MALAWI

If you’re looking for a company which provides exquisite Malawi safari holidays, Ubon Safari is the ideal company for you. We provide a fantastic experience when it comes to a Malawi safari holiday and do our utmost to ensure that your time spent in Africa is spectacular!

Best described as the “warm heart of Africa, Malawi is a hidden gem, a combination of Landscape, wildlife, lake and the people. Malawi is a landlocked country and is one of the smallest countries in Africa with an area of just over 118,000 square kilometres.

One-third of the country’s area is taken up by Lake Malawi also known as Lake Nyasa. The country is bordered by Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. It is divided into three regions North, Central and South Malawi.

Malawi often is dismissed as “Africa for beginners”. Malawi has a safe and friendly environment for visitors to explore the culture, heritage and attractions. Our safari holidays in Malawi has never been more exciting!

When you’re on a Malawi safari holiday, aside from the animals, what immediately captures your about the vivid county? It is its geographical diversity. Slicing through the landscape in a trough formed by the Great Rift Valley is Africa’s third largest lake – Lake Malawi.

Its beautiful glittering clear water which is full of colourful cichlid fish makes our safari holidays in Malawi unique. Whether you’re looking to dive, snorkel, kayak and chill out on the desert island, visiting this lake is a must!

Malawi-Temperature.
CAPITAL CITY: LILONGWE
AIRPORT: LILONGWE AND BLANTYRE INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT

CURRENCY: MALAWIAN KWACHA
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH & CHICHEWA
VOLTAGE: 220V/50Hz UK Plug

Go to our Visa page to find out whether you need a visa to enter Malawi
http://thetravelvisacompany.co.uk/ubonsafari/malawi/
Find out more about Malawi on the largest travel guidebook online
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/malawi

BEST TIMES:

JANUARY – FEBRUARY AND JUNE TO OCTOBER
HIGH SEASON – JANUARY, FEBRUARY, JULY – NOVEMBER
LOW SEASON – MARCH – MAY (SOME LODGES ARE CLOSED)

BEST WEATHER:

JUNE – OCTOBER

best-time-to-visit-malawi

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DO I NEED A VISA
AUSTRALIA – YES / EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – YES / UNITED KINGDOM – YES / USA – YES
Please enquire with the Malawi Embassy in your country of Residence as we recommend you get you visa before you before you travel.

TIPPING
It is not mandatory to tip however we do recommend you to tip in Restaurants, Bars something that would suit you. For Drivers, Guides and Porters we recommend a minimum of USD 5 per person per day.

INTERNET ACCESS
Most places have WIFI / internet, however in camps and lodges you may be limited to some specified areas, in camping safaris thereis no internet.

MOBILE PHONE ACCESS
Most of the locations in Malawi have great mobile coverage especially in cities and towns. There’s limited access in some of the rural areas. A local sim would be easily available for purchase.

WHAT ARE THE TOILETS LIKE?
Western style Toilets are available in most hotels, lodges and camps. Some areas may have squat toilets.

DRINKING WATER
Drinking tap water is not recommended. Mineral water is always available.

ARE CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED?
Please inform your Bank before you travel to ensure you will not have problems using your cards. Credit card facilities are available in some areas only.

ATMS:
ATMs are available in major cities and towns.

DO I NEED A TRAVEL INSURANCE?
It is mandatory you should have Health / Travel Insurance

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Please see Malawi public Holidays

ELECTRICITY / PLUGS:
Electricity in Malawi has 220V and 3 Pin flat plugs although some new hotels are now having round pin plugs so carry your travel plug.

DOES MALAWI HAVE MALARIA:
Yes, visit your GP before you travel for your vaccinations and Malaria pills.

