Malawi

Malawi is a country in Southeastern Africa, a country that is landlocked yet entirely dependent on water. Lake Malawi is a listed Unesco World Heritage Site and its waters run the full length of Malawi. Formed by the surging Great Rift Valley, this lake is an enormous draw for tourism to the country, boasting an eclectic array of birds and fish, fantastic boating activities on its blue waters, and a lake coastline of fine bays and beaches.

Beyond the lake, in Southern Malawi, are two stunning success stories for African wildlife: Mejete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park. In Mejete, there is a huge population of wild animals, some drawn from far-flung African destinations. You can spy hippos, lions and a happy mating group of black rhinos. In Liwonde National Park, one of the best attractions is the Shire River, a drainage route for Lake Malawi and a stunning thread of ecosystem that runs along rough tracks, hiking routes and is a hotspot for African wildlife.

Also in South Malawi are two impressive peaks: Mt. Mulanje is 3000m tall and sprinkled with dramatic falls and verdant valleys. For more hiking, head to Zomba and the Zomba Plateau, well-known for William Falls and excellent tour routes through the mountains.