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.
“Many very good game drives with excellent guides who were very experienced, so I saw a lot of wildlife. Excellent.”
Eric
Malawi
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Many very good game drives with excellent guides who were very experienced, so I saw a lot of wildlife. Excellent.”
Eric
Malawi
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
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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