Highlights

•Lake Malawi, an inland sea with over 500 species of fish including the endemic cichlids, and beautiful sandy beaches.

•Nyika National Park - immense rolling hills covered in montane grasslands with pockets of woodlands, patches of evergreen forest and orchids between January and March.

•Zomba Plateau, temperate grasslands, evergreen forests, mountain streams and a reservoir, majestically overlooking Zomba, the historic old capital of Malawi.

•Liwonde National Park along the banks of the Shire River, with a rhino sanctuary but especially renowned for its birdlife.

Weather

There are three main seasons: May to August (winter) cool and dry; September until the rains start (usually mid November but it can be as late as mid December) hot and dry; then hot and wet until April. Most comfortable time is June to August when rainfall is negligible and temperatures average between 15-20°C.

Activities

•Bird watching, with over 650 identified species, 10% of which have not been seen in other parts of southern Africa. Good all over the country at almost any time of the year but in November and December the plumage of many birds is at its most colourful. Pel's fishing owl and Lilian's lovebirds are common sightings in Liwonde.

•Game viewing, by vehicle and on foot, is easily organised in any of the country's National Parks and Wildlife Reserves.

•Horse riding, either on the Zomba Plateau or as a magical way to explore the Nyika Plateau with the added thrill of riding amongst zebra and other antelope, perfect for less experienced as well as more expert riders.

•Walking on Nyika, Zomba and Viphya Plateaux or even up Mount Mulanje.

•Fishing - September to April for trout on Nyika and the Zomba Plateau.

•Scuba diving, kayaking and other watersports at the lake.

•Golf, at the southern end of the lake, but also could be arranged in Lilongwe, Zomba and several places in southern Malawi.