreshing and cool change after the heat of the lowlands. There are several hiking paths through indigenous woodlands and along narrow ridges along the edge of the escarpment, passing through the forests, alongside mountain streams and cascading waterfalls. From time to time the enclosed spaces open out allowing stunning viewpoints across the plateau and to the plains below.

Read more about: Zomba Plateau
 
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