Where to Go in Malawi

The Northern & Central Regions
Mzuzu & the North
The capital of the northern region, Mzuzu, has one major hotel and several smaller establishments. The town is approached from the south by a road across the rolling hills of the Viphya Plateau or by the lakeshore road. There are two game areas in the region: the beautiful and unique plateau of Nyika National Park and the Vwasa Marsh Wildlife Reserve. Both have new luxury lodges as well as simpler accommodation. Also in the region is the famous Livingstonia Mission with its interesting museum. Access is difficult up the escarpment road but the Mission can also be reached from the east via Rumphi. Nearby, the Manchewe Falls spill off the escarpment.

Lilongwe
Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, is in the central region, 90 minutes’ drive inland from Lake Malawi. Alongside the traditional Old Town, with its interesting markets, is the modern city and seat of government with its imaginative architecture in a garden setting. There is a wide range of hotels in Lilongwe.

Excursions
Northwest of the capital is the vast Kasungu National Park with a variety of wildlife and good accommodation. North of Lilongwe is the famous Kamuzu Academy (the ‘Eton of Africa’). This is also the region supplying much of the country’s important tobacco crop.

The Southern Region
Blantyre
Malawi’s commercial capital and largest town was established at the end of the 19th century. It is really two towns: Blantyre and Limbe, joined by a development corridor. Visits can be made to the National Museum, to St Michael and All Angels Church (associated with Dr David Livingstone) and to Mandala House (the oldest European building in Malawi).

Elsewhere
North of Blantyre is the university town and former capital, Zomba. Towering above the town is the 2100m- (6890ft-) Zomba Plateau with its vast forests and waterfalls. There is a newly rebuilt luxury hotel as well as lodges and two campsites. The views from the plateau are stunning and it is possible to drive around or walk on the plateau top. There is also a trout farm which is now rehabilitated and has a very nice picnic area.
Large tea estates, which offer accommodation, lie to the southeast of Thyolo, overshadowed by the magnificent Mulanje Massif, a huge block of mountains of more than 640 sq km (250 sq miles) rising to over 3000m (10,000ft) at its highest point at Sapitwa. For the tourist, Mulanje offers a wide variety of activities, from rock climbing and mountain walking to the more leisurely pursuit of trout fishing. Much of the massif is accessible and guides can be hired. Forest huts provide simple accommodation. Mulanje is best visited between April and November.
The Lower Shire Valley is different from the rest of the country, as it is low lying, hotter, and dominated by the great river which drains Lake Malawi. There are vast sugar plantations at Sucoma.

Lake Malawi & Lakeshore Regions
Lake Malawi
This vast lake stretches from the northern tip of the country to Mangochi in the south. The surface area of the lake covers nearly 24,000 sq km (15,000 sq miles), and lies in the deep, trough-like rift valley which runs the length of the country. The shores of the lake are generally sandy and the resort areas are largely bilharzia-free. There are no tides or currents. Most of the hotels provide pleasure craft enabling visitors to enjoy water-skiing, sailing, fishing, snorkeling and windsurfing. Lake Malawi is known to contain more species of fish than any other lake in the world: over 500 and up to a possible 1000 at the latest estimate. Some of the rarest tropical fish in the world are unique to the lake, which is also the home of fish eagles, black eagles, several varieties of kingfisher, tern and many other birds. One of the best ways of seeing lake Malawi is to cruise in the 630-ton Ilala II, the lake’s mini-liner, which cruises the lake between Monkey Bay and Karonga in the north of the country. The 1052km- (654 mile-) voyage gives the passenger the opportunity to visit lake ports and to view the spectacular mountain scenery. Luxury yacht chartering is also available.

The Lakeshore
Nkhotakota, on the central lake shore, is one of Africa’s oldest market towns and was once a center of the slave trade. There are mid-range lodges here from which one can visit the nearby wildlife reserve. The beautiful Chintheche Strip has excellent small lodge accommodation.
Further north is Nkhata Bay, a busy port and market and a favorite stopping place for visitors. There is plenty of budget accommodation around the bay.
Senga Bay, near the market town of Salima, is the main lakeshore resort of the central region. Lizard Island, home to many varieties of lizard and eagle, is one of the many off-shore islands.
Cape Maclear, near Monkey Bay, has a beautiful sandy beach and is in the Lake Malawi National Park, the world’s first freshwater reserve. It is here that the fish-rich lake is seen at its best. There is top-class accommodation at the island camps, and at a new lodge offering sailing in luxury yachts and kayaking and diving are offered from the islands. There are plenty of mid-range and budget lodges and there are plans for a hotel.

