Malawi · 马拉维

Malawi is one of my favorite African countries to visit. Not just because of the stunning Lake Malawi, friendly people, and bustling markets, but also because Malawi is the place I called home for the first few decades of my life. Malawi may not have the best-known wildlife parks, but there's plenty of wildlife and beautiful places to enjoy, and you won't have to compete with hordes tourists to see it.

Lake Malawi · 马拉维湖

Lake Malawi is a beautiful freshwater lake that takes up a good chunk of landlocked Malawi. It is blessed with golden beaches and an incredible colorful variety of fish, that makes snorkeling and diving here extremely rewarding. 

The southern end of the lakeshore is very popular due to its proximity to the commercial capital, Blantyre. There are numerous bays to choose from and accommodation runs from simple campsites and cottage rentals to the more luxurious Club Makakola. 

Monkey Bay, at the southern tip, is where you can catch the Ilala ferry to cruise up the lake to Likoma Island and the northern end (see below). The fantastic Lake of Starsmusic festival is held annually at Nkopola Sunbird Lodge. Cape Maclear is a mecca for snorkeling and other water sports.

Chikale Beach

Likoma Island · 利科马岛

Likoma Island is actually in Mozambique waters but is still a Malawian territory. It's home to a huge cathedral built in the early 1900's. 

Likoma Island has several lovely beaches with two excellent eco-friendly resorts including Kaya Mawa, and some budget accommodation (check out Mango Drift) as well.

 Likoma is a very peaceful spot and there are just a few cars on the island. You can take some nice walks inland to visit local villages, the local market, or kayak around the island.

There's a diving school here as well that offers certification at very good rates. Dance troupes from other islands gather regularly for a "dance-off", which is seriously entertaining. Getting to Likoma is half the fun, especially by boat; the MV Ilala stops here once a week. There are scheduled flights from Lilongwe as well as charters available.

Mulanje Mountain · 木兰吉山

Mulanje Mountain is a huge granite massif in southern Malawi. Its highest peak Sapitwa reaches just over 3000m. There are plenty of hiking routes to choose from to enjoy this mountain, with simple huts at the end of each one.

This is a wonderful hike for families, (I spent my youth hiking here) with lots of streams and peaks to explore. You should spend at least 2 nights on the mountain. The Mountain Club of Malawi has good route information as well as information on fees and how to pay your porters.

 If you join the Mountain Club you can use their cooking facilities stored in the huts. Enjoy the delicious smell of Mulanje cedar in the fireplace! Most hikers will start out from Likhubula, so a night at Likhubula Forest Lodge is convenient to get an early start. 

The best time to climb Mulanje is between May and October.

Liwonde National Park

利翁国家公园

Liwonde National Park is Malawi's premier wildlife park. It's setting is lovely along the banks of the Shire River, where you can view pods of hippo in the water and large herds of elephant on the side enjoying a drink and a splash.

The bird life is fantastic and you're very likely to see African fish eagles displaying their skills as well as the rare Pel's fishing owl. 

Most people who visit will stay at the luxurious Mvuu Lodge. 

The best time to visit is during the cooler dry season from June - August as Liwonde can get very hot and humid during the rains.

Zomba Plateau

· 松巴高原

Zomba plateau offers incredible views, waterfalls, dams filled with trout and a lovely respite from the heat. The 900m plateau is located in the lively old capital of Malawi, Zomba. Most visitors to Zomba plateau will spend a day or perhaps a couple of nights and enjoy hikes along wooded paths. My favorite view is the "Queen's View". You can take horse rides down lovely trails from the long established Plateau Stables. The best way to get up to the plateau is by car or taxi, it's a long steep walk otherwise, and the rewarding hikes are really at the top of the mountain anyway. The nicest place to stay is the Ku Chawe Inn.

In the ravines and on other steeper slops there is an incredible variety of natural vegetation from jungle-like creepers to wild flowers, from ferns and thorn bushes to orchids and lichen. Butterflies flutter, hover and milk the nectar of the flowering plants. 

Above all, this plateau is well known for its amazing natural features and prolific birdlife, including black saw-wing swallow, mountain wag-tail, Bertram's weaver and the white-tailed crested flycatcher.

Mammal species that dwell on the plateau include startled mongooses, vervet and samago monkeys and baboons. Fishing in the many dams and streams is also possible.

Nyika Plateau and National Park

尼卡高原和国家公园

Just over 50 years ago, the northwestern part of Malawi, known as the Nyika Plateau area, was so unknown to the British (who were in charge at the time), that they sent explorer Laurens Van Der Post to report on it. Laurens turned his mission to this vast escarpment into a best-selling book "Venture to the Interior". 

He described the beautiful high rolling hills of grasslands dotted with zebra, antelope, orchids and butterflies that make Malawi's largest national park well worth visiting. 

Hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding are the principal activities here. You can rent cottages at Chelinda Camp.

Kapachira Falls  卡帕奇拉瀑布

View of Kapachira Falls including the Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station

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Note

We are contacting the relevant departments to provide us informations on how to visit these places(visa process, procedures etc), when we get them we will update the information immediately, for now stay tuned and don't forget to smile~