Malawi’s Safari Destinations
Malawi may be small compared to its neighbors, but it packs a surprising amount of diversity when it comes to wildlife and landscapes. The most well-known parks like Liwonde and Majete offer classic safari experiences—big game, river cruises, and excellent sightings of elephants, hippos, and even black rhino. But there's more to explore beyond the usual stops. Head north to the Nyika Plateau, where rolling grasslands and cool mountain air give the place a feel more like the Scottish Highlands than central Africa. Or wander into the Ntchisi Forest Reserve, one of the last remaining patches of indigenous rainforest in the region. For those after a quieter, less-travelled safari, Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve offers rugged beauty, a growing animal population, and a sense of true wilderness...
Liwonde National Park
Liwonde National Park is often considered the crown jewel of Malawi’s safari offerings—and for good reason. Located along the Shire River in the south of the country, it’s a place where lush riverbanks, open plains, and woodlands come together to create a truly picturesque setting for wildlife viewing.
Thanks to its easy access from Blantyre or Zomba, Liwonde is both convenient and rewarding, making it a popular stop on many itineraries. But it’s not just the location—the wildlife here is thriving. Over the past decade, major conservation efforts led by African Parks have transformed Liwonde into a top-tier destination. You can expect to see elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelope, buffalo, and black rhino, with lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs reintroduced in recent years.
One of Liwonde’s highlights is the Shire River safari, where you drift past pods of hippos and basking crocs while elephants feed along the banks—a truly unique way to experience a safari. Traditional game drives and walking safaris are also available, often delivering high-quality sightings with far fewer vehicles than in more commercial parks elsewhere in Africa.
The park is also a haven for birdwatchers, home to over 400 recorded species, including Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmers, and the stunning carmine bee-eater.
Where to stay
Mvuu Lodge offers an intimate, stylish safari stay right on the edge of the Shire River. With just five comfortable tented chalets, each with private viewing decks and outdoor showers, plus three secluded suites with plunge pools, it’s the kind of place where you’re never far from the sights and sounds of the wild.
The lodge features two beautiful wooden dining decks, a peaceful yoga platform, a swimming pool surrounded by fever trees, and a hippo-viewing lounge perfect for sundowners. Meals often take place under the stars in the boma, adding to the bush dining experience.
Visit Liwonde with Kumbali Expeditions.
Visit Liwonde with Kumbali Expeditions.
Visit Liwonde National Park with Kumbali Expeditions.
Visit Liwonde with Kumbali Expeditions.
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Majete Wildlife Reserve, located in Malawi’s southern region, is one of the country’s greatest conservation success stories. Once heavily poached and nearly devoid of wildlife, the reserve has been transformed into a thriving safari destination thanks to a long-term partnership between the Malawi Department of National Parks and Wildlife and African Parks, a non-profit conservation organisation.
When African Parks took over management in 2003, Majete was in crisis—no elephants, no rhinos, no lions, and barely any infrastructure. Over the following years, they rebuilt fences, trained rangers, and reintroduced more than 2,500 animals, including the Big Five: elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, and black rhinos.
Majete’s revival isn’t just about wildlife. The park is also a model for community-led conservation, with local employment, education, and tourism revenue sharing helping to ensure long-term support from surrounding villages.
The landscape itself is scenic and diverse, featuring rocky outcrops, river valleys, and miombo woodland. Game drives, walking safaris, and boat trips on the Shire River all offer unique ways to explore the park.
Majete offers a quiet, uncrowded safari experience in a place that has come back from the brink—a true reminder of what’s possible when conservation is done right.
Where to stay
Mkulumadzi Lodge offers a perfect blend of seclusion and comfort within a 7,000-hectare private concession in Majete Wildlife Reserve. Reached by a suspension footbridge over the Mkulumadzi River, the lodge sits beneath giant leadwood trees at the confluence of two rivers, surrounded by wildlife and quiet.
