#Lake Malawi outdoor activities

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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Lake Malawi

Looking for the top 10 reasons to visit Lake Malawi? Lake Malawi is a beautiful and diverse destination located in southeastern Africa. It is the ninth-largest lake in the world by volume and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including over 1000 species of fish found nowhere else in the world. The lake is a popular spot for tourists looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, as well as…

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Fun Things to Do in Karonga | Travel Guide (2023) | Best Tourist Place

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Africa Adventure Safari -Unveiling the Adrenaline rush

When you think of Africa, you think of lions, tigers, giraffes, and other animals, as well as the beauty and grandeur of the landscape. Africa has even more than you may have expected, with everything from beautiful beaches to endless deserts and wildlife that many of you have never seen in Africa Adventure Safaris. Adventurers appreciate this vast refuge, which is full of fascinating locations and activities to discover.

In Africa, there are several methods to show adventurous spirit.There are also numerous trip selections to offer you best luxury safaris in Africa. you may take an exhilarating wildlife trip, a quiet bonfire retreat, or simply rest in one of Africa's stunning beaches' numerous magnificent hotels. The most popular tours, however, are those which take you on a true expedition to see the incredible African animals. These excursions discover national parks and reconnect with nature, bringing you closer than you've ever been to the wild! Some of the excursions you might wish to consider are mentioned below. Read the complete guide to explore.

Kruger National Park Walking Safari

This tour will allow you to get up and personal with Kruger National Park's attractions. This journey will take you on a three-night/four-day walking trek through Ngala's enigmatic environment. This region is home to some of Africa's most spectacular wildlife. The sights of rhinos and elephant herds meandering about are breathtaking. There's never a dull moment on this African trip! All meals and campfires are provided by the tour rangers. You'll quickly discover that they are not ordinary rangers, but African gourmets. While this is a guided tour, you may rest confident that you will be comfortable in your fully furnished tent camps each night.

South Africa's Garden Route Tour

This African adventure journey will leave you astonished as it changes directions from the arid dunes to the lovely mountains. The spectacular Garden Route, which runs across South Africa's Western Cape, along Route 62, and then through the Little Karoo, practically disappears behind the semi-desert sections and dense rainforest veils. One of the greatest ways to experience Africa and its incredible beauty is on this four-day tour.

Lake Malawi Kayak Tour

If you've ever fantasized about becoming a "castaway," this Africa Adventure Safaris with cruiseis for you! Relaxing camps may be found on Mumbo Island and Domwe Island, both of which are located in the southern part of Lake Malawi. If you want to kayak, dive and see magnificent rainbow fish, snorkel the shoreline, or comb the beach, this is the place to be. This expedition will take you to Lake Malawi National Park, Africa's first World Heritage Site, for eight days.

Conclusion:

On the end note, Of course, there are plenty of additional possibilities for amazing outdoor adventures and safari adventures. Family safaris, spa resorts, Kilimanjaro climbs, guided vacations, and more are among them. Whatever type of adventure you choose, you will undoubtedly enjoy your African safari vacation. With the help of this blog, you will be able to plan your trip by understanding your preferences and travel packages to enjoy your safari vacation.

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Maria Coffey - Award Winning Author, Adventurer & Pioneering Expedition Kayaker.

Maria Coffey is the author of twelve internationally published, award winning books, the co-owner of an adventure travel company and an adventurer in her own right.

  Growing up in England, Maria always dreamt of having a freewheeling life, with no real idea of how she could make that happen. In her twenties she fell in love with an elite Himalayan mountaineer, Joe Tasker, and her adventures became vicarious ones, as she waited at home during his long expeditions. When Joe disappeared on the NE Ridge of Everest, in 1982, Maria was devastated. “His death blew my life apart,” she says, “but ultimately it jolted me alive.” A few years later she moved to Canada. She met a man who shared her dream of travelling the world, and together they began to make it a reality.

