Malawi Safari - Complete Travel Guide
Wilderness untamed, lakes unspoiled and glistening, and orchids in stunningly full bloom. Amazing wildlife, spectacular birds and playful fish to top it all off. Malawi will surprise you will its enchanting atmosphere and friendly locals. Take in the sights, breathe in the essence of nature, and just enjoy it.
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Best Time To Go
May – September
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Average Safari Cost
$50 - $150 pp/day
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Highlights
The Big Five, the Black Rhino, scuba diving, the Shire River, Lake Malawi, large elephant and hippo populations.
Why Go On a Malawi Safari
Malawi may not be at the top of many travellers’ list of best places to go, but it offers great opportunities for all those willing to give it a chance. From camping in the wild, to fresh water scuba diving, there is a bit of something for everyone.
The Big Five, the beautiful roan and sable antelopes and the vibrant Lilian’s Lovebird, are only a few of wonderful sights. If you are looking to experience some rustic wilderness, take a trip to Nkhotakota, with its Miombo woodland and evergreen forest, or perhaps Liwonde’s Mopane woodland, baobabs and lagoons would be more to your liking. If you plan to visit in the rainy months of January or February, make sure you the visit the beautiful orchids that will be in full bloom in Viphya Plateau.
If you need more excitement, time your trip for June, when the winds are perfect for sailing or for September, the prime time for kayaking. Scuba diving is perfect in November, while October is filled with festivals that you can you lose yourself in.
Malawi offers beach parties and music festivals, coupled with a true wilderness experience, where you can spend a few nights being lulled by nature’s song, and spend your days with some of the world’s most beautiful (and dangerous) creatures.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- The Big Five
- Famous for scuba diving
- Beautiful scenery and birdlife and wildlife is great
- Visas can be purchased upon arrival
- Low crime rate
Cons
- Certain roads may become impassable during the rainy season.
- The country is generally warm year-round and become uncomfortably humid.
Best Time To Go
Malawi has a warm subtropical climate, with a wet season and a dry season.
Wet season: November – April
Dry season: May – October
Start your Namibia Adventure
Popular Tours
Zambia & Malawi Livingstone Trail - ZMa16
An exciting safari experience exploring the diversity of the lesser travelled South Eastern African countries. This tour is not for the faint hearted, and requires some patience; the travelling can be slow, some nights the accommodation is basic, however the journey offers amazing scenery and fantastic highlights, well worth the long travel days. We recommend malaria prophylactics. A safari for travellers with a sense of adventure.
Wildlife And Birds
- Lion
- Elephant
- Leopard
- Buffalo
- Hyena
- Black Rhino
Rare Animals:
- Aardvark
- Cheetah
- Caracal
- African wildcat
- Serval
- Civet
- Angolan genet
- Rusty-spotted genet
- Side-striped jackal
- East African wild dog
- Striped polecat
- Speckle-throated otter
- African clawless otter
- Black rhino
- Nyala
- Red forest duiker
- Roan antelope
- Sable antelope
Infrequently Seen Animals:
- Bushbaby
- Lion
- Leopard
- Blue monkey
- Brown hyena
- Spotted hyena
- Puku
- Bushpig
- Warthog
- Sharpe’s grysbok
- Steenbok
- Kudu
Frequently Seen Animals:
- Elephant
- Vervet monkey
- Yellow baboon
- Chacma baboon
- Angola colobus
- Mongoose
- Crawshay’s zebra
- Lichenstein’s hartebeest
- Blue wildebeest
- Klipspringer
- Oribi
- Buffalo
- Eland
- Bushbuck
- Blue duiker
- Impala
- Reedbuck
- Waterbuck
Malawi is a great destination for birdwatching, with the rare Lilian’s Lovebird, Greater Sand-Plover, Dusky Lark and the Golden Pipit. The various habits make for a great variety of species, and don’t forget, the Eurasian migratory birds are present from November to April.
Endangered Birds:
- African White-backed Vulture
- African Skimmer
- Basra Reed Warbler
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Blue Swallow
- Corncrake
- Denham’s Bustard
- East Coast Akalat
- Eurasian Curlew
- Eurasian Peregrine Falcon
- Great Snipe
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Lesser Flamingo
- Lesser Kestrel
- Lilian’s Lovebird
- Maccoa Duck
- Madagascar Pond-heron
- Olive-headed Weaver
- Pallid Harrier
- Shoebill Stork
- Spotted Ground-thrush
- Stierling’s Woodpecker
- Taita Falcon
- Thyolo Alethe
- Wattled Crane
- White-headed Vulture
- White-winged Apalis
- Yellow-throated Apalis
Rare Birds:
- Northern Shoveler
- Cape Teal
- Northern Pintail
- Tufted Duck
- Maccoa Duck
- Chestnut-headed Flufftail
- Pacific Golden-Plover
- Greater Sand-Plover
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Broadbilled Sandpiper
- Common Snipe
- Spotted Redshank
- Black-winged Pratincole
- Black-headed Gull
- Sooty Tern
- Common Tern
- Madagascar Cuckoo
- African Grass-Owl
- Gray Kestrel
- Sooty Falcon
- African Hobby
- Red-tailed Shrike
- Dusky Lark
- Greater Striped-Swallow
- South African Swallow
- Carp’s Tit
- African Reed Warbler
- Barred Warbler
- White Wagtail
- Golden Pipit
Popular Parks
Malawi is another of Africa’s smaller, less visited countries that is beautiful and under appreciated: Kapichira Falls and the Big Five in Majete, the amazingly large elephant population along the river in Liwonde, scuba diving in Lake Malawi and great bird watching in Nkhotakota.
