Best Places to visit in Malawi

Best Places to visit in Malawi

When you hear of Malawi most travelers will straight away reflect on Lake Malawi which is one of the extraordinary natural wonders in Malawi housing several white sandy beaches and islands perfect for layback holiday safaris. Lake Malawi national park is the world’s first freshwater national park, Lake Malawi has tropical blue waters teeming with colorful cichlid fish, and its rocky islands, sandy beaches, and jungle terrain provide habitats for birds, reptiles, and mammals such as baboons, hippos, monkeys and leopards.

Though Malawi is overshadowed by its neighboring countries this small country is still a hidden gem and one of the undisturbed safari destinations in Africa.

UNESCO-listed Lake Malawi is 587km (365 miles) long and 84km (52 miles) wide, so exploring the sights can take weeks given the area's minimal infrastructure. Those with time and a backpack to stay nimble catch the MV Ilala Ferry. The ship has been running for 70 years and provides a lifeline for people transferring goods from the lake’s northern tip of Chilumba, near Tanzania, to Monkey Bay in the south, plus the islands in between.

The big five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino) can be seen in Malawi as well as a splendid range of antelope and the smaller cats such as caracal and Serval. Hippos are to be found in large numbers, so much so that they are almost symbolic of Malawi’s wildlife. A safari in Malawi is about memorable experiences, not tick lists.

Some of the most sought-after destinations in Malawi include the main capital Lilongwe which is a vibrant city, Likoma Island, Liwonde national park, Thyolo region, Majete wildlife reserve, and Mount Mulanje, Nyika national park, and the Zomba plateau making Malawi a superb destination for an African holiday.

Here are some of the top destinations chosen by our Africa experts and while planning a safari to Malawi you must visit some or all these destinations.