  Shortly after marrying Dag, Maria wrote her first book, Fragile Edge: Loss on Everest, an account of her relationship with Joe Tasker and her own journey to Everest in the wake of his death. The writing was pure catharsis, an untangling of emotional knots in her past so that she could move into the future. Originally published in 1989, Fragile Edge became a classic in mountaineering literature and has won several prizes. Years later Maria wrote Where the Mountain Casts its Shadow: The Dark Side of Adventure, about the emotional toll of climbing, which won the Jon Whyte Literature Prize at the 2003 Banff Festival and a 2004 National Outdoor Book Award. She completed what she calls ‘an unintentional trilogy’ with Explorers of the Infinite, an examination of the link between adventure and spiritual experience. For these three books she was awarded the 2009 American Alpine Club’s H. Adams Carter Literary Award.

  In the meantime Maria was publishing books about her exploits with Dag. Throwing up secure careers, they became expedition kayakers and a writer/photographer team. They paddled through the Solomon Islands, down the River Ganges, up Lake Malawi, and around Vancouver Island. They travelled the length of the coast of Vietnam on local boats and bikes. Dag, who is a large animal vet, did seasonal work in rural areas of Wales and Ireland, and they were head-hunted by a US travel company to develop international kayaking trips. In between all this kaleidoscopic activity, their home base was a tiny island in British Columbia, from where they commuted to the nearest town by kayak.

  In 2000 they set up Hidden Places, a boutique adventure travel company, taking small groups of like-minded travellers to remarkable corners of the world. When they weren’t leading trips, they were still exploring themselves. After Dag had a life-changing experience with an elephant in Rajasthan, they established Elephant Earth, advocating and fundraising for elephant conservation and welfare in Africa and S.E Asia.

  After Explorers of the Infinite was published, Maria took a break from writing. She is now back in her author’s skin, working on a memoir about choosing to be an adventurer instead of a mother. In the growing body of literature about the childfree choice, her book will fill an important niche, giving the perspective of an older woman – Maria is in her late 60s - who has led, and is still leading, an extraordinary life.

  When they are not travelling, or sailing aboard their tiny boat, Maria and Dag divide their time between downtown Victoria, BC and a medieval village in Catalonia, Spain.

  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 

  The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

    Show notes

Who is Maria?

Moving to Canada in the 1980s

Giving up her teaching career in her early 30s to lead a life of adventure

Writing 12 books and being the co-owner of an adventure travel company 

Her early years and having a very sheltered childhood in Wolverhampton

Being the youngest of 3 

Having different dreams from an early age

Being inspired by Alice in Wonderland

Going to Liverpool University 

Finding a teaching job 

Trying to figure out how to have a life travelling the world

Longing for a bigger life

Being drawn to people who were leading adventurous lives

Getting involved in the mountain climbing community 

Falling in love with a big mountain climber called Joe Tasker

Dealing with grief and loss when there is no body

Being supported by the adventure community

Not knowing how to rebuild her life

Wanting to live intensely 

Having a near drowning experience at 21 in Morocco

Deciding to move to Canada on a teacher exchange experience

Meeting a Dag and sharing the same dream

The life as a supportive partner to an adventurer

Where the Mountain Casts Its Shadow: The Dark Side of Extreme Adventure  

Becoming super independent 

Getting married to Dag

Taking a year out to go travelling on a massive adventure in 1981

Role models and figuring out how to make a freelance lifestyle work

Being a pioneer in expedition kayaking 

Planning Vs being flexible 

Being determined to be on the river

Creating Hidden Places in 2000

Heading to Vietnam in 1994

Being adaptable to changing plans

Becoming part time kayak guides by accident 

What adventure means to Maria

Choosing to be an adventurer instead of a mother

The childfree choice

Looking for a publisher

Turning back to writing after taking a break

Final words of advice

  Social Media

  Website www.hiddenplaces.net  

  Instagram @insidehiddenplaces 

  Facebook

  @hiddenplaces 

@maria.coffey.370 

  Twitter

  @BooksCoffey 

@hiddenplacestvl

Check out this episode!