The lodge features eight spacious chalets, a swimming pool, viewing decks, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a bar, a shop, and a sleep-out star deck for nights under the sky. Open from 16 March to 9 January, it’s an ideal spot for those wanting a peaceful, high-end safari experience deep in the bush.
Visit Majete Wildlife Reserve with Kumbali Expeditions.
Visit Majete Wildlife Reserve with Kumbali Expeditions.
Visit Majete Wildlife Reserve with Kumbali Expeditions.
Visit Majete Wildlife Reserve with Kumbali Expeditions.
Thuma Forest Reserve
Tucked between Lilongwe and Lake Malawi along the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, Thuma Forest Reserve is one of Malawi’s most scenic and least-explored wilderness areas. Just a couple of hours from the capital, it offers a rare mix of accessibility and deep remoteness, making it a perfect escape for those looking to experience Malawi’s wilder side without going far.
Thuma is one of the few places in Malawi where you can still find free-roaming elephants and buffalo. In fact, it’s home to around 10% of the country’s elephant population, alongside over 32 other large mammal species. Sightings of caracal, honey badger, and even eland—thought to be gone for decades—have been recorded again in recent years, showing just how much life is returning to this protected area.
But Thuma isn’t about ticking off the Big Five. It’s about total immersion in nature. The rugged hills, miombo woodlands, and bamboo thickets are a dream for hikers and nature lovers, with dramatic views and a true sense of solitude.
We love Thuma for its exclusivity—there’s only one property inside the reserve, and it’s only available on a private basis, so you’ll have the entire forest to yourself. Whether you’re watching warthog from the swimming pool, exploring on foot, or simply soaking in the quiet, it’s an experience that feels completely your own.
If you’re after authentic wilderness, a peaceful atmosphere, and the chance to support real conservation, Thuma is the real deal.
Where to stay
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Kaphulika
Tucked deep within the rugged beauty of Thuma Forest Reserve, Kaphulika House is a one-of-a-kind, private-use eco-lodge offering total seclusion and a deep connection to nature. Built by the Wildlife Action Group (WAG) with support from local communities and donors, the house blends African chic with homely comfort, surrounded by towering baobab trees and panoramic views of the forest.
The house is fully solar-powered, constructed with eco-conscious materials, and furnished with locally crafted pieces, including artisan-made sofas, lights, and tables that showcase Malawian culture and craftsmanship. With its private balcony, guests can relax and immerse themselves in the sounds and sights of the forest.
Activities at Kaphulika House include guided nature walks, bird watching, and sundowners, led by knowledgeable rangers who share insights into the forest's delicate ecosystem and the vital role the lodge plays in its conservation. Guests can also enjoy the swimming pool, offering a refreshing dip amidst the wilderness.
All income from your stay goes directly back into the protection of the forest and its wildlife, supporting ongoing conservation efforts and community development projects.
Kaphulika House offers a rare opportunity to unwind in the untamed beauty of one of Malawi’s finest forests, making it an ideal choice for travelers seeking an authentic, sustainable escape.
Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park is unlike anywhere else in Malawi—or the entire region. Spanning over 3,000 square kilometers, it’s the country’s largest park and sits atop a vast high-altitude plateau, often described as reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. Rolling hills, wide open grasslands, misty mornings, and cool temperatures give it a character all its own.
The name Nyika means “where the water comes from,” a nod to the plateau’s elevated position, which makes it wetter and greener than the lowlands around it. It’s also interpreted to mean “wilderness” or “short grassland”—both fitting descriptions for this untouched, expansive landscape.
While it may feel far removed—getting there involves a long drive or a flight to the park’s airstrip—the journey is worth it. The park is rich in wildlife, including roan and eland antelope, zebra, warthog, bushbuck, reedbuck, and leopard, along with over 400 bird species, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise.
In addition to the wildlife and scenery, Nyika is home to prehistoric rock art, found in sheltered caves scattered across the plateau, adding a deep cultural layer to the natural beauty.
If you’re looking for space, solitude, and something truly different, Nyika offers a safari experience like no other—quiet, scenic, and utterly wild.
