Fish eagle flying, Malawi

© WLiQiang,Shutterstock
Lake Malawi

© Pil-Art,Shutterstock
At Mount Mulanje, Malawi

© YBirukov,Shutterstock
Elephants drinking, Africa

© AGMarks

Safari & lake holidays in Malawi

Luxury tailor-made holidays in Malawi, for a gentle safari and beach experience in the ‘warm heart of Africa’.

Tailor-made Malawi holidays

The focus of any holiday in Malawi is Lake Malawi itself. Enjoy watersports in this ‘lake of stars’ after exploring the country’s wildlife, mountains and tea estates, and meeting the famously friendly Malawians. This country is a bit of a ‘secret’ Africa destination, less known but wonderful.

So many lovely animals to see, including some I hadn't even heard of! People were all so helpful and friendly. The variety in scenery and the frequent local markets we passed made for fascinating journeys.

Read honest reviews about Malawi holidays with Tribes Travel

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!

Things to do on Lake Malawi

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Private Island? Yes please!

Go off-grid at Mumbo Island. It ticks all the boxes: an eco-camp set amidst unspoiled wilderness on a teeny tiny island.

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.

Places to go in Malawi

Read about the highlights of this incredible country in our short summary guides to the main places to go.

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.

Places we love to stay in Malawi

Here you’ll find a small collection of our favourite places to stay in Malawi, though as an independent tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays, we actually sell a much wider choice of Malawian properties than we show.