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5 Best Things to Do This Weekend with Kids in Sentosa

Rasa Sentosa Resort by Shangri-La

Have a blast with your kids this weekend at Rasa Sentosa Resort. Featuring a tropical playground at the only beachfront resort in Singapore, it's just 15 minutes away from the city centre. It features 454 spacious suites and guest rooms with private balconies where you can revel on the views of South China Sea, landscaped gardens and pools. Your kids can learn new things and explore, participate in the games and activities at the kids club. They can also have a great time at Nestopia, which is a unique outdoor play space on Siloso beach, while making new friends. 

 Adults on the other hand can relax at Chi, The Spa, with their broad range of holistic treatments deeply rooted in Asian traditions. This is the perfect way for parents to unwind, then they can enjoy sunset sips at The Bubble Bar, or dinner at Silver Shell Cafe or Casserole. Casual dining is also made available at the Trapizza, an Italian eatery, which is minutes away from this fun-filled family resort.

Equarius Hotel

Along the fringe of Sentosa's tropical rainforest lies the Equarius Hotel. This haven is the perfect getaway for families and nature-lovers alike. It's just a stone's throw away from nature hikes and numerous island attractions. It also features the Universal Studios Singapore™ and S.E.A. Aquarium™. Your entire family is guaranteed to enjoy their breezy and spacious deluxe rooms and suites with balconies having picturesque views of either sea or forest. Then pamper yourself in the luxurious ESPA which is located just beside the hotel, for hours of relaxing rejuvenation. Nature lovers will also appreciate the hotel's green philosophy. Their large panels are utilized in ushering more natural light, thereby reducing electricity consumption. Ceiling fans are manufactured from recycled wood from trees that were removed when this hotel was built.

The Singapore Zoo

Spread across the 28 lush hectares on a peninsula in the Upper Seletar Reservoir is the Singapore Zoo. It's beautifully designed, having a rich wildlife roaming in large, natural habitat-like enclosures. The Great Rift Valley is home to baboons, ibexes, and mongooses, and the Fragile Forest biodome is where you can climb up the forest canopy with your kids to check out two-toed sloths or spot flying foxes and lemurs. The Frozen Tundra has wolverines, polar bears, and raccoons, while the Primate Kingdom features all sorts of monkeys-from the crested macaque to the colobus. Also, get a look at the orangutan zoo at 11am and 3:30pm feeding sessions. Step into Wild Africa and Cat Country to witness leopards, sea lions, cheetahs, zebras and giraffes, then the Forest Lodge where you can spot the rare white tiger. Save the best destination for last at the Rainforest Kidzworld. This is great for younger kids, where they can go on pony rides, and indulge in a wet play zone with waterslides. Tired from that wandering feet? A tram that loops through the park will give yourselves a break.

The Universal Studios

Now we're talking. For all those kids and kids at heart, here's the Singapore branch of the mega-popular Hollywood movie theme park. It's divided into seven 'worlds' and makes it a major star attraction. Younger kids can enjoy suitable attractions like the Dino-Sourin' in The Lost World, Puss In Boots' Giant Journey in Far Far Away, and the all singing and dancing Sesame Street Show in Hollywood. Thrill-seekers on the other hand can go line up for the Sci-Fi CIty ride on Battlestar Galactica, which is the world's tallest and most riveting rollercoaster. Guests are made to choose between riding the suspended CYLON, or the seated HUMAN while they spin, twist and roll. Travel back in time in Ancient Egypt with the Revenge of the Mummy rollercoaster, leading visitors to fiery encounters with the undead as it propels you through eerie darkness. For those wanting to beat the queues, you can purchase the Sentosa FUN Pass if you're also planning to visit the other Sentosa island attractions. You can get to the rollercoasters soon as the park opens.