TRAVEL TIPS

  • Dress respectfully, shoulders to knees should be covered especially in when entering places of worship.
  • Respect local traditions, customs and religions
  • Please do not buy coral, ivory or any animal products
  • Dispose of litter appropriately in bins
  • Do not throw cigarette butts especially in the parks as it may cause fire and destroy wildlife and habitats.
  • Don’t be afraid to learn the local language and smile.
  • Please support the local shops and people
  • When taking photos of people please ask permission

At Ubon Safari, we strive to provide you with well-trained, professional tour guides that will take you around Malawi to explore its habitat. If you’re looking to book perfect Malawi safari holidays, contact us on +44 203 198 0484 one of our helpful team members will be more than happy to assist you. Needless to say, that Ubon Safari is one of the leading experts of luxury African safari holidays.

PLACES TO VISIT

MALAWI PARKS

Malawi’s largest National Park, covering an area of 3,250 square kilometres is the Nyika National Park. The name Nyika means, “Where the water comes from”. Nyika National park is one of Malawi’s most important catchment areas. It extends across the great Nyika Plateau which is a gigantic dome rising to 2,400 metres. Nyika is excellent for conventional 4×4 safaris, mountain biking and trekking. Its rolling landscapes are rich in wildflowers; over 200 types of orchids can be seen in the rainy season. With a large numbers of antelopes; duiker, roan antelope and elands, the zebra, leopard, hyena and jackal are also found on the plateau. The park has one of the highest densities of leopards in Central Africa with regular sightings. Elephants and buffaloes usually keep to the lower ground on the edges of the park. The park has over 400 bird species recorded, including wattled crane, denham’s bustard and red-winged francolin. Waterfalls, Neolithic rock shelter, trout pools and a magic lake are some of the attractions in the park.
Best time to visit:
November to May – Good for game viewing
October to December – Good for bird watching
January and February – Good for orchids

Malawi’s Capital of the North, Mzuzu is the largest town in North Malawi. It lies in a saddle in the highlands, standing at the junction of the lakeshore road and the north-south highway. Mostly used as a transit stop to or from Nkhata Bay or further south and the Tanzanian border. The town has grown rapidly in the recent times. With a bustling market as well as supermarkets, banks and a post office, the town has a number of simple small hotels and lodges. There is also an airport on the edge of the town.
Best time to visit:
May to December – Good weather
March to May – Moderate rains
January and February – Rainy Season

Likoma Island is one of the two islands in Lake Malawi, the other smaller island is Chizumulu. The Island covers and area of 18 square kilometres and is located on the north-east of Lake Malawi. Although both Islands are entirely surrounded by Mozambican waters, they belong to Malawi. The coast has rocky slopes, sandy bays, swamps and some lovely beaches. Likoma Island can be reached by boat or light aircraft. The Island is famous for it’s Cathedral that was built in 1903.
Best time to visit:
May to December – Good weather
March to May – Moderate rains
January and February – Rainy Season

The vibrant port town in the North of Malawi, Nkhata Bay is often referred to as the gateway to the islands. With a wonderful carving market, the town has a bustling feel to it. Located on the shore of Lake Malawi, Nkhata Bay is one of the main ports. The beautiful sandy beach is just 3 minutes drive away from the town. There are plenty of small shops, Internet cafes, restaurants and bars.
Best time to visit:
April to December – Good weather
March – Moderate rains
January and February – Rainy Season

Covering an area of 1000 square kilometres, Vwaza Wildlife Reserve lies along the Zambian border northwest of Mzuzu. The Reserve has a mix of vegetation: forest and grassland, thin woodland and marsh. It is the rich habitat, which attracts a splendid range of birdlife. Nearly 300 species of birds have been recorded including heron, stork and the white-faced tree duck.
Herds of Elephants and a large number of Hippos are regularly seen in the reserve.
Lake Kazuni, which is near the main entrance to the reserve, is famous for its hippos. Buffalo are present in the reserve but their sightings are unpredictable due to their roaming habits.
Best time to visit:
August to November – best for game viewing

