On the far side of Lake Malawi lies a small island with idyllic beaches that can be easily explored on foot. Accessible by boat or plane, Likoma Island was established as the University Mission to Central Africa’s headquarters in the 1800s, aiming to combat the slave trade that utilised routes across the lake. However, the primary attraction of Likoma Island is St. Peter’s Cathedral, renowned for its impressive architecture and historical significance.
Lizulu Market
From fresh fruits and vegetables to woodcrafts and weavings, the various marketplaces in Malawi buzz with activity. Lizulu Market is the country’s largest and busiest roadside market, with food and clothing stalls lining each side of the Lilongwe River, connected by bamboo bridges.
Dedza Mountain
Dezda, the highest town in Malawi, is set against stunning highland scenery, with the impressive Dezda Mountain towering in the background. This breathtaking majestic peak offers the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature whilst enjoying invigorating hikes that lead to panoramic views of the surrounding area. Visitors will also be captivated by the mountain’s rich biodiversity.
Liwonde National Park
Liwonde is perhaps the most popular of all of Malawi’s game parks, with its beautiful riverine setting and teeming wildlife offering thrilling safaris. Home to one of the largest international black rhino translocations in history back in 2019, where 17 black rhinos were relocated from South Africa to Liwonde, African Parks has also reestablished Liwonde’s predator population by bringing back cheetahs, lions, and wild dogs.
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is tucked beneath the Chipata Mountain, where a vast network of rivers, all leading to Lake Malawi, fork and weave their way through tree-shrouded hills, nourishing the dense miombo forests. Over 2016 and 2017, in one of the largest wildlife restoration initiatives ever to take place, 500 elephants and 2,000 other animals were introduced to Nkhotakota, followed by a further 800 animals including 15 hippos, a first for any African park.
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Over 3,000 animals of 17 species have been reintroduced to Majete over 20 years, black rhinos, lions, giraffes, and other animals such as hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards were introduced again in 2003 after poachers and human encroachment devasted the park’s wildlife previously. For predators, Majete is hard to beat across the African continent.
Covering a fifth of the country, this vast body of water is the closest thing that landlocked Malawi has to a beach destination. Known as ‘the Lake of Stars’, thanks to the breathtaking reflection of the night sky on its waters, this freshwater national park is home to authentic wooden lodges nestled along its shores, offering diving, snorkelling, and sailing.
Liwonde National Park
Malawi is still developing its reputation as a safari destination, so a visit to Liwonde offers a chance to observe big game away from the masses. Keep your eyes peeled for hippos, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and if you’re lucky, perhaps a leopard. Take a game drive, a bush walk, or an increasingly popular boat safari along the Shire River for an authentic wildlife experience.
Thyolo
Southern Malawi hosts the fertile region of Thyolo, an area dominated by verdant swathes of tea plantations. A walker’s paradise, many plantations and hiking trails are to be found along the foothills of Malawi’s highest peak – Mount Mulanje. Take a stroll through some of the country’s oldest plantations, like the Satemwa Tea Estate, and savour a taste of local produce from Africa’s second-largest tea producer.
The Travel team at Outlook Travel Magazine are responsible for showcasing travel destinations in the magazine, travel guides, and digital platforms, and sourcing collaborations with travel destinations for future editions.