S.E.A. Aquarium

For ocean lovers out there, come over to the world's largest aquarium, with over 100,000 sea creatures and 49 marine habitats. Enter through the shark tunnel and be mesmerized with the hammerheads, sandbar and silvertip sharks lurking above your head. Spot Nemo and the eels in the Bay of Bengal. Learn about the vast ecosystems of Lake Malawi, coastal mangroves or the kelp forests. The Ocean Journey on the other hand gives you one of the most explicit and captivating unearthly exhibits. It features monstrous spider crabs, eerily-lit jellyfish, and enormous deep sea octopus. The ultimate show-stopper is the vast, 36 meters long, 8.3 meters high Open Ocean tank. This will bring you up close and personal with sharks, stingrays, barracuda, and other humongous, open-water fish. The Daily feedings and Discovery Touch Pool are great experiences for your kids too. Need fast cash from Sentosa but worried you won’t find any reliable moneylender? Head down to Bugis Credit and find your best options. These instructions guarantee you won’t get lost!

From Sentosa to Bugis Credit:

Head south to Serapong Course Road

Turn right, then turn left.

Next, turn left towards Artillery Avenue

Turn right, then turn left again towards Artillery Avenue

Arrive at Eton House, Board Bus B - Eastbound at the Beach Station

Arrive at Merlion Plaza, walk to Imbiah Station

Board the Sentosa Express

Arrive at Vivocity Station and enter through Entrance C

Arrive at HarbourFront, take the North East Line through Punggol Station

Arrive at Outram Park station, take the East West Line.

Take Exit C, then head southwest towards Middle Road

From Middle Road, turn left on to North Bridge Road

Arrive at Bugis Cube, Bugis Credit is at #02-12

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6 great places in Malawi for wellness travel

Recent years have seen the rise of wellbeing travel with the Global Wellness Summit’s Wellness Trends report stating that 2018 was a “new era of transformative travel”. In 2017, 691 million travellers took wellness specific trips that focused on the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal wellbeing. The awareness and emphasis on wellbeing is on the increase, where travellers want to spend their time off investing in themselves. And with wellness broadening from the initial spas and yoga retreats, to now encompass a wide variety of activities that are good for general health and well-being, where better to invest in healthy travel than Malawi? It has many ways in which you can do just that – from walking trails, hiking, biking, horse trails, scuba diving, and a few yoga retreats!

Mumbo Island: remote relaxation

Mumbo Island is an idyllic uninhabited tropical island in Lake Malawi and protected as part of the Lake Malawi National Park. It lies an hour’s boat ride or three hour paddle in a kayak from the mainland and is small enough to walk across in less than an hour. The camp adheres to the strictest principles of eco- architecture and is constructed entirely of timber, thatch and canvas. There are plenty of activities available from island walks to kayaking, snorkelling and diving, but just lying in a hammock on an island in a lake in the middle of Africa is as remote and relaxing as it gets! Mumbo now also hosts a number of yoga retreats, recently expanded after guest feedback to allow even more time to relax and ‘detox’. The retreats include session of pilates and mediation as well as yoga – and, of course, an opportunity to try out some snorkelling!

Zomba Forest Lodge: nature trails

Guests who come to Zomba enjoy hiking, which is a welcome break to sitting either in a safari vehicle or on a beach – though many are content with a gentle amble instead. The Zomba Plateau itself offers lots of different walks for different abilities and durations, but immediately around the property are 3.5km of nature trails which guests love exploring, solo or with a member of staff. Guests can even join a walk with the lodge owner and her dog which enables them to explore places that they would not necessarily have gone on their own, and enjoy a bit of canine-therapy along the way! The lodge also organises and annual Run4Reforestation, a multi-distance running event with 5, 10 and 21km races, with all the proceeds going towards their tree planting project Zomba TREEZ.

