
Lake Malawi © Paul venter
Promoted as the 'Warm Heart of Africa', Malawi is a long, thin
country renowned for the unequalled friendliness of its people,
unspoilt national parks and wildlife reserves, and the beaches and
tropical fish population of Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in
Africa.
The country's layout is dominated by the vast lake, as well as
the Great Rift Valley. It cuts through Malawi from north to south
and is made up of fertile valleys, mountains and verdant
plateaus.
Lake Malawi is an irresistible attraction for travellers with
its beaches, resorts, watersports, and aquatic life proving a
magnet for divers and snorkelers. The lake is home to a bigger
variety of fish species than any other freshwater lake on earth,
most of them protected within the Lake Malawi National Park at its
southern tip.
Most visitors head for the small, restful village at Cape
Maclear which, along with its offshore islands, is part of the
park. Equally popular, Nkhata Bay to the north offers bays,
beaches, and various water activities.
Spread along the length of the lakeshore are numerous
traditional fishing villages, and the fishermen in their dugout
canoes form a quintessential postcard silhouette against the
spectacular golden sunsets.
Malawi is also blessed with numerous game reserves and national
parks that are uncrowded, filled with animals and a renowned
variety of birdlife, and offer a unique wilderness experience. The
northern Nyika Plateau, at around 7,500 feet (2,300m), is one of
the world's highest game reserves and is a remote area located in
the most unspoilt and least visited part of the country.
It has beautiful grasslands and waterfalls, the highest
concentration of leopard in Central Africa, and reputation for its
abundant orchid species. To the south, the best-known reserve is
Liwonde National Park, home to thousands of hippos and crocodiles
on the banks of the Shire River, as well as large numbers of
elephants, zebra, and antelope.
The southern part of the country is the most developed and the
most populated. Although Lilongwe is the capital, the region is
home to Malawi's largest city and main commercial centre, Blantyre,
which is a good base for visiting two of the area's attractions:
the vast massif of Mount Mulunje, offering some of the finest
hiking trails in the country, and Zomba Plateau.
Malawi has remained largely peaceful for over a century,
unaffected by the war and internal strife that has torn many other
southern African countries apart. Although poor and densely
populated, the country offers visitors a wealth of scenic
highlights, culture, and activities.