Holidays to Malawi for the genuinely curious — uncrowded safari parks, the warm shores of Lake Malawi and the unhurried charm of Southern Africa's friendliest nation.
Holidays to Malawi offer something increasingly rare in African travel: genuine wilderness without the crowds. Known as the Warm Heart of Africa, this small landlocked nation packs extraordinary variety into its borders — the emerald tea plantations of the Shire Highlands, the clear waters and endemic cichlid fish of Lake Malawi, the dramatic Zomba Plateau, and the exceptional wildlife of Liwonde National Park, home to elephants, black rhino, lion, sable and cheetah. Where Kenya and Tanzania draw the safari crowds, Malawi's parks remain uncongested, unhurried and utterly authentic.
Our small group Malawi holidays travel from the world-recognised Satemwa Tea Estate in Thyolo and the forested trails of Zomba Plateau to Liwonde National Park's boat safaris on the Shire River and the sun-warmed shores of Cape Maclear — with the option to extend into Zambia's South Luangwa National Park on our 15-day combined tour.
Malawi
Small-group departures led by local experts, plus private tailor-made itineraries shaped around your interests, pace and dates.
Liwonde National Park and South Luangwa deliver exceptional game viewing — elephants, black rhino, lion, cheetah, sable — without the vehicle congestion that defines more famous safari destinations. You might be the only vehicle at a sighting.
Malawi's reputation for genuine friendliness is not a marketing tagline. The people — from plantation workers at Satemwa to community guides in Dzalanyama — engage with visitors with real warmth rather than tourist weary indifference.
One of Africa's Great Lakes, Malawi is home to more endemic freshwater fish species than anywhere else on earth. Cape Maclear's clear waters offer snorkelling, kayaking, sailing and scuba diving alongside a life-on-the-lake atmosphere that is entirely its own.
From the emerald tea estates of Thyolo and the forested heights of Zomba Plateau to the Shire River's wildlife-rich banks and the cool escarpments of Dzalanyama, Malawi packs more landscape variety into a small country than most travellers expect.
See itinerariesMalawi rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.
From the field
Sweet spot: Apr–Aug
The best time for holidays to Malawi is during the dry season, which runs from April through to October, with the coolest and most comfortable months falling between June and August. During these months game viewing is at its best as animals congregate around water sources, the roads are in their finest condition, and the sky over Lake Malawi tends toward an unbroken blue. November marks the start of the green season — rains return, the landscape transforms, and birdlife is at its most spectacular. Our tours depart June, August, April, and November, covering both the heart of the dry season and the beginning of the rains.
Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.
Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.
Every one of our Malawi journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
We’ll build one around you.
Tailor-made holidays to Malawi let you shape the experience around what matters most to you. We can combine Thyolo's Satemwa Tea Estate and the forested heights of Zomba Plateau with Liwonde National Park's river and game safaris, time on the shores of Lake Malawi at Cape Maclear, and a crossing into Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Whether you're prioritising wildlife, culture, community encounters at YODEP or CISER, or simply unhurried time beside the lake, we'll build an itinerary around your pace, group and travel dates. Private guides, overland transport, accommodation and internal flights are all arranged so you can travel with confidence.
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The FCDO currently has no warnings against travel to the parts of Malawi visited on our tours. Malawi is one of the more welcoming and low-risk destinations in Southern Africa, with petty crime the primary concern in urban areas — something easily managed with normal vigilance. Our tours stay in well-established, reputable accommodation throughout and are accompanied by experienced local guides at all times.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
Before booking, check the latest country-specific guidance from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. US travellers should consult travel.state.gov, and Australian travellers should check Smartraveller.
At the time of writing, there are no FCDO warnings against travel to the areas of Malawi visited on our tours. We continuously monitor travel advice and will contact clients directly if any warnings are issued.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Malawi specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
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