Blue Zebra Island Lodge: snorkelling and diving

Located in the Central Region of Malawi and less than a two hour journey from Lilongwe, Blue Zebra lodge is situated in the Lake Malawi National Park on Nankoma Island, which forms part of the Marelli Island Archipelago. The three islands are home to a vast array of freshwater fish, including some of the most rare and colourful in the world. The islands support diverse flora and fauna and are a birdwatchers paradise. The lodge also offers free use of snorkelling equipment to view the unique fish that inhabit every inch of the shoreline. The more adventurous can take advantage of other water sports including wakeboarding, water-skiing and SCUBA diving. The water sports centre is PADI certified and can cater for novice and experienced divers, with dive sites located all around the island to suit every level of experience. The dive centre is involved with a number of conservation initiatives to protect the island’s Cichlid fish.

Luwawa Forest Lodge: hiking, biking and much more!

Luwawa Forest Lodge has been operating now for twenty years as a tourist lodge and outdoor adventure centre. One of its most popular activities is the 4 day wilderness trail from the mountains of Northern Malawi where they are based, down to Lake Malawi. Get lost in this incredible trail, that passes through a unique wilderness area over Kawandama mountain through indigenous forest and down the Rift Valley escarpment to the Lake at Kachere Kastle. The lodge itself is ideally situated on the Viphya Highlands in the beautiful and tranquil Luwawa Valley overlooking Luwawa Dam which is well stocked with a variety of fish including wide-mouthed bream. The lodge specialises in outdoor adventure tourism and has a range of healthy activities on offer including horse riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, abseiling, trail walking, canoeing on the Luwawa Dam, fishing, birding, orienteering, forest fitness courses, table tennis etc. And, at the end of a tiring day you can retreat to the garden sauna. With locally grown organic produce on the menu and plenty of fresh mountain air, this is undoubtedly a very healthy place to spend a few days!

Makuzi Beach: yoga retreats

Makuzi Beach Lodge is located along the northern shores of Lake Malawi. Delightfully sited in its own private bay, the lodge is ideal for that perfect “Retreat to Paradise”. Makuzi Beach has three stylish en suite thatched executive chalets and eight standard en suite chalets all nestled in manicured gardens overlooking the lake’s warm, clear waters. The serene and tranquil setting of Makuzi Beach ensures the ideal location for Yoga and Meditation retreats, taught by lodge owner and also qualified Sivananda Yoga instructor and Reiki Master, Lara Pollard. Makuzi Beach Lodge promises a calm and relaxing atmosphere to find peace and practice Yoga.

Bua River Lodge: tap out

The lodge is located just two kilometres inside the eastern boundary of the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi. Bua River Lodge prides itself in offering a break from everything, even from the internet, allowing its guests to be totally immersed in the wilderness. Enjoy the peace and great food on offer, all of which is made on site even the bread, jams and relishes. Walking safaris are offered, with a trained and armed game ranger. Walks are tailored to the wishes of the guests, varying from short strolls along the river to a nearby waterfall, to all-day hikes, an ascent of Chipata Mountain (1,700 metres) in the west of the reserve and overnight safaris with fly camps.

Kelly White is Director of the Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium. Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium aims to provide you with the best information to make Malawi your tourism destination.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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Top 5 adventure activities in Malawi (beyond safaris)

Although visitors look to most African destinations primarily for their safari experiences, there are plenty of other great outdoor and water-based adventure activities on offer, and Malawi is one country that has a surprisingly wide choice of activities available to enjoy despite its relatively small size. The calm, clear waters of Lake Malawi are a […]

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The 8 Most Adventurous Things to Do in Malawi

01 of 08

Go on Safari in Liwonde National Park

Kraig Becker 

No visit to Africa is ever quite complete without going on safari. Malwai's Liwonde National Park offers the best wildlife viewing experiences in the country, giving visitors a chance to spot elephants, monkeys, baboons, warthogs, crocodiles, antelope, and hippos. Lots and lots of hippos. The park recently reintroduced lions, leopards, and rhinos as well, but they can still be a bit elusive at times. In the future, they are expected to take center stage, enhancing the wildlife experience even further. That said, sharp-eyed travelers will still spot them while exploring the park's wild landscapes.

