Mzanzi Travel - Local Travel Inspiration (Issue 5)

Explore Africa
Giovanni De Caro / Shutterstock
Dariush M / Shutterstock
Rafal Cichawa / Shutterstock
From the moment one lands in the capital
Lilongwe, you know you are in the warm heart of
Africa, in a country with some of the friendliest
people on the continent…and wonderful
attractions largely centred on the great Lake
Malawi.
But while the central feature most often
associated with this African country is Lake
Malawi with its crystal clear waters, boulderstrewn
bays and pristine white beaches, the country has tons more to
offer: from historical sites to cultural villages, varying landscapes and
scenery, highlands, forests, mountains, national parks, superb lodges,
island getaways, kayaking, steamboat cruises, abundant wildlife, over 650
recorded bird species, small but bustling cities, pre-historic archaeological
sites, arts and crafts, boat and 4X4 safaris, ancient rock art, and so much
more.
Malawi offers visitors the unparalleled combination of one of Africa’s most
beautiful lakes, magnificent landscape teeming with wildlife, a choice of no
less than nine national parks or wildlife reserves, and a captivating culture.
The country is also close and on connecting flight routes to other favourite
African destinations such as Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia (with
which it shares borders), and Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Strangely enough, despite a quarter of Malawi’s total surface area being
covered by the tranquil waters of Lake Malawi that also demarcates over
20% of its borderline, the country is landlocked. Lake Malawi is the third
largest and second deepest lake in Africa, and is also the ninth largest in the
world. The lake is one of the African Great Lakes and the southernmost in
a chain of large lakes in the East African Rift Valley system. The temperate
climate of the mountainous northern highlands gives way to subtropical
conditions and rolling plains below the escarpment.
For easy reference for tourists visiting the country, Malawi is divided into
the North, Central and South Malawi regions. While the northern and
central regions are dominated by Lake Malawi, the south has its very own
large, but lesser known water body, Lake Chilwa.
The vast freshwater body of Lake Malawi with its clear, clean waters is
fringed by beaches of golden sand, with fishing villages and excellent hotels
and lodges dotted along its shoreline, as well as several islands just waiting
to be discovered. It is a favourite for swimming, kayaking, boat cruises,
32 |ISSUE 5|www.mzanzitravel.co.za | MZANZI TRAVEL