Where to stay
Chelinda Lodge is the perfect place to warm up after a day out on the cool, windswept hills of Nyika National Park. Perched on the edge of a pine forest, with wide panoramic views over the plateau, the lodge feels more like a mountain retreat than a traditional safari base—and that’s exactly its charm.
The lodge features a series of beautifully built pine log cabins, each with a cosy fireplace, perfect for curling up after a brisk game drive. Nyika can get surprisingly cold, especially at night, but Chelinda makes the most of it—with crackling fires, hearty meals, and a welcoming lounge area where guests swap stories and enjoy the views.
There’s plenty to do here: in addition to game drives, you can try fly fishing, go bike riding through the grasslands, or take on a multi-day hike to Livingstonia Mission. Or, if you'd rather take it slow, just sit on the viewing deck, enjoy some stargazing, and soak in the stillness of the highlands.
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve
At 1,800 km², Nkhotakota is not only Malawi’s largest and oldest wildlife reserve, but also one of its wildest and most untouched. Located within easy reach of both Lake Malawi and Lilongwe, it's an ideal stop for those looking to blend wilderness, scenery, and accessibility in one itinerary.
Nkhotakota is a place of dramatic contrasts—from quiet woodland glades and gently flowing sections of the Bua River, to rugged cliffs, fast-moving rapids, and sweeping miombo woodlands. Chipata Mountain adds even more character, offering evergreen forest trails and stunning vistas for hikers.
In recent years, Nkhotakota has undergone one of Africa’s largest wildlife reintroduction efforts, with elephants and other species relocated between 2016 and 2022. Today, the reserve is home to healthy populations of elephant, buffalo, zebra, eland, kudu, waterbuck, sable, hartebeest, and more. Game viewing is increasingly rewarding, and it all happens in quiet, crowd-free surroundings.
For birders, the reserve is a standout—with over 320 recorded species, including rarities like the palm-nut vulture, pale-billed hornbill, and miombo pied barbet. It’s classified as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.
Where to stay
Rafiki Safari Camp is a charming, owner-run lodge just outside Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, offering a relaxed and family-friendly safari experience. The camp features spacious en-suite safari units, each with its own private verandah, ideal for soaking up the sights and sounds of the bush. For those travelling on a budget or looking for a more rustic experience, full camping facilities are also available.
Evenings are best spent around the beautiful boma, where guests can unwind to the sounds of crickets, nightjars, and the occasional elephant passing nearby. Rafiki is proudly eco-friendly and fully solar powered, with a focus on sustainability and comfort.
With its warm hospitality, peaceful setting, and great access to the reserve, Rafiki Safari Camp is a perfect base for exploring one of Malawi’s most unspoiled wilderness areas.
Lush Forests
Tucked away in Malawi’s central highlands, just a few hours from Lilongwe, Ntchisi Forest Reserve is one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Covering around 75 square kilometers, this untouched patch of indigenous rainforest sits high above the surrounding farmland, offering a cool, green escape far from the tourist trail.
Historically used as a refuge by the Chewa people in the 19th century, the forest was spared from widespread deforestation and is now one of the last remaining natural rainforests in Malawi. Towering trees, tangled vines, and rare orchids fill the forest, home to samango monkeys, baboons, hyenas, bushbuck, and hundreds of bird species. There have even been sightings of a black leopard on the nearby slopes. When the rains come, the forest bursts with wildflowers, mushrooms, and strange fruits, making it a forager’s paradise.
At the heart of this reserve lies Ntchisi Forest Lodge, a comfortable and welcoming retreat with deep ties to the local community. The lodge offers not just forest walks and hiking trails, but also cultural exchanges—visits to nearby villages, guided field tours, and the chance to learn about sustainable farming and local traditions. Guests can even take part in the lodge’s Tree Experience, planting indigenous species and learning about forest restoration efforts.
Whether you're exploring the forest, biking through the montane grasslands, or sharing stories with local farmers, Ntchisi is a place that invites you to slow down, reconnect, and experience a side of Malawi that few travelers get to see.