While visiting Liwonde, the Mvuu Lodge serves as a great base camp, allowing travelers to experience the wildlife on foot, 4×4 vehicle, and boat, making it a diverse and unique safari environment. The comfortable, tented cabins at Mvuu are the perfect place to retire at the end of busy day, often with wildlife just off your secluded deck. 

02 of 08

Climb Mount Mulanje

Michael Runkel / robertharding/Getty Images

When trekkers think about African climbs, Kilimanjaro is the peak that most likely comes to mind, but there are other places to hike on the continent as well, with Malawi being home to one of them.

Mount Mulanje is the tallest mountain in the country, rising 9,849 feet above the surrounding landscape. The mountain beckons hikers to test their legs on its flanks while taking on one of 18 different routes to the summit. There are plenty of guides willing to lead travelers to the top, and most treks take three to four days to complete. Along the way, hikers pass through some diverse ecosystems and there is even some wildlife to be spotted. 

03 of 08

Run Mount Mulanje

LatitudeStock – Patrick Ford/Getty Images

If a simple hike up Mount Mulanje doesn't sound challenging enough, why not run to the top instead? Each year, the Mulanje Porters' Race gives runners a chance to truly test their strength and endurance with participants scrambling up to Chambe Plateau, located at about 8,200 feet above sea level. Originally the race was only open to the guides and porters who actually work on the mountain, but in recent years, it has expanded to include anyone adventurous enough to enter. Since expanding the field, hundreds of international runners now come to Malawi each year to take part in this difficult but rewarding event. 

04 of 08

Go Camping on Zomba Plateau

Ian Cumming/Getty Images

Malawi's Zomba Plateau offers visitors excellent hiking and stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. Numerous streams flow across the table-top plateau itself, turning into tall waterfalls when they reach the edge of the mountain. Wildlife is common throughout the area too, with baboons, eagles, and even the occasional leopard putting in an appearance. 

A large campsite found at the top of Zomba Plateau can be reached by car. Bring a tent, some sleeping bags, and your sense of adventure, and you'll have the chance to spend the night outdoors in an African paradise. 

Continue to 5 of 8 below.

05 of 08

Go Scuba Diving and Snorkeling on Lake Malawi

Jens Kufs/Getty images

You wouldn't think a landlocked country like Malawi would offer good opportunities to go SCUBA diving or snorkeling, but you would be completely wrong. Lake Malawi is one of the largest lakes in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This spectacular resource helps to set Malawi apart from many other African countries, giving travelers a chance to experience some of the best freshwater diving on the planet. Additionally, the lake is one of the most biodiverse bodies of water as well, offering more than 500 different species of colorful fish to spot, including red and blue zebras. 

Not SCUBA certified? You can do that there as well by joining Aqua Africa in the stunning Nkhata Bay. The company leads a number of diving excursions into this stunning part of the lake, even offering night dives that are out of this world. 

06 of 08

Race Sailboats on Lake Malawi

Gallo Images-Anthony Bannister/Getty Images

Sailing is another common activity on Lake Malawi, which is massive enough to generate some surprisingly large waves and fast winds. The sport is so popular, in fact, that each year the Lake Malawi Yachting Marathon takes place there, sending sailors on a 250-mile odyssey that is called the longest freshwater yachting race in the world.

The Yachting Marathon has been around for more than 30 years, attracting teams from across Africa and other continents. While skill and experience play an important role in the race, the marathon is often described as more of an endurance event, testing the resolve of competitors throughout.

If you're more interested in a leisurely outing, Danforth Yachting can help arrange that too.  

07 of 08

Enjoy a Kayaking Adventure

Ariadne Van Zandbergen/Getty Images

For those who prefer to explore the lake under their own power, there are plenty of opportunities to go kayaking too. Paddlers can set out for just a few hours or a few days, depending on just how adventurous they'd like to get. There are numerous islands to explore, and even the shoreline provides some great scenery.

