Malawi Things to See & Do Guide

Though many people hike around Mount Zomba, there are also trails around the Dedza area and Mount Mulanje.

Day 1—Arrive in Lilongwe.

Days 2 and 3—Kasungu National Park.

Day 4—Drive to Lake Malawi, overnighting around Senga Bay.

Day 5—Relax at the beach.

Days 6—Drive to Liwonde National Park and take a river cruise.

Days 7—Drive to the Zomba Plateau and explore the area.

Day 8 & 9—Drive to Blantyre and see the sights.

Day 10—Fly to Lilongwe and depart Malawi.

Any additional days could be spent visiting Mount Mulanje, driving north to visit Nkhotakota and the Nyika Plateau area or exploring other parts of the lake.

Named after Dr. Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland, the commercial and industrial city of Blantyre is in a pretty setting in southern Malawi. Be sure to visit the Church of St. Michael's and All Angels (built in 1891) and the National Museum (historical displays), then drive up Soche Hill for an impressive view. The Blantyre area can easily be seen in about six hours, but several nights could be spent there if trips are made to Mount Mulanje, Lengwe National Park, the Zomba Plateau or the Michiru Mountain Conservation Area, which has picnic areas and nature trails. 145 mi/235 km southeast of Lilongwe.

A small village on a long, sandy beach near the southern end of Lake Malawi, Cape Maclear is a jumping-off point for hiking in the surrounding hills, visiting Lake Malawi National Park or taking boat trips to nearby islands. From the islands, you can snorkel and scuba dive among colorful fish, and spot the many fish eagles gliding over the water. It is important to note that there is a danger of bilharzia—a parasite that can cause fatal liver damage—in this region of the lake, particularly in shallow or stagnant water. Although accommodations on the cape are basic and the access road from Monkey Bay is rough, Cape Maclear is a beautiful, restful place. 75 mi/120 km east of Lilongwe.

Malawi's biggest game reserve, Kasungu is great for bird-watchers (more than 300 species have been sighted). We suggest a minimum of two nights at one of several lodges to see the birds, as well as bushbuck, impala, elephants, zebras, lions, cheetahs and other animals. Visitors can also see archaeological sites and rock paintings. 100 mi/165 km northwest of Lilongwe.

At the southern tip of Lake Malawi, this national park encompasses the bulk of the Nankhumba Peninsula, all of the Cape Maclear Peninsula and several offshore islands. In addition to boating, visitors can enjoy bird-watching and animal viewing (baboon, hippos and monkeys predominate). An underwater trail at Mitande Rocks, southwest of Thumbi Island, provides one of the best views of Lake Malawi's many freshwater fish. Most of these fish are in the cichlid family and are brightly colored and patterned. Again, it is important to be aware that bilharzia-the parasite that can cause liver damage-may be present in certain parts of the lake. The best way to explore the park is by kayak, which can be hired for a gentle paddle around the rocky coastline. 150 mi/245 km east of Lilongwe.

Set in the Shire Valley along the border with Mozambique, this reserve (345 sq mi/887 sq km) is home to antelope, buffalo and leopard, as well as the rare Nyala antelope and Samango monkey. The park can be seen easily on a day trip from Blantyre. Lengwe's accommodations are modest, but an air-conditioned lodge, restaurant and other facilities have been added as part of an overall refurbishing. Just north of the park is the Majete Game Reserve, on the Shire River. In addition to the species found in Lengwe, Majete has elephants, hippos, zebras and waterbuck, and close to the gate are the scenic Kapichira Falls. 265 mi/425 km south of Lilongwe.

These sandy islands, covered in baobab and mango trees, are out-of-the-way places to relax and enjoy Lake Malawi. Likoma Island is home to an impressive Anglican cathedral built in 1903 to counter the witchcraft that missionaries found when they arrived there. Chizimulu Island is arguably the best snorkeling spot in the country. Both islands have wonderfully deserted beaches. Most travelers get to the island on a ferry that travels up and down the lake and stops at Monkey Bay on the mainland. Accommodations are limited on the islands, but on Likoma there's a dive school and a luxury lodge built entirely by hand using local materials. 150 mi/240 km northeast of Lilongwe.

Malawi's modern capital city is in the center of the country. It is split into two main centers known as the New and Old Towns. The modern New Town is a collection of gleaming buildings with manicured lawns. The more chaotic Old Town couldn't be more different. The original village of Lilongwe has bustling markets, teaming bus stations and street vendors. There's not a great deal to see and do, but the city is worth a three-hour visit—plenty of time to see the Teacher Training College, government buildings, the market on Malangalanga Road and the Asian Quarter. The sprawling curio market outside of the post office in the Old Town is definitely worth a visit for the vast range of wooden carvings on offer, though you will have to be prepared to haggle hard over prices. Travelers planning to visit Malawi's parks should drop by the National Parks and Wildlife Office on Kenyatta Drive—the agency is the best source of information and maps in the country. The small 370-acre/150-hectare Lilongwe Nature Reserve is between the Old and New Towns. It attracts a number of birds as well as spotted hyena, bushbuck and vervet monkey. The Lingadzi River that runs through it is inhabited by a few crocodiles. There is a wildlife information center and a number of walking trails through the woods. 145 mi/235 km northwest of Blantyre.

