Malawi is a little known gem of a country in the heart of Central Southern Africa that offers a true African experience at a relatively low cost. It is a long and narrow landlocked country, covering more than 1000 kilometers from north to south. Lake Malawi, nearly 600km long and up to 80km wide, dominates the country side.
There is no country in all Africa that has its geography so sculptured and determined by Africa’s Great Rift Valley, the largest single geographical feature on earth. This ancient 5000 km-long geological formation bisects much of Africa from Egypt to Botswana and boasts a bewildering array of habitants and lush vegetation. Towering mountains, lush, fertile valley floors and enormous crystal – clear lakes are hallmarks of much of the rift valley – and Malawi displays them all. Fertile soils are a result of the rift valley and evidence of this is to be found every where in Malawi. Throw a seed to the ground and plant grows.
Malawi’s scenery is diverse and the habitats are varied. And its lowest point, the country is only about 35m above sea level; its highest point, mount Mulanje, is 140km away and over 3000m above sea level. Between these altitude extremes, there are rolling hills, plateaus, cool misty mountains and wide ranging scenery. Each of the many diverse habitats protected within Malawi’s nine national parks and game reserves – from elephants to orchids.
For those keen on experiencing African culture in all its complexity and beauty, Malawi is a warm and welcoming country that offers visitors wonderful scenery, fascinating parks and some of the friendliest people in Africa. It is no wonder that it known as the “warm heart of Africa.”
Meet the People of Malawi
Malawi is one of the few places in Africa where you can really meet the local inhabitants or visit a rural community in an atmosphere totally devoid of either expectation or affection.
Over the years we have increasingly incorporated the country’s greatest asset; it’s amazingly friendly people, into our tours and safari.
The people we visit are not ‘genuine tribesmen’ in exotic traditional dress, or hunter-gatherers eking out existence in some pristine wilderness. Usually they are simple farmers and the like, living in close-knit rural communities and happy to share their life with visitors.
The experiences we offer, always optioned and always attuned to the sensibilities of both traveler and villager, take a variety of forms. This varies from a straight forward visit to a village with a guide from the area on hand to lead you through the local customs and courtesies, to a bike ride to a school to listen to local children’s choir, or the famous “cathedral walk” on Likoma Island.
As well as providing a glimpse into a world that is all too often only seen in passing from a car window, we believe that these contacts foster greater understanding of the challenges of the developing world and give a better perspective as to how tourism plays a part in making a difference down at grass roots level.
Best national parks in Malawi
LIWONDE NATIONAL PARK
Liwonde national park is famous for harboring the Big Five African mammals which include lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants. It is the best destination for wildlife safaris in Malawi and offers a wide range of activities including boat safaris on Shire River, walking safaris and night game drives. According to Malawi Tourism report 2022, the park received 4,959 international and 12,368 domestic travelers, making for an off-the beaten path safari experience. The park is managed by African Parks Network in partnership with Malawi Department of National Parks and Wildlife. Several conservation projects have been implemented to boost tourism and biodiversity including reintroduction of lions, black rhinos, cheetahs, and African wild dogs. Liwonde national park is one of Africa’s model protected areas for re-wilding success.
Flora and fauna
The protected area covers 545 sq. km including Mangochi Forest Reserve and ranges at altitude of 473-783meters above sea level. Much of the park contains mopane woodlands dominated by tree species including Brachystegia spiciformis, Julbernardia globiflora, fever trees and Colophospermum mopane trees which grow up to 25 m in height and form open forest on hills and riverbanks. Several ephipytes are found hanging in these trees such as Microcoelia ornithocephala. This type of vegetation supports large herbivores including elephants, buffaloes, sable antelopes, and Lichtenstein’s hartebeests. Shire River and its tributaries are inhabited by hippos, crocodiles, and water bird species such as Pel’s fishing owls and African skimmers. The lagoons and flood plains adjacent to the river contain borassus palm trees. The open grasslands attract antelope species such as waterbucks, Greater kudus, roan antelopes, impalas, warthogs and predators including African wild dogs, cheetahs, lions, and spotted hyenas. When it comes to birdlife, Liwonde is home to over 400 species of birds including Pel’s fishing owls, red necked falcon, Lilian’s loverbirds, Bohom’s bee-eaters, little bee-eaters, and white-backed night heron.
When to visit
The best time to visit Liwonde national park is during the dry season from May to October. The Shire River serves as the main permanent source of water attracting huge concentrations of mammal species such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles. Bird species including Pel’s fishing owl which primarily feeds on fish tends to roam in the riverine forests. The dry season is also a good time to do walking safaris due to thin vegetation.