With its big waves and shifting winds, paddling on Lake Malawi is much closer to sea kayaking rather than taking a boat out onto a regular freshwater lake. It can provide a good workout and will keep even experienced kayakers on their toes, mixing a healthy dose of adventure into the entire experience. 

Kayak Africa offers a number of different itineraries for those who would like to explore the lake in this fashion. 

08 of 08

Have a Multi-Sport Adventure at Blue Zebra Island Lodge

Kraig Becker

Travelers looking for diverse adventures will find plenty to see and do at the Blue Zebra Island Lodge. Situated on the Marelli Island Archipelago in Lake Malawi, visitors will be convinced they've left Africa behind and arrived in the Caribbean. Once there, visitors can choose to be as active as they'd like, hiking or running a trail that circles the entire main island or choosing to circumnavigate by kayak instead. The Blue Zebra has a lovely swimming pool for those looking to take a dip, but a freshwater lagoon gives them the chance to plunge into the lake itself. Afternoon boat excursions and snorkeling tours are available as well, and the island is a wonderful destination for birdwatchers looking for some hard-to-find African species. 

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Top 5 adventure activities in Malawi (beyond safaris)

Although visitors look to most African destinations primarily for their safari experiences, there are plenty of other great outdoor and water-based adventure activities on offer, and Malawi is one country that has a surprisingly wide choice of activities available to enjoy despite its relatively small size.

The calm, clear waters of Lake Malawi are a great lure and there is plenty of opportunity to experience the lake more closely – either on it or in it. Thankfully, though, despite all the leisure activities, the most common sight on the lake is still that of a fisherman in a dugout canoe! The main lakeshore hotels and lodges have most activities on offer either directly or through specialist water sports operators. Prices are not unreasonable and whilst advance booking is advisable, it’s not always necessary. Elsewhere, Malawi’s diverse and lush forested highlands offer wonderful terrain and scenery to explore on foot or even from a seated position! Forest lodges will happily guide their guests to the best trails for exploring the landscapes, even providing the necessary support for multi-day excursions. And some offer bikes or horses as alternative means of transport!

Climbing, hiking and walking

Rock climbing is largely restricted to Mount Mulanje where a number of little-used routes up the great granite faces offer experienced climbers a variety of challenges. For the less hard-core, there are plenty of fascinating and beautiful hikes and walks. Walks through all of the national parks and wildlife reserves are popular for game viewing but hiking is generally done in the cool, shady forests on the hills and plateaux.

Malawi’s very own ‘mountain in the sky’, Mulanje, is actually a massif covering some 250 square miles with multiple peaks, the highest of which touches 10,000 ft. There is a large area that can be covered on foot and Mulanje has a network of huts for intrepid explorers to stay in. Marked paths offer a variety of routes and guides and/or porters can be hired cheaply. Nyika Plateau is less rugged but walking is undoubtedly one of the best ways to explore this unique and wildlife-rich wilderness. There are marked trails for those prepared to hike and camp for a few days. They cover the various peaks and valleys whilst offering chances to encounter the animals in the park close at hand. Though not quite as high as Nyika, Viphya Plateau is now proving popular. Most of the area is forested by either plantation or indigenous woodland, including tropical rainforest. One trail begins at Luwawa, crosses the Viphya and descends the escarpment, arriving at the lakeshore after four days of hiking. The serene forests, hills and streams of Zomba Plateau, and the views from it, offer another attraction for walkers. Other forest reserves such as Dzalanyama and Ntchisi also provide pleasant walks through shady environments, usually with excellent birdlife.

