Malawi is one of Africa’s smallest and most densely populated countries, yet it punches well above its weight as a travel destination. Lake Malawi dominates the country, stretching nearly 600 kilometres from north to south and accounting for a fifth of its total area. The lake is warm, clear, and home to more species of freshwater fish than any other lake on earth, making it one of the world’s finest freshwater diving and snorkelling destinations.
Beyond the lake, Liwonde National Park offers boat safaris along the Shire River with close encounters with hippo, crocodile, and elephant, and a successful rhino reintroduction programme. In the north, the Nyika Plateau rises to over 2,500 metres, offering montane grassland, good hiking, and wildlife including leopard and vast herds of roan antelope. Majete Wildlife Reserve has been transformed from a poached-out wilderness into a thriving Big Five reserve, one of southern Africa’s most impressive conservation turnarounds. The people of Malawi have a reputation for warmth that is remarked upon by almost every visitor, and the country has long been known as the warm heart of Africa. Travel is straightforward, costs are low, and the combination of lake, wildlife, and highland scenery makes it a rewarding and underrated destination.
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Highlights and hidden gems
Lake Malawi: Swim, snorkel, and dive in one of the world's great freshwater lakes, where visibility is excellent and the fish life more diverse than any other lake on earth.
Liwonde National Park: Take a boat safari along the Shire River for close encounters with hippo, crocodile, and elephant in one of southern Africa's most rewarding small parks.
Majete Wildlife Reserve: Safari through a Big Five reserve that has been transformed from a poached-out wilderness into one of Africa's most impressive conservation success stories.
Nyika Plateau: Hike or ride through rolling montane grassland at 2,500 metres, where roan antelope, leopard, and hyena roam a landscape that feels unlike anywhere else in the region.
Likoma Island: Visit a remote island in the middle of Lake Malawi, home to an improbably grand Anglican cathedral built by missionaries and some of the lake's finest snorkelling.
Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve: A little-visited reserve in the north where large hippo pods, elephant herds, and excellent birdlife reward those willing to make the journey.
Mulanje Massif: Climb the dramatic granite inselberg that rises from Malawi's southern plains, with multi-day hut-to-hut hiking trails through cedar forest and open plateau.
Livingstonia: A hilltop mission town in the north with sweeping views over Lake Malawi, founded by Scottish missionaries in the 19th century and largely unchanged since.
