Some of the wonderful things to do in Malawi
In Malawi you not only have the joy of seeing excellent African wildlife, but there are mountains to hike, forests to wander in, tea plantations to visit, markets to shop in, and, of course, a vast lake to enjoy!
When to go to Malawi
It is generally best to visit Malawi in the dry season from May to October, though October can get very hot. You can come at any time but the short rains come in about November, then the heaviest rains are usually in February and March - the rainy season can see significant travel disruption. If you’re a birder, December to March is the best time for seeing most birds in Malawi.
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Places to go in Malawi
Read about the highlights of this incredible country in our short summary guides to the main places to go.
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Lake Malawi & Likoma Island
Lake Malawi covers about a fifth of the country and offers watersports, nature walks, island visits as well as the chance to rest by the shore as you unwind before or after a safari.

Liwonde National Park
Malawi’s most popular national park may be small but has large populations of elephant, buffalo and impala which can be viewed on boat safaris as well as game drives.

Malawi Safaris
Malawi’s national parks and reserves are less well known and visited than many and safaris here are free of crowds and provide excellent wildlife encounters in pristine surroundings.
Facts and information
Flight time
International flights to Malawi are either with Kenya Airways (via Nairobi) or South African Airways (via Johannesburg) then to Lilongwe or Blantyre.
Language
English is the official language but not widely used in rural areas. Chichewa is commonly used.
Time
GMT +2 hours
Visas
Not needed for most nationalities but check with your embassy. You need a Mozambique visa for Nkwichi Lodge.
Health
No vaccinations are compulsory but some are recommended. Yellow Fever certificate required for Nkwichi Lodge (Mozambique). See your GP for advice.
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The Tribes blog brings you regular articles written by our specialists, travellers or partners and conservationists in our destinations. We have a big collection of articles now, so have a mooch to find some interesting short reads.
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