Malawi receives heavy rainfall at the start of the year, making roads in remoter areas impassable. While this might not suit everyone, it does coincide with the arrival of migratory birds from the Northern Hemisphere, and plants and flowers are beautiful in bloom. The Nyika Plateau is particularly impressive; you’ll find the landscapes reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, albeit with roan antelope, zebra, and hyena!
After the rains Malawi is not only greener but also cooler. Roads are passable once again. It’s one of the best times of the year to visit Liwonde and Majete as male animals fight for dominance to ensure they can mate with females, putting on quite a show. Elephant are generally less aggressive in their mating rituals, and herds gather along river banks where there’s plenty to eat and drink.
Malawi’s winter is cool by local standards, but nevertheless pleasantly warm for visitors. Liwonde is home to vast flocks of Lillian’s lovebird, a brightly coloured parrot which is very hard to see elsewhere. See crocodile hatching from their eggs along the riverbanks, while elephant herds will number in the hundreds, and you are guaranteed to see them on game drives and boat trips.
Throughout September the sun is shining and the skies are clear, but temperatures aren’t too high. This month is better than any other for visiting Lake Malawi, swimming and snorkelling in the water, and relaxing on the beach. The water is clear for diving, and there are some gorgeous nature walks along the coast.
Malawi becomes hot again with temperatures of 40 Celsius not uncommon. Vegetation dies back, which makes game viewing easier, but our recommendation is to seek out cooler climes in the Zomba Plateau and mountainous areas. Hiking trails are gorgeous, and guides introduce you to local flora and small fauna along the way. Pair this with a few days amongst Malawi’s scenic tea estates, where you’ll feel transported back in time.
With 650 recorded bird species, 10% of which cannot be seen anywhere else in southern Africa, Malawi is a real birdwatchers’ paradise. Lying just on the equator, the country sees lots of migratory birds in addition to the more sedentary species, whilst Malawi’s range of landscapes, everything from mountains to swamp plains, provide superb habitats for all manner of avian creatures. Your life list is guaranteed to grow!
Malawi may be landlocked and quite some way from the coast, but that doesn’t stop it being a fantastic beach destination! That’s because Lake Malawi, one of the African Great Lakes, has unspoilt sandy shorelines, clear water ideal for snorkelling and diving, and a superb selection of luxury lodges and camps on its islands and peninsulas. There’s no better way to end your safari than with a few days relaxing by the lake.
Malawi’s landscapes and wildlife are sublime. But what you will remember most from your visit, long after you have left, is the beaming smiles you’ll see everywhere you go. Malawians’ joie de vivre is unmatched, and they are passionate about sharing with you the very best that their country has to offer. It is one of those very special places where you will arrive as a stranger but depart as a dear friend.
Malawi’s Majete National Park has undergone a miraculous recovery since being taken over by African Parks in 2003. Thanks to careful management and reintroductions, it became Malawi’s first Big Five wildlife reserve in 2012, and is a phenomenal place to see conservation in action. There are now more than 12,000 large mammals roaming free, and though tourist numbers are steadily growing, Majete is still far from crowded.
The Great Rift Valley runs right from southern Asia down to southeast Africa and shapes the landscape of Malawi and its neighbouring countries into something truly spectacular. It carves out Lake Malawi, which makes up makes up 20% of the country’s area, whilst the remaining part of the country is a series of undulating hills, escarpments, peaks, plateaus, and jagged mountains cloaked in lush greenery. There’s always something dramatic on the horizon.
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