Explore all that Malawi has to offer

Need to know

Malawi is a landlocked country, running down the end of the Great Rift Valley. Dominated by Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa, the surrounding country is exceptionally beautiful with dramatic scenery as well as an abundance of birds and wildlife.

It is known as the “Warm Heart of Africa” and as people, the Malawians live up to this name. They are extremely friendly and welcoming. There are many market scenes, roadside stalls, cottage industries that a visitor can comfortably visit. With both the scenery and the culture Malawi is a great country to drive in.

Wildlife

With 9 national parks and wildlife reserves, Malawi is a country rich in flora and fauna and although it may not have the volumes of wildlife other destinations boast, for connoisseurs of wildlife many exciting encounters lie in store, with the chance to view many species including black rhino, leopard, lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, eland, kudu, sable, suni, klipspringer, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and zebra.

Season & Climate

The climate in Malawi is a sub-tropical one, with distinctive wet and dry seasons.

January through to March experience the most rainfall of the year, mostly in the afternoon. The days are generally warm & sunny (28C) and the night refreshingly cool. By April/May, most of the heavy rainfall has subsided, the skies are clear, the weather is warm and the nights are still cool. There is the chance of an occasional shower.

The 'dry' season begins in June and is also the onset of winter. The days are normally sunny and pleasant, while the mornings and evenings do get cold (8C sometimes cooler). The winter weather begins to subside by August, with warmer days and pleasant nights. Temperatures begin to rise in September and by October, it is very hot during the days. There can be the occasional shower but it does not last long.

November and December are hot and humid, with the sporadic showers in the afternoon. These can be rather dramatic, with wind, dark clouds and shafts of sheet lightening.

The above is a guideline and it must be noted that weather patterns all over Africa are becoming more and more unpredictable possibly due to global warming.

What to bring

• Camouflage clothing

  3 sets bush coloured safari outfits (long shorts/shirts) i.e. green/brown/dark khaki (not white, cream, blue or bright colours - especially for walking)

• Casual clothing

  A couple of sets of lighter clothes for Lake Malawi

• Evening clothing

  2 sets casual evening clothes (long trousers, shirts and socks to reduce insect bites)

• Extra clothing

  1 lightweight sweater. Warm jacket in winter (June/July/early August)

• Rain clothing

  Light rain gear for the wet months (November - April)

• Shoes

  A good pair of covered shoes for walking. Open shoes or sandal type shoes for warmer days

• Swimgear

  A number of properties do have pools so bring swimwear

• Sun protection

  Like a hat, sunglasses, high strength sunscreen, moisturizer, lip salve, strong insect repellent, anti-histamine cream and tablets should always be carried.

• Binoculars

  One pair per person is a must.

• Torch

  A pocket torch comes in handy in the evenings when walking between your room and dining area.

• Glasses

  if you wear prescription glasses bring a spare pair. If you wear contact lenses bring a pair of glasses as well since dust can be a problem.

• Camera equipment

  We suggest a telephoto lens (200/300mm). Flash for night photography. Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust/water proof bag. Videos - bring spare batteries, and a flash for night photography