You escape to Malawi, where a vast inland lake feels like the ocean itself. Warm, crystal water laps at golden beaches as you sway in a hammock beneath palms and watch fiery sunsets. By day, you dive among shimmering fish, canoe to empty shores, or set off on safari in Liwonde or Majete to spot elephants and hippos. Friendly smiles greet you everywhere, and whether you pair Malawi with Zambia or linger longer, you’ll find romance, adventure, and pure, easygoing beauty.
Travel to Malawi for a classic tropical beach holiday. The country may be hundreds of miles inland but magnificent Lake Malawi has everything you need: warm, clear water under sunny skies, hammocks slung between palm trees and dramatic sunsets. You can scuba dive among clouds of sparkling fish, paddle a canoe to deserted beaches, and enjoy local cuisine and lakeside culture.
Malawi travel is usually in combination with other African destinations. In particular, it’s a country that blends well with neighbouring Zambia. Travellers have the chance to view Victoria Falls, enjoy a big game safari and then kick back on a golden beach. You could also add Malawi to a South African tour or even Botswana for an equally rich and diverse itinerary.
And Malawi is rapidly becoming more than just a beach destination: its national parks and game reserves are increasingly attractive for the seasoned safari traveller. Liwonde and Majete are the best ones and are easy to build into a Malawi travel itinerary. You’ll sit back to game viewing by 4X4, boat and even on foot; highlights include elephants, hippos, crocodiles & many antelope species.
You’ll also enjoy the hospitality of a country long known as Africa’s friendliest – service always comes with a smile in Malawi. Families with children will love the safe and welcoming nature of Malawi; romantics will appreciate its natural beauty and panoramic views.
Malawi accommodation ranges from value-for-money beach resorts to luxurious hideaways on private islands, ideal for honeymooners. There are a handful of safari camps and lodges in the best reserves, often the sister camps of safari accommodation in Zambia which makes travel between the two countries much easier.
With glittering Lake Malawi and several greatly improving game reserves to offer, Malawi is a stand-alone holiday destination in its own right. International flights land at the capital Lilongwe and then you’ll transfer overland or by charter aircraft to your destination at the lake or in the reserves. Malawi is, however, a country usually experienced in combination with other destinations.
The best tried-and-tested combination with a Malawi holiday is Zambia: travellers can include iconic Victoria Falls and the game-rich South Luangwa National Park and still have time for a beach holiday in Malawi. You could also venture into Zambia’s wild Lower Zambezi and compare its teeming river waters with that of Lake Malawi’s.
Browse our recommended itineraries below, all of which include a Malawi holiday. If you’d like a more personalised approach then simply contact us and we’ll tailor-make an itinerary that suits your needs and budget.
Travel to Malawi during its long dry winter – May to October. Not only will you enjoy the best weather for Lake Malawi but it’s prime time for game viewing across the region. You’ll catch Malawi’s parks at their best and neighbouring Zambia is in peak game viewing season. Activities like white water rafting and guided walking safaris are at their best, there’s plenty of water thundering over Victoria Falls, and the risk of malaria is at its lowest.
Conditions are warm and dry with cool nights from May to August; temperatures rise several degrees in September and October but game viewing is at is most exciting in Zambia, Victoria Falls and Botswana. Rains become heavy in December and the risk of malaria increases as the rainy season unfolds. You’ll see Malawi at its greenest and the bird watching is excellent but you are unlikely to get a consistently dry and sunny beach holiday.
Our team of destination experts will design a holiday to meet your budget and interests. Let’s start planning your tailor-made African safari today!
Served by travel hubs Johannesburg and Nairobi, Malawi is a destination that is usually part of a bigger African travel itinerary. Travellers often combine a beach holiday on Lake Malawi with a safari to the Masai Mara/Serengeti, Botswana or the Kruger. If you have specific experiences you want to include – hiking Kilimanjaro, gorilla trekking, or Cape Town and Table Mountain – then tell us about it and we’ll plan it for you.
The easiest ‘Safari and Malawi’ combination is with Zambia, giving you access to some of the best game parks in Africa as well as Victoria Falls.