Boats trips and watersports

Boats of all sizes are available on Lake Malawi, offering simple individual hire, short pleasure trips or full cruises lasting some days. Simple daytime hire is possible of everything from pedalos and canoes to outboard dinghies and sailing boats. Kayaking is particularly popular, thanks in no small part to the Kayak Africa operation in the Lake Malawi National Park. Sea-going kayaks are used to paddle to luxury camps on the deserted islands in the park. The tide- and current-free waters make for good sailing and a few small sail boats are available for hire and use. Accomplished sailors could even enter the Lake Malawi Yachting Marathon. This international event runs in July and is known as the longest freshwater sailing event in the world. It consists of a series of daily stages, beginning in the south, and ending a week later in the north.

For a simple organised pleasure trip of up to a few hours there is a choice of destinations – places of interest along the shore, or small islands just offshore. Traditional wooden fishing boats or modern fibreglass speed boats are available. There can be minimum or maximum numbers for these excursions and some include snorkelling or fishing along the way. If only one pleasure trip is to be taken, it should be out to the waters of the Lake Malawi National Park. Brightly coloured fish are easily visible through the crystal clear water, and are eager to swarm round, and feed from, any hand placed in the water holding suitable food.

Leisurely cruises on larger boats can also be arranged from the main hotels – to last hours or days. There are scheduled trips by motor launch and occasional sailing cruises. Short ‘sundowner’ trips are very popular but longer, daytime cruising can be complemented by diving, snorkelling or swimming and even overnight beach camping.  Perhaps the ultimate journey on the lake is on the Ilala, a large motorised vessel offering a scheduled ferry service up and down the lake. This is a functional ship much used by local people, but also offers passage and cabin accommodation to tourists. Facilities for sailboarding, parasailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are all available at the main lakeshore establishments and are often included for guests, or relatively inexpensive. Experience is not required and basic tuition is available.

Horse riding

Horse safaris used to be available in the Nyika National Park but that operation has now ceased and currently, none of Malawi’s wildlife reserves or national parks offer safaris on horseback. But there are still a few stables around the country that offer the chance to experience Malawi’s beautiful and diverse landscapes from the back of a horse.

At Kande, on the northern shore of Lake Malawi, is a wonderful stables that offers rides into and around the nearby indigenous forest, as well as through local villages and on to the lake beaches, where there is an opportunity to ride into the water! The stables on Zomba Plateau, similarly offer rides through the forest and an alternative way to explore this beautiful highland that used to be said to have ‘the best views in the British Empire’. And on the Viphya Plateau, a new network of trails is being developed to allow treks lasting a number of days, to complement the existing short rides currently on offer across the highlands and through the forests.

Diving and sorkelling

The clear, calm, warm, shark-free and tideless waters with abundant populations of brightly coloured tropical fish (up to 1000 species) make Lake Malawi a great place to dive. Visibility can reach 30 metres at the best times of year (August to December). Even simple snorkelling gives good results in the right places.

Malawi has a few dive centres and, as well as casual dives, one to six day courses are available with professional tuition and PADI certification. Alternatively, sailing tours can be taken to incorporate day or night dives. In the Lake Malawi National Park, Otter Point and the eastern tip of West Thumbi Island have underwater trails worth investigating, though the fish can be seen throughout the Lake.

Cycling

The change in scene over relatively short distances, and the varied terrain, make Malawi a great country for cycling. The generally good tar of the main roads allow for cycling tours around the country over a few days, for example, along the lakeshore. More challenging mountain biking is provided in the forests and on the plateaux. Most of the lodges in the forested highlands offer mountain bikes for hire and there is an increasing number of trails to explore. Mulanje is the exception, but mountain bilking can be enjoyed at Zomba, Viphya, Nyika and Ntchisi.

Kelly White is Director of the Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium. Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium aims to provide you with the best information to make Malawi your tourism destination.

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Top 5 adventure activities in Malawi (beyond safaris)

Top 5 adventure activities in Malawi (beyond safaris)

Although visitors look to most African destinations primarily for their safari experiences, there are plenty of other great outdoor and water-based adventure activities on offer, and Malawi is one country that has a surprisingly wide choice of activities available to enjoy despite its relatively small size.

The calm, clear waters of Lake Malawi are a great lure and there is plenty of…