Covering an area of 2,000 square kilometres, Malawi’s second largest park, Kasungu has natural woodland and bush with occasional stretches of open grass. It is located in the west of Central Malawi bordering Zambia. The park is just 175 kilometres from Lilongwe making it an easy drive. Home to elephants, antelopes, buffaloes and zebra, the park also has predators including leopards, hyenas, servals and jackals. A significant number of hippos are found in the lake at Lifupa.
Best time to visit:
September to May – Warm weather – Good for game viewing
June to August – Cool weather – Good for bird watching
March – Wet season – Park is closed

Nkhotakota is the largest game area in the Central Malawi Region at 1,800 square kilometres. Its rugged terrain, which stretches from the Great Rift Valley to the Lake Malawi, is crossed by a number of rivers running through as they make their way to the Lake. The reserve is made up of Miombo woodland with tall grasses and areas of rainforest. Probably one of Malawi’s truly unspoilt wildlife areas, the reserve’s true wilderness attracts travellers who enjoy walking safaris, fishing, climbing and bird watching. Access to the reserve has been difficult due to a few roads or driveable tracks. The wildlife reserve is a home to elephants, buffalo, antelopes including roan and sable, baboon, zebra, waterbucks, leopard and lions. Over 200 species of birds include the ground hornbills, kingfishers and palm-nut vultures.

This, the world’s first freshwater national park and a World Heritage Site, is at Cape Maclear. The park includes a land area around the cape and bay as well as the Lake and islands up to 100 metres (330ft) off shore. Here is a veritable aquarium of tropical fish providing a colourful kaleidoscopic display. The countless thousands of freshwater fish, the mbuna, are more abundant and varied here than anywhere else in the world. Boats are available for hire and the fish will feed directly from the hand. Away from the Lake, the park has baboons, antelope and hyrax, and, of course, there is a great variety of birdlife including fish eagles, cormorants and hamerkops.
Excellent up-market operations at Cape Maclear combine accommodation with lake activities.

Best time to visit:
April to November – Good weather
March – Moderate rains
January and February – Rainy Season

Majete Wildlife Reserve is a unique conservation and tourist destination for all visitors. The amazing success story of recovery and restoration and the continued protection of endangered species have led Majete to become one of the most popular reserves in Malawi.
Majete Wildlife Reserve is situated in the lower Shire valley in the South West of Malawi, approximately 70kms – (one and a half hour’s drive) from Blantyre’s Chileka international airport and three hours from Lake Malawi.
Majete was once a prolific wildlife refuge but by the late 1990’s most species of large game, including elephant, had been eradicated. Remnant populations of a few resilient species remained but they had been reduced to very low, and in some cases critical numbers. Law enforcement teams were ill equipped and underfunded, illegal encroachment, agriculture and hardwood logging were all occurring inside the reserve and the resource was diminishing. In 2003, African Parks Majete (APM) a non-profit organisation, in partnership with the Malawian government and local communities, took total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of the reserve.

Best time to visit:
August to October – Warm weather – Good for game viewing
April to July – Cool weather – Good for bird watching
November – March – Wet season

Located in the South of Malawi, on the bank of Shire River plain, covering an area of 310 square kilometres, Liwonde National Park is the most popular park in Malawi.
With an abundant wildlife present, the park is a home to large numbers of elephants, hippos and crocodiles making it an excellent location for game viewing. Liwonde was a controlled hunting area which was upgraded to game reserve in 1969 and got its status of National park in 1973.
Other wildlife in the park includes kudu, impala, warthog, vervet monkey, waterbuck, bushbuck, yellow baboon and black rhino. Very rarely seen but also found in the park are leopards and spotted hyenas.
More than 400 species of birds recorded in the park include African fish-eagle, goliath heron, saddle-billed stork, fishing owl, red-necked falcon and palm-nut vulture.
The river attracts fish eagles and weaverbirds build their nests in the thin woodland.
Along with game drives, the park offers walking safaris, canoe and boat safaris.

Best time to visit:
May to October – Warm and dry weather – Good for game viewing
November – April – Wet season

MAP

Malawi Map

ITINERARIES

We create tailor-made safari itineraries

Simply send us an email on info@ubonsafari.com and we will get back to you.

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