Do you know where is Malawi located? Malawi is a land of lakes and plateaus delineated by the great ridges of the East African Rift. The country has an area of 118,484 km2, making it slightly larger than Bulgaria or slightly smaller than Pennsylvania. Being one of the visa-friendly countries, Malawi e-visa is easy to get. The country is divided into three main regions: Northern, Central and Southern. There are also three different geographical regions: the Rift Valley, the Central African Plateau, and the Montane. The largest river in Malawi is the Shire, the only outlet from Lake Malawi. The highest mountain in Malawi is Mount Mulanje, which is 3002 m (9849 ft) high.
Malawi on the map
The country is long and thin, wriggling like a rare Cordylus nyikae, making its way through the lands of Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. The most defining geographical feature should be the long blue finger: Lake Malawi. This belt of cobalt mountain waters, which dominates the northeast of the country, has long served as a source of vitality for local residents. It is a paradise for fishing and trading and supports bamboo villages and old colonial centres bearing the names of people like the town of Livingstonia.
Malawi population
Malawi is one of the most populous countries in the world, with Malawi population of 19.6 million (2021). The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe. The official Malawi languages are English and Chewa. Today, scuba divers and kayakers, wildlife enthusiasts, and others visit Instagrammable places such as Lake Malawi National Park and its exclamation islands. Inside the country, the story is quite different. There are also otherworldly views of cavernous mountains to conquer, sweeping savannas and lush rainforests, all spiced up with elephants and water cormorants and every other quintessential African animal imaginable!
Capital of Malawi
The capital of Malawi, Lilongwe, has robust infrastructure and transport systems, including Lilongwe International Airport (or Kamuzu). This city in Malawi is divided into two regions - the New City and the Old City. The New City has hotels, embassies, and offices, while the Old City has more leisurely attractions like cafes, restaurants, and markets. The country boasts the most unusual landscapes, making Instagrammable places in Malawi a unique choice for sophisticated Instagrammers. In Lilongwe, Malawi, it's worth trying the local Malawi cuisine - it's an unforgettable experience. Nsima, a local dish made from ground corn, can be served with a side dish of meat or vegetables and can be enjoyed throughout the day. Lake Malawi is a source of delicious seafood, including the popular Chambo, which is a fish similar to bream. Consider the best Instagrammable places in Malawi!
1. Liwonde National Park
Along the Shire River course in Malawi, there is a safari area where you can observe wildlife and conduct safaris. The vast reserve of floodplain plains and swampy swamps, swaying grassy fields, and baobab groves is a picture of the Instagrammable hinterland of East Africa. Stay in nice cabins with easy access to the park, where walking and motorized safaris showcase everything from bush elephants to side-striped jackals, hyena flocks to impalas, waterbucks, baboons and more. Here you can also see a huge variety of flora, from huge and waxy orchids to pretty ponds with purple spots.
2. Blantyre
Blantyre, a metropolis of nearly a million people, is Lilongwe's only real competitor when it comes to competing for the crown for the country's economic pivot. However, history here also runs deep. The town boasts more than 150 years of history since it was founded by missionaries working for the Church of Scotland- hence Moniker: the eponymous Blantyre on the edge of the highlands in the UK. Visitors can come and observe old buildings such as the Mandala House or experience the vibrant Malawian economy at the Malawi Stock Exchange and the various tobacco packaging factories that have sprung up in recent decades.
3. Kasungu National Park
Kasungu National Park is one of the most pristine nature reserves in East Africa. Covering a vast area of 2,100 square kilometres, where the rolling plateaus of western Malawi give way to the borderlands with Zambia, this area is a mosaic of swaying savannas and shrubs sporadic miombo forests and dusty plains. Once known for its booming African elephant population, Kasungu has faced serious poaching problems in recent decades. However, the laying of houses around the lake waters of Lifupa helped to raise the level of ecotourism, and now the safari here is almost back to normal.
4. Lilongwe - Capital of Malawi
Surrounded by the distinct smells of newly harvested tobacco and the inhaling fumes of gasoline from the endless traffic that pulsates through the dusty streets, this city, located in a million people's capital, represents the beating political and commercial heart of Malawi. Linger for a few days, and you're sure to discover its wonders, which range from a particularly well-kept nature reserve on the outskirts of town (Lilongwe Wildlife Centre) to a heady market that catches the eye all week long with haggling vendors talking about everything from stacks of green mangoes to white wood figurines and multicoloured pulsations. There are also lively local Malawi beer bars, where you can go when you want to drink, with the Carlsberg brewed in the region!
