Malawi Highlights - Travel Trips & Tours

Malawi

Beaches
The majestic Lake Malawi covers a fifth of the country, its sparkling waters stretching for 500 kilometres. Fringed by idyllic sandy beaches, it is often more reminiscent of the ocean off a tropical island than a rare body of water in a landlocked African country.
Beaches
Birds
With excellent guides and a range of water habitats, Malawi is a great destination for birding enthusiasts. Possibly best of all is the Nyika Plateau, home to a range of species that you will not find in neighbouring countries due to its utterly unique environment.
Birds
Colonial History
Always peaceful and welcoming, Malawi boasts a rich cultural and colonial heritage. An integral part of the missionary route trodden by Livingstone and his followers, echoes can be seen in Blantyre and Zomba, but nowhere is it more apparent than at the awesome St Peter’s Cathedral on Likoma Island.
Colonial History
Diving and snorkelling
For the freshwater and cychlid enthusiast, Lake Malawi is a spectacular arena for snorkelling and diving. On the lake there are several places that offer top class snorkelling and diving spots, including Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island and Danforth Yachting in the Cape Maclear area.
Diving and snorkelling
Tea Plantations
In the shadow of Mount Mulanje, the tea plantations of Thyolo are a wonderfully relaxed place to visit and enjoy the brilliant green fields, mahogany forests and small water falls. Time can be spent learning about how the tea is made or exploring the lush landscapes under your own steam.
Tea Plantations
Tropical Fish
Lake Malawi is a mecca for enthusiasts of smaller aquatic life, with more freshwater fish species than Europe and North America combined. The sparkling tropical waters are filled with over 1,000 different rainbow-coloured cychlid fish, many of which are endemic to the lake.
Tropical Fish
Wildlife
Malawi isn't a Big 5 Safari destination however Liwonde National Park does offer beautiful riverine scenery, large herds of elephant, big hippo pods, crocs, several different antelope species and a myriad of bird species including the rare Pels Fishing Owl. The boat safaris are a real highlight here. With a couple of new camps opening up Malawi's Majete Reserve is also an intriguing destination for those seeking an off the beaten track wildlife experience with the chance to see black rhino, elephant, buffalo and a variety of plains game.
Wildlife

Africa and The Indian Ocean

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Highlights of Malawi

Snorkel & kayak at Cape Maclear
A national park area, World Heritage site and one of the most picturesque areas of Lake Malawi, perfect for relaxation, snorkelling and kayaking.
Snorkel & kayak at Cape Maclear
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Experience the local culture of the Northern Lakeshore
Relatively unexplored, the Northern Lakeshore is characterised by scattered villages, golden beaches and small coves. On the way from Lilongwe you can explore Malawi’s rich cultural heritage.
Experience the local culture of the Northern Lakeshore
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See the Nyika Plateau from horseback
Utterly unique, its rolling highlands often described as more reminiscent of Scotland than Africa. On horseback is the perfect vantage point to view herds of roan antelope and zebra.
See the Nyika Plateau from horseback
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Go shopping in Lilongwe
Sleepy but modern, the capital is made up of the contrasting old and new town areas. Not a great deal to excite, but it is fine for relaxation and shopping.
Go shopping in Lilongwe
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Take in the views from the Zomba Plateau
A magnificent table-top mountain, replete with forests, streams and grand vistas. It overshadows the old colonial town of Zomba, formerly the capital of Malawi.
Take in the views from the Zomba Plateau
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Learn about the colonial history of Likoma Island
Tiny and unspoilt, with rocky promontories, golden beaches and huge baobab trees. Likoma is also steeped in colonial history, evidenced by the vast, incongruous St Peter’s Cathedral.
Learn about the colonial history of Likoma Island
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Safari in Liwonde National Park
Malawi’s premier game viewing destination, dominated by the winding Shire River. Beautiful and remote, it’s perfect for a laid back safari with a range of activities.
Safari in Liwonde National Park
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Go game viewing in Majete Wildlife Reserve
With new accommodation and an influx of wildlife that includes elephant, black rhino, zebra and eland (with cats to come), Majete promises to be an excellent game viewing destination.
Go game viewing in Majete Wildlife Reserve
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Discover the untouched delights of Manda
On the Mozambique shores of Lake Malawi lies one of the continent’s most remote but rewarding destinations, where visitors will find untouched wilderness stretching down to white sand beaches.
Discover the untouched delights of Manda
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Go walking in the Thyolo Region
A stunning area of fertile land dominated by vibrant green tea estates and Malawi’s highest peak, Mount Mulanje. Covered in woodland, rivers and waterfalls, the foothills are ideal for keen walkers.
Go walking in the Thyolo Region
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Our country specialists have travelled the length and breadth of Malawi - here are a few of their favourite things to do

Malawi is an often overlooked but nestled in a cleft of the Great Rift Valley, this small country is dominated by the huge sparkling waters of Lake Malawi which provide the lifeblood of Malawi’s fertile lands.

As well as the lake, Malawi boasts a diversity of scenery, wildlife and activities to rival those of her better known neighbours.

Wildlife of Malawi

In the south of the country visitors will find vibrant green tea plantations and the lofty Zomba Plateau, ideal for a day or so's hiking in the clear mountain air. Here also is Liwonde National Park, home to sable antelope, waterbuck, impala and bushbuck. The palm fringed Shire River twists through the park and has a couple of small tented camps on its banks, where hippos mow the lawn at night. To the north the rolling highlands of the Nyika Plateau are grazed by zebra and roan antelope, and ideal for cycling and horseriding safaris.

'Lake of stars'

Finally, at the heart of it all lies the ‘Lake of Stars’ whose clear waters and beautiful lakeshore are ideal for those seeking either watersports or pure relaxation.

For those looking to get off the beaten track, Malawi’s striking landscapes, warm-hearted people and rich cultural history are the answer.