Blessed with gorgeous landscapes, newly revitalised wildlife, a safe environment and some of Africa’s warmest people, Malawi has everything needed for the most rewarding family bush and beach safari. Discover its magical wildlife reserves and lush highlands before enjoying spectacular snorkelling and relaxed island life on Lake Malawi.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on a family of four travelling for 12 nights and does not include international flights.
3 nights in Majete National Park, 2 nights in the Shire Highlands, 3 nights in Liwonde National Park, 4 nights on Likoma Island
What makes this journey special?
- Experience the humbling warmth of Malawi’s people
- Search for the Big Five in the great conservation success story that is Majete National Park
- Live the life of a colonial tea planter in the gorgeous Shire Highlands
- Drift past hippos and track cheetah in amazing Liwonde National Park
- Snorkel among brightly coloured cichlid fish in the natural freshwater aquarium of Lake Malawi
Your Malawi private family safari itinerary
Search for the Big Five
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Located an hour or so from Blantyre, Majete Wildlife Reserve is one of Africa’s great conservation success stories. Before African Parks became involved in the protection of Majete, most of its wildlife had been poached to extinction. Within five years, over 2,000 animals had been reintroduced. Today, it’s not just the Big Five that call this wonderful reserve home, but also wild dog, cheetah, giraffe, eland, nyala, zebra and hippo. Delightful Mkulumadzi Lodge makes the perfect launchpad for a range of activities here including expert walking and driving safaris as well as boat-trips to the nearby lake just above the Kapichira Falls.
Tea break in the highlands
Shire Highlands
Offering a very civilised interlude between Malawi’s most rewarding national parks, magnificent views and a relief from the heat of the lowlands, the Shire Highlands make a wonderful stop for a couple of days. Here, at Huntingdon House on the sprawling Satemwa Tea Estate, you’ll be transported back to by-gone times as you adopt the life of a colonial planter. Aside from drinking in the views (and some rather lovely tea-based cocktails), explore the surrounding hills and forests by foot or mountain bike along a diverse network of trails. The estate is also a wonderful place for bird watching, with shy turacos and the endangered Thyolo alethe bound to keep twitchers happy.
Magnificent wildlife without the crowds
Liwonde National Park
Boasting some of Africa’s densest wildlife concentrations, Liwonde National Park is a fabulous reserve with a mosaic of different habitats set along the banks of the Shire River. One of the joys of visiting Liwonde is that it offers a top-notch safari free of crowds, allowing you to approach wildlife without the vehicle clusters that can blight your experience in other reserves.
In addition to large herds of elephant, there are lion, cheetah, leopard, serval, hyena, black rhino, buffalo, zebra, antelope and, excitingly, now even a wild dog pack that has recently been reintroduced. Out on the river, boat safaris allow you to get close to hippos and crocodiles, while guided walking safaris provide you with thrilling opportunities to stalk the land on foot and experience the smaller flora and fauna often missed on game drives.
The perfect Robinson Crusoe escape
Likoma Island
A short hop by private charter plane will bring you to magical Likoma Island surrounded by the gin-clear waters of Lake Malawi. You’ll enjoy four nights at Kaya Mawa, Malawi’s finest eco-lodge, where you can live out your Robinson Crusoe fantasies. Spend your days snorkelling and diving among schools of brilliantly coloured cichlid fish, exploring its tranquil waters aboard a sailing dhow or paddle-board, and travelling by e-bicycle or quad bike to the island’s charming communities. On weekends, don’t miss the chance to witness a malipenga competition, in which local dancers in eccentric colonial-style costumes showcase their talents.
Where you'll stay on your Malawi family safari
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Mkulumadzi Lodge
Surrounded by rugged landscapes, riverine forests and abundant wildlife, Mkulumadzi is the only luxury lodge within the newly revitalised Majete Wildlife Reserve, and an intrinsic part of the reserve’s conservation success story. Cross a swinging suspension bridge over the Shire River and you’ll find eight spacious, elegant and secluded chalets shaded by giant leadwood and wild mango trees. The service is absolutely wonderful, and activities include game drives, boat safaris, and guided walking in search of the Big Five, while evenings bring fireside cocktails and candlelit dinners under a sky dense with stars.
Huntingdon House
Huntingdon House is the heart of a fabulous tea estate on the slopes of Mount Mulanje, an hour’s drive from Blantyre. Built in the 1930s, the house is vintage colonial in style with plenty of dark woods, wrap-around verandas and magnificent lawns. The staff are simply wonderful, looking after you with inimitable Malawian friendliness and charm. The food, mostly produced on the estate, is superb. Follow local trails on foot and by mountain bike, or simply drink in the views and wonderful excellent tea-based cocktails.
Mvuu Lodge
Set on the banks of Shire River in the wild heart of Liwonde National Park, Mvuu Lodge is a study in understated luxury, offering the kind of raw, unfiltered Africa that’s increasingly rare—wild, soulful, and utterly unforgettable. The sustainably designed thatched-roof chalets open onto private decks overlooking the river, where sundowners are best enjoyed with the sight of fish eagles soaring above. Here, time slows to the rhythm of the African bush—elephants wade through the water at dawn, hippos grunt in the shallows, and the distant roar of lions punctuates the night.ht.
Kaya Mawa
The perfect blend of barefoot luxury and castaway relaxation, Kaya Mawa is a gorgeous island retreat on Lake Malawi. Spacious villas with private pools and beachfront access make it ideal for families, while the calm and crystal-clear waters of Lake Malawi offer endless fun from snorkelling with multi-coloured cichlid fish to paddleboarding and sailing. The lodge’s deep connection to the local community means you can visit artisan workshops and take part in cultural experiences. Evenings are a time to gather, whether around a candlelit dinner under the stars or by a crackling beach bonfire, with lapping waves in the background.
Customise your luxury Malawi family safari
All of our journeys are fully bespoke, and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Add a few days at Chelinda Lodge in northern Malawi exploring the breath-taking Nyika Plateau on foot, by bicycle or in a 4×4
Zambia’s Luangwa Valley makes a fabulous combination with Malawi with world-class walking safaris and some of Africa’s densest populations of elephant and leopard
Extend your stay by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, exploring the old Swahili trading post of Ilha de Mozambique or snorkeling coral reefs from an Arab dhow
Make your journey impactful by visiting one of Ripple Africa’s inspiring community projects
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Malawi specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Africa team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
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