How to get there
Liwonde is 245 km (6-hour drive) south of Lilongwe capital city and 125 km (3-hour drive) north of Blantyre the second largest city in Malawi. Liwonde town 71.6 km (1-hour drive) to the park entrance is 117 km (2-hour drive) from Blantyre. The park can also be reached by air through the Chileka International Airport which is located 13 km by road, northwest of Blantyre. From this town fly in safaris access the Mvuu camp airstrip within the park.
Where to stay
Liwonde offers a wide range of accommodations both within and outside the park including Mvuu Lodge and Mvuu camp. Set along the Namagogodo lagoon, Mvuu lodge has 5 tented charlets and 3 suites, swimming pools, view lounge, yoga deck and bush dining. The Mvuu camp offers 15 stone canvas charlets with spectacular views of the river and can accommodate up to 35 guests. Among other facilities the camp offers include swimming pool, education and conference center and curio shop. The camp can be reached by air via Mvuu camp airstrip.
Nyika national park
The largest protected area in Malawi, Nyika national park covers 3,134 sq. km (1,210 sq. miles) and is part of the Nyika plateau that stretches from northern Malawi into Zambia. The area is marked by rolling hills covered by Afromontane grasslands, moorlands and evergreen forests; Nyika offers spectacular scenery and is rich in biodiversity including over 200 orchids; over 400 species of birds; 3,000 Crawshay’s zebras, warthogs and a variety of antelope species such as eland, klipspringers, common reedbucks, common duikers, roan antelopes, and bushbucks.
Leopards
Due to many antelopes the park harbours Malawi’s highest population of leopards making for one of the best places to see leopards in Southern African. Among other big cats and small predators include lions, spotted hyenas, and side striped jackals. The park has elephants of which most were brought from Liwonde national park through the African Parks Network. Mammals that aren’t found in the park include giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, rhinos, and wildebeests.
Vegetation
Nyika national park’s highland plateau ecosystem with altitudes 1,800-2,600 meters above sea level supports unique plant species including 200 orchid species and wild flowers such as hair orchids (Holothrix randii), red hot pokers (Kniphofia), gladioli, lobelia, and delphiniums. The flowering season is from January and February creates a spectacular colorful array of fields making Nyika a must-visit gem for a keen photographer and botanist intending to explore unique Afromontane flora and endemic plant species.
Things to do
Nyika national park offers a wide range of safari experiences including mountain biking, horseback riding, walking trails, and bird watching.
Mountain biking
A 120 km bike track winds through Nyika national park allowing cyclists to explore the scenery and spot wildlife such as zebras. Guided tracks begin at Chelinda Camp inside the park where visitors can choose from short or long Eco-excursions ranging from 8 km into the different scenic view points and attractions within the park including Nganda peak and Lake Kaulime a natural lake, situated 8 km west of the camp. Biking outside the park can be done from the town of Rumphi, located 100 km south of the park. There are campgrounds in Rumphi for those intending to stay and explore the surrounding areas on rugged rock and dirt tracks.
Walking trails
There are day and multi-day walking trails in Nyika national park of which most begin at Chelinda Camp. The Pine plantation trail is a half day trail that winds around pine tree plantation behind the camp where you might spot a leopard. Pine trees were planted in the 1960s to provide timber. However, the trees have become an integral part of the natural ecosystem and act as windbreakers for the park visitor center and the camp. Lake Kaulime Loop is another short trail that starts at camp and winds through the montane grasslands to Lake Kaulime and three artificial dams. Along the trail visitors can expect to spot antelopes at the watering holes and water birds such as the Bertram’s weaver and great snipe. For those intending to walk for longer, there are multiday trails ranging from 1-4 days. The Jalawe and Chipome River Trail winds through miombo woodland vegetation in the northern part of the park and offers an opportunity to spot elephants.
Birding
Nyika national park offers great bird watching with over 400 species of birds including near endemics such as black lored cistcola, chirping cisticola, Olive-flanked robin chart, Chapin’s apalis, Crawshay’s francolin, and Fülleborn’s boubou. Birds of prey which include Pallid harriers, lesser kestrels, Augur buzzards, and long crested eagles can be spotted soaring above the forest beneath the Kasaramba viewpoint. Among bird species in the park include Denham’s bustard, Oriole finch, blue swallow, Whyte’s barbet, bar tailed tragon, and slender billed starling.
How to get there
Nyika national park is located 750 km (8-hour drive) north of Lilongwe capital city, 130 km from Mzuzu town and 70 km from Rumphi town.
