Malawi expedition overview

Malawi lies sandwiched between Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique and is the home of Lake Malawi (described by David Livingstone as 'the lake of stars'), the third largest lake in Africa covering a fifth of the country. The Great Rift Valley runs through it from the highland areas of the north to the great Mulanje Massif in the south of the country.

Often described as 'the warm heart of Africa' the Malawi people live up to this with their gentle and welcoming ways. This is wonderful trekking country where few other tourists tend to go and a true wilderness experience can be had.

Expedition highlights

• Head to the colourful markets in Lusaka or Lilongwe to haggle for some maize meal called Nshima and then learn how to cook it.
• Pay a visit to Central Africana Bookshop in Blantyre to buy the 'Malawi Cookbook', essential reading for transforming local produce into tasty dishes!
• Give yourself a huge pat on the back for scaling the Mulanje Massif and see the highest peak in Central Southern Africa!
• Chill out at Fat Monkeys beach lodge on Lake Malawi's golden shores with a plate of chambo and chips.
• Treat yourselves to a final meal out in Don Brioni's restaurant in Lilongwe, famously home to the best pizzas in Africa.
• Explore the stunning coral reefs

Things to know

• Lake Malawi is the fourth deepest lake in the world and contains more species of fresh-water fish than all of Europe and North America combined.
• The country is about half the size of the United Kingdom and one fifth is covered by Lake Malawi.
• Get used to kids shouting 'mzungu!' wherever you go!
• The languages spoken in Malawi are English and Chichewa.
• Malawi is known as the Warm Heart of Africa for very good reason. The Malawians are some of the friendliest people that you will ever meet.