Likoma Island
Located on the east side of the lake, near the Mozambique shore, Likoma Island is worth a visit - there is excellent swimming off the beaches and a very interesting Anglican Cathedral, built by missionaries over 100 years ago. Accommodation is limited but includes a luxury lodge.

National Parks & Wildlife Reserves
Malawi has nine national parks and wildlife reserves but six are especially recommended for visitors. There are also many attractive and accessible forest reserves. All the parks and reserves are uncrowded and give visitors an excellent experience of unspoilt wilderness.

Nyika National Park
Situated in the far north of the country, the park’s unique rolling grassland covers most of the Nyika Plateau, which lies at an altitude of 2500m (8200ft). The whaleback hills are broken by deep valleys and occasional patches of evergreen, natural forest and bubbling streams. Nyika is known to sustain many rare birds and butterflies, game and a multitude of flowers, including an incredible range of orchids. At Chelinda there is a variety of accommodation, including new luxury log cabins. The lodges and camps are set high up on the edge of a pine forest, overlooking trout-filled lakes. The enormous plateau has zebra, antelope, leopard and hyena as well as elephants on the lower slopes. A specialty of Chelinda is its horse safaris. There is an airstrip for visitors arriving by air.

Vwasa Marsh Wildlife Reserve
Located to the west of Mzuzu. A camp with luxury reed huts has been established, overlooking Lake Kazuni. There is a variety of game including elephant, buffalo and hippos, as well as a large number of bird species. There is a mix of woodland, open grassland and marsh. This is a totally unspoilt reserve.

Kasungu National Park
Situated in the northwest of the central region, 154km (96 miles) from Lilongwe, Kasungu National Park consists of some 2000 sq km (770 sq miles) of woodland. The park is best known for its elephants, which appear in the early morning and evening to drink from dambos (river channels). The grasslands support large herds of buffalo, as well as a variety of antelope such as kudu and reedbuck. Predators such as lion and leopard may be seen. Accommodation in the park is easily accessed at Lifupa, where there are luxury rondavels as well as a separate self-catering camp.

Liwonde National Park
Situated in the Shire Valley, south of Lake Malawi and north of Zomba, Liwonde is the most popular of the national parks. The River Shire flows along the eastern border of the park allowing for boat safaris. The river is frequented by vast numbers of hippo, and elephants and crocodiles can also be seen. There is a wide range of game in the park, including rhino and various antelope. Through introductions, Liwonde now has the ‘big five’ for visitors to see. The birdlife includes one of the greatest variety of species in Africa. There is accommodation in the park at Mvuu, including a luxury lodge and a separate permanent camp and camping site. Walking, boating and driving safaris (in 4-wheel-drive vehicles) are on offer. There is a landing strip for visitors coming by air. A second safari lodge has been opened on a hill site in the southern part of the park.

Lake Malawi National Park
Close to Monkey Bay, this reserve lies towards the southern extremity of the lake. Opened in 1980, it was the world’s first freshwater national park and its setting and attractions are world-renowned. Tropical fish, which can be viewed by snorkeling or scuba-diving, are a specialty of the park, while further inland klipspringer, bushbuck and vervet monkeys may be seen. Access to the park is easy throughout the year. In the past, only budget accommodation was available but there are now excellent camps on two deserted islands in the park, as well as a luxury guest house, which is also linked to an upmarket yachting operation. Many visitors make day-trips from the hotels on the lakeshore south of Monkey Bay.

Lengwe National Park
Lengwe National Park is in the Lower Shire Valley and is only 130 sq km (80 sq miles) large. The park has the distinction of being the farthest point north where the rare Nyala antelope can be found. Also here is the diminutive Livingstone’s Suni, one of the smallest of antelopes, as well as the rare Blue or Samango monkey. These and other game can be viewed from concealed hides. New accommodation is being developed here and it is possible to visit the park in a daytrip from Blantyre.

Other parks
Of the other wildlife reserves, the vast Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is little developed and lacks drivable tracks. However, there is a good range of game including lion and elephant. Accommodation can be had nearby along the lakeshore. Majete and Mwabvi Wildlife Reserves are in the Lower Shire Valley. Majete has little viewable game and Mwabvi is difficult to access.


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