Malawi

One of the smallest countries in Africa, Malawi is the epitome of a vast continent, the very essence of Africa. Not entirely East, Central or Southern Africa, it has elements of each: a touch of East Africa’s sensual magnetism, some of the mystery of Central Africa’s tropical forests, and the sheer delight of Southern Africa’s exuberance.

Malawi is a country of startling contrasts. Landlocked, it is a nation of fishermen, and one-fifth of the land is taken up by Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa. Trapped in the Great Rift Valley, it laps like an inland sea at the foot of wooded escarpment hills in a haunting beauty. In its uplands, the undulating plains of the central African plateau give way to dramatic inselbergs and spectacular highlands – the Mulanje Massif, the highest mountain in central Africa, and Zomba Mountain in the south, and northwards, the forested Viphya plateau and the superb rolling grasslands of the Nyika.

Nine separate wildlife reserves protect the many varied habitats. They are offering exceptional game viewing. There is a range of thrills for nature lovers, from the orchids of Nyika to the cichlid fish of the lake, from Pel’s fishing owl in the Shire Valley to the blue flycatcher in the rainforests.

Malawi, the least exploited of African tourist destinations, has now been “discovered”. It has all the traditionally prized features, such as sun-drenched beaches and sparkling palm-fringed water, as well as scuba diving, rock climbing, mountain biking and other adventures for the young at heart. This provides the best of all opportunities to experience the real warmth of Malawi.

An Undiscovered safari destination that everyone should visit