MALAWI

Malawi is a beautiful land locked country in central southern Africa – long and narrow, but covering more than 1000 kms (over 600 miles) from north to south. The country is dominated by Lake Malawi, nearly 600km (372 miles) long and up to 80 km (over 49 miles) wide in some places.

Malawi is a peaceful, warm and wonderful country – scenery is diverse and beautiful, the parks are fascinating and the people are known to be amongst the warmest and friendliest in Africa. Outside of the national parks and mountains the rhythms of everyday rural Africa surround you constantly. Here one can truly meet the local inhabitants or visit a rural community in an atmosphere without expectation or affectation. Malawians are happy to share their lives with visitors. Enjoy the authentic tribal dancing at Mvuu and Chintheche or a visit to a village, a meeting with the local chief, or a talk to a fisherman. The famous “island walk” on Likoma is a seminal experience for most guests.

Each of the many habitats is protected within Malawi's 9 National Parks and Game Reserves. Africa's Great Rift Valley is a major feature in Malawi – giving the country its mountain peaks, green valleys and beautiful lakes, not to mention highly fertile soils.

Liwonde National Park is considered the most prolific wildlife area, despite its small size. The Shire River forms the western boundary of the Park and its floodplains draw dense wildlife populations – hippo, crocodile and big concentrations of elephant. Antelope and sable occur and lion and leopard too, although the big cats are a little harder to see here. Nearly 300 bird species occur too. Liwonde National Park is the focus of many conservation efforts, working to protect and develop its incredible wildlife potential.

The Cape Maclear area is chiefly famous for Lake Malawi National Park. The lake is home to over 1000 species of brightly coloured fish of the cichlid family. The National Park is actually the first in the world set aside for the preservation and protection of freshwater fish. The area around the tip of this peninsula is stunning.

Northern Malawi is generally regarded as the country's most scenic region – great destinations here like Chintheche Inn and Kaya Mawa Lodge on Likoma Island offer great accommodation and activities.

Historical trips often centre around the early Scottish Missionaries and all over Malawi there are places of historical interest-the colonial buildings of Zomba and Blantyre, the old church at Bandawe near Chintheche, St Peter’s Cathedral on Likoma Island and the settlement of Livingstonia in the far north. In Karonga on the northern lakeshore you can visit a dinosaur digging, an early hominid site, a colonial graveyard and a section of the famous British Cape to Cairo Road.