5. Lake Malawi National Park
Lake Nyasa is known as it is in Mozambique, and as Lake Malawi, if you are in Malawi. It is the third-largest lake in Africa and is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The great lake's tropical waters are a happy habitat for more fish species than anywhere else in the world. Crocodiles and hippos are also happy with life on Lake Nyasa. This is a very remote, secret gem of Africa, which is perfect for those who want to spend time on the beach, as far away from other people as possible, or for those who just want to do something completely different. Once taken over by revered Scottish medical doctor and missionary David Livingstone, the lands of Lake Malawi National Park are a must-see destination for both nature lovers and history buffs. Located between the green sylvan hillsides surrounding the country's largest lake's shores, they include both freshwater habitats (known for their uniquely developed fish species) and vast tracts of land that can be used as habitat. Baboons and antelopes can be seen on the shore and on the various islands of the reserve; from cute Domwe to cute Mumbo, you can find a clutch of magnificent safari houses. Here you can also see the relics of the old missionary settlements.
6. Nyika National Park
Malawi on the mapis a world of mountain scenery stretching across vast expanses of the central Malawian plateaus; Nyika National Park is the largest of its kind in the entire country and, in addition, one of the most unique natural habitats in East Africa. Known as the source of the headwaters of many of the region's river routes, it is a place of verdant grassy plains and colourful beds of orchids, where elephants roam and water buffaloes merge together between the scrub. Horse safaris are extremely popular with visitors, while hiking and bird watching remains the other main attractions.
7. Karonga
Shrouded in the dusty mountains of the Malawian north and nestled on the far edge of the great lake of Malawi, just steps from the border with Tanzania, the welcoming little town of Karonga is a great place to spend a night or two in this less-visited corner of the country. Expect banks, good bus service, and a clutch of earthen little guest houses - everything you'll need to stock up on before you move on. And then there are the fossils, which are perhaps Karonga's most impressive claim to fame. They come in the form of huge remains of Malawisaurus, which are now hidden in the Cultural Center and Museum Karonga exhibition halls.
8. Nkhotakota
Nkhotakota nestled in the heart of the Central Region of Malawi. Green, Instagrammable and beautiful, it is clad in the green dash of the Miombo Forest, cut through by several meandering rivers (each on its way to Lake Malawi), and maintained by the namesake Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. It is where most travellers will go in search of the famous safari lodges that squeeze the edges of the waters to admire tropical birds and see elephants, buffaloes and maybe even leopards in the wild.
9. Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve
Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve covers 56,317 hectares. We have already mentioned that Mulanje Massif is the highest peak in Malawi. Its colossal height of 3,000 meters above sea level is enough to host a number of different habitats. The most famous is perhaps the woodland of the endangered African cypress type Widdringtonia whytei, which occasionally overflows the ridges as they rise towards the sky.
10. Zomba
The gate to the namesake plateau, Zomba, is located on the edge of the Shire Highlands. Once the centre of British Central Africa, the city has a rich colonial past. The fascinating little frontispieces located throughout the city have an English-speaking influence on all corners. However, most travellers are attracted to the forests that erupt around the city. They come with rare cypresses and juniper bushes, and on the way, they meet green forests and high-altitude lakes. Many prefer to hike to the top of the great escarpment, which offers stunning views of the Mulunguzi River and the Shire River.
11. The Island of Likoma
Surrounded by Lake Malawi's waters but located on the Mozambique side of the border, the scenic area of Likoma Island belongs to Malawi. Famed as the former headquarters of Livingstone, the place is steeped in beauty in colonial history. This can be seen in the Gothic Cathedral heights Likoma and the constant stream of tourists heading this way. However, many people come here for nature. Why? Well, Likoma is also famous for its crystal clear waters and pristine coastline, where the occasional fishing skiff offers snorkelling in the company of cichlid fish.
12. Mzuzu
The largest settlement in northern Malawi is Mzuzu, a large and compact city that serves as a transport hub for the entire Mzimba district. Popular with travellers stopping on their way to the Tanzanian border, the city is also a great place to stock up and relax before travelling to the northern shores of Lake Malawi, the man-made Viphya Plantation, or the famous Nyika National Park. There are several interesting botanical gardens in the city itself, as well as a number of tour operators who can organize hikes in the surrounding mountains and hills. So, clean your camera and get ready to travel to Malawi.