This beautiful historical town is perched high on the Livingstonia Escarpment on the top of a road with 22 hairpin bends. The settlement resembles an English village and has a spectacular view of the lake and surrounding region. Livingstonia was settled by Scottish missionaries in 1894 and named after the explorer David Livingstone. Besides the view, Livingstonia also has a nice museum on local history. If you visit the nearby Manchewe Falls (195 ft/60 m tall), peek into the caves behind the falls, which used to be a hideout from slave traders. This is the highest waterfall in Malawi. 240 mi/385 km north of Lilongwe.

Malawi's finest national park lies on the banks of the Shire River and Lake Malombe, just south of Lake Malawi. Hippopotamus, crocodiles and elephants are the most commonly sighted large animals, and black rhino, waterbuck, warthogs, bushbuck, baboon, kudu and sable are occasionally seen. Large predators are scarce but include spotted hyena, leopard and the occasional vagrant lion. The best way to see the game is from the river itself, and the lodges in the park organize boat safaris as well as game drives. Liwonde is well-known for its birdlife, and is an excellent place to seek out rarities such as the Pel's fishing owl, white-backed night heron, African skimmer and Boehm's bee-eater. The park is closed December-April during the rainy season. 135 mi/220 km southeast of Lilongwe.

Central Africa's highest mountain (9,848 ft/3,002 m) is surrounded by a region famous for its tea plantations, trout-filled streams and fragrant cedar forests. Mountaineers and hikers will be pleased to find huts available for overnighting on the mountainside (reservations required). The Chambe route up the mountain includes more than 5,248 ft/1,600 m of roped climbing. 40 mi/65 km southeast of Blantyre.

In the far north, Mzuzu is the biggest regional center in northern Malawi and is mainly visited on the way to Tanzania or the northern parts of Lake Malawi. The town has an airport, a few shops, a good hotel, several restaurants and local guesthouses, and a good hospital. 180 mi/290 km north of Lilongwe.

The most popular traveler hangout on Lake Malawi, Nkhata Bay is a lively little village with markets, cafes and a busy fishing harbor. It attracts many backpackers who spend up to a few weeks there in the rustic beach resorts. Though best-known as a place to chill out, Nkhata Bay is also a good base for scuba diving in the lake—weeklong courses offered by Aqua Africa are among the cheapest in the world. Other activities are available, including popular kayaking expeditions. 25 mi/40 km southeast of Mzuzu.

On the banks of Lake Malawi, Nkhotakota is the oldest settlement in Malawi and was once a center for the slave trade. The fig tree under which Dr. Livingstone preached against slavery can still be seen. The village can be visited on a very long day trip from Lilongwe or when driving along the lakeshore road. Stop at Nkhotakota Pottery to see the elegant range of ceramic dinner services on sale there, and enjoy the cafe that serves up cakes and fresh coffee. 80 mi/130 km northeast of Lilongwe.

At around 7,500 ft/2,300 m, this park is one of the world's highest-altitude game reserves. This area of beautiful grassland and waterfalls offers a wide range of animal viewing, hiking and fishing, but it's really quite remote (in far northern Malawi). A popular activity at Nyika is horseback riding across the rolling highlands and dambos (seasonally moist depressions). These are the ideal habitats for leopards and many species of antelope. A herd of about 40 elephants has recolonized the plateau, and other wildlife includes spotted hyena, an endemic race of Burchell's zebra, and a checklist of 400 bird species including several montane forest rarities. Accommodations consist of a lodge that has its own air strip for fly-in safaris. 315 mi/510 km north of Lilongwe.

Senga Bay has a wide variety of accommodations, and beach and watersports activities, and is a very relaxing place to spend a few days (be aware of the danger of bilharzia, however). There is also a large curio market there where you will have to bargain hard over the famous Malawi chairs and other carvings. Nearby Lizard Island makes a nice day trip to see fish eagles and huge monitor lizards. A short walk out of town, waterbirds and hippos are regularly seen at the Mpatsanjoka dambo. An hour's drive away, the anthropological museum at the Mua Mission is among the best in the country. 50 mi/80 km east of Lilongwe.

This large park runs along the low-lying border are with Zambia south of the Nyika Plateau. It is easily accessible from the small town of Rumphi. Populations of about 2,000 buffalo, 550 hippos and 30 elephants are the largest in Malawi. Other large mammal species include greater kudu, Liechtenstein's hartebeest, puku and impala. Lions and leopards are scarce, and reports of African wild dog suggest that this endangered species has recolonised the park from neighboring Zambia. A nice lodge lies on Lake Kazuni, which supports plenty of birds and usually attracts elephants on a daily basis. 220 mi/350 km north of Lilongwe.

This beautiful, high plateau (3,000-7,000 ft/915-2,135 m) rises up near the former capital city of Zomba. In the city, visit the botanical garden and open market, see the parliament and presidential palace, then head into the countryside to enjoy the pine forests, Mandala Falls and trout-filled streams. The plateau is also home to extensive birdlife and (during the spring) fabulous wildflowers including orchids. There you will also enjoy some spectacular mountain views (especially from the Queen's View lookout) and Lake Chilwa. Hiking is possible, but be aware that you may encounter wild and potentially dangerous animals. Be wary of getting lost as the plateau is routinely shrouded with mist. Spend at least two nights in Zomba and a full day driving through the region. 45 mi/75 km northeast of Blantyre.