This park is home to one of the largest populations of elephant and hippo in Malawi. Other animals to be seen: sable antelope, duiker, kudu, oribi, waterbuck, reedbuck and lion.
Majete Wildlife Reserve
This park is home to the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. Other animals that be seen: zebra, cheetah, eland, hartebeest, kudu, nyala, waterbuck, impala, warthog and hippo.
Nkhotakota Reserve
Animals that be found in this reserve include: elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena, baboons, roan antelope, sable antelope, kudu, waterbuck and more.
This pack is known for its great scuba diving, that brings you face-to-face with hundreds of different fish species. The most special species is the Mbuna Cichilds. If scuba diving isn’t for you, there are plenty of game on land for you to view, including baboons, a variety of antelope species and hyrax.
This rugged park, with its lush riverside vegetation and dense woodlands, is the perfect example of an unspoiled African wilderness. The Shire River is the most prominent feature in the park, and wildlife viewing is at its best here.
From safari bush land on the shores to tropical islands and crystal clear waters filled with colorful fish, Lake Malawi National Park is a unique and diverse destination. The park is renowned for its scenic beauty and is perfect for exploration and adventure. Dive into the inviting blue waters of the lake to see an underwater paradise teeming with curious aquatic life. Enjoy breathtaking African sunsets over the shimmering lake as the sky transitions into brilliant shades of red and gold. Travel to Lake Malawi National Park for a wonderfully scenic and relaxing safari experience!
Nyika National Park is Malawi's biggest and oldest park. Situated on the Nyika Plateau, the park offers breathtaking views and sunsets over the highlands. The land turns a deep gold in the dying light as the sun dips in the sky. Shimmering granite boulders, fields of blossoming flowers and flowing rivers that turn into cascading waterfalls make this park one of the magical places to experience. Animals roam free throughout the land and adds to the natural beauty of the park. This is a must-see safari destination, which guarantees an unforgettable experience!
Getting There And Safety
Please take a look at the following information concerning travel to Malawi.
While there are no direct flights from the United States or Europe to Malawi, you can get their easily enough from South Africa, Kenya or Ethiopia.
If you are choosing to travel by land, a bus is preferable to a train or even to taking your own car. If you take your own car, you will require much more documentation than you would need for the bus. You will have to get a temporary important permit for your car, as well as third-party insurance – neither is very costly, but getting the paperwork can be an annoyance. You will also need the full registration documents of the car and your insurance document. It is much less complicated to travel by bus.
You can travel by bus from South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
For the flights to Malawi, it is advised to check Skyscanner (for multiple destination flights), to see which airlines can take you to Malawi and their various ticket costs.
If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights to Malawi.
If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights to Malawi.
In most cases, foreign nationals will be a visa issued upon arrival at the land border or the airport.
Visa rates:
- 7-day transit visa: $50
- 1-month single-entry visa: $75
- 6-month multiple-entry visa: $150
- 12-month multiple-entry visa: $250
Applying for a visa in advance is surprisingly more expensive: $100 for a single-entry visa.
For more information about visa policy in Malawi see visa page on the Malawi High Commission's website.
The information below is meant to be used as a guide only and should not replace a professional medical opinion.
Malaria
The malaria risk in Malawi is moderate, which means that you will need to speak to your doctor about appropriate preventative medication. Once you arrive in Malawi, try and wear long-sleeved clothing, even though the weather is quite warm (try wearing lightweight, breathable clothing). Make sure that you get a good insect repellent (30% DEET or more), for added protection. If, at any time during you stay, you will be sleeping outdoors, ensure that there is a net covering your sleeping area, to keep the mosquitoes away.
Vaccinations
Beside malaria, the following vaccinations may also be needed. Please speak to a travel clinic or doctor to confirm the list below.
- Hepatitis A
- Typhois
- Cholera
- Hepatitis B
- Rabies
Check your local travel health authority for more information:
Crime in Malawi is generally very low, as theft and such are against most Malawian’s personal values. However, while small villages are considered very safe, busy cities are prone to muggers and pickpockets. As with any country in the world, cities are hotspots for crime, as the continuous flood of people makes a thief’s work easier. Traveling at night through cities is also not advisable. If you are forced to travel at night, don’t walk – take a taxi.
We recommend that you ask locals for advice about crime hotspots and which areas to avoid. Try not to travel with unnecessary money and valuables. If you must wear jewellery, ensure that it is inconspicuous and not particularly expensive.
Generally, practice good sense and always remain cautious and alert. Do not place yourself, or those around in you, in compromising or dangerous situations.
Going on a safari in Africa comes with obvious risks. We recommend you get travel insurance for all safaris in Malawi. Make sure your insurance has full medical coverage, emergency air evacuation, repatriation and the standard travel insurance for cancellations, delays and luggage cover.
Check World Nomads’ travel insurance calculator to see the cost of your safari trip cover.
- Passport and ID
- Extra cell phone charger
- Camera
- Spare rechargeable batteries and charger
- Waterproof backpack
- Waterproof rain jacket, pants and hiking boots
- Personal medication
- Personal hygiene items
- General clothing appropriate for the weather
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent (30% DEET or more)
- Wide-brimmed sun hat
- Trail/running shoes
For more details on what to pack see our Safari Packing List.