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Majete Wildlife Reserve offers Big Five safaris, giving visitors the opportunity to see lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and black rhinos. African Parks Network took over management of the park in 2003 and reintroduced lions and black rhinos among other mammal species including the African wild dogs, cheetahs, giraffes, and elephants. Over time, there has been significant natural wildlife population recovery to estimated number of 3,000 mammals making for one of the conservation success stories in Africa.
Vegetation
The protected area covers an area of 700 sq. km in the lower Shire river basin at an altitude range of 145-752 meters above sea level (476-2,467ft). It is a wilderness landscape of rolling hills, open savanna grassland, riverine forests, swamps, flood plains, miombo woodlands, and volcanic kopjes. The sandy soils along the riverbanks in the flood plains support unique tree species such as ancient baobab trees and Ilala palms (Hyphaene coriacea) which are a source of food for elephants and baboons. Miombo woodlands is the most common vegetation type in Majete wildlife reserve and contains a variety of tree and shrub species of which Brachystegia and Julbernardia globiflora are the most dominant. Due to a variety of habitats Majete is rich in biodiversity including over 300 birds; the Big 5 African mammals which include leopards, lions, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants. Some of the predators include spotted hyenas, cheetahs, and African painted dogs. Among other wildlife species include impalas, giraffes, hippos, suni, Sharpe’s grysbok, sable antelopes, Lichtenstein’s hartebeests, waterbucks, Nyala, impalas, zebras, and warthogs, and Greater kudus.
Things to do
Majete wildlife reserve offers a wide range of things to do including game drives, birding, and community visits.
Where to stay
Thawale Lodge, managed by African Parks, offers comfortable accommodation inside Majete Wildlife Reserve, just a short drive from the Mwembezi entrance gate. The lodge provides up to 24 beds in spacious, tented chalets, each featuring en-suite bathrooms and private balconies that overlook a waterhole that is often visited by mammals. Guests staying at Thawale can cool off in the on-site swimming pool, a welcome retreat after a day of game drives. The lodge combines the charm of an authentic safari experience with modern comforts, making for ideal for both families and solo travelers. In addition to the lodge’s dining services, guests can also enjoy meals and refreshments at the Mwembezi Restaurant, located at the main gate. This restaurant serves light meals and drinks and also prepares diner upon request.
Bush camping is available at Game Capture Camp with a capacity to accommodate 33 guests of which 25 guests can pitch their tents and can stay 8 in serviced tents. The camp includes a kitchen, dining area, fireplace, and a swimming pool. Those intending to stay away from the camp or lodge can stay at Nakamba Hide Sleep-Out is a raised platform overlooking a water whole with bed and en-suit bathrooms allowing visitors to sleep in the bush under the stars and spot wildlife that come to the watering hole at night.
How to get there
Majete wildlife reserve is 380 km (6-hour drive) south of Lilongwe capital city, 73 km (2-hour drive) south west of Blantyre city distance and 20 km from Chikhwawa Boma town. The reserve can also be reached by air via Chileka International Airport in Blantyre and Majete and Nchalo airstrips.
LAKE MALAWI
At approximately 600 km from north south and in places up to 80km wide, Lake Malawi, the third largest fresh water body in Africa, constitutes roughly 20% of Malawi’s surface area. It dominates the eastern side of the country and harbors a wide range of underwater habitats including sandy, weedy, rock-sand interface and reed beds. There are also a number of dotted islands across the lake, separated from the mainland by sandy flats and deep water.
On the shores miombo woodlands and baobabs occur, and mammals such as baboon, vervet monkey, dassies and hippo are commonly sighted. Over 100 bird species are found, particularly water birds such as African fish-eagle and large colonies of white breasted cormorant.
Fishes in Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is famed for harboring over 1,000 fish species including cichlids (their local name is Mbuna), Eastern river bream (astotilapia calliptera), Nkhomo benga peacock (Aulonocara baenschi), Bubu (Auchenoglanis occidentalis), Aulonocara fort maguire (Aulonocara hansbaenschi), Night aulonocara (Aulonocara hueseri), Aulonocara brevinidus Cichlidae, Flavescent peacock (Aulonocara stuartgranti), Haplochromis sunset (Dimidiochromis strigatus). Fish forms the primary protein source of over 20,000 people that live on the lake shore and beyond. Much of this astounding underwater diversity is protected with in the lake Malawi national park at cape Maclear in the south, the in the world set aside for the protection of fresh fish and a world heritage site.