Malawi has been called the “warm heart of Africa” due to both its beautiful scenery and the warmth and friendly nature of its citizens. Visitors can be active through hiking, diving and can also relax in one of the resort towns by beautiful Lake Malawi. The pace of life in Malawi can be very relaxed in general. For example, the average walking speed of people in the city of Blantyre was 1/3rd that of Singapore.
Lake Malawi is located in the Great Rift Valley and is nearly 30,000 square km in size. Two popular lakeside resorts are Cape Maclear and Nhkata Bay. Many travelers enjoy relaxing on the beaches and going diving or kayaking on the lake. For a taste of urban Malawi life, visit the capital of Lilongwe and Blantyre, which is Malawi’s largest city. While there check out the city markets where you will see people selling all sorts of foodstuffs and goods.
Malawi also has a number of attractive areas to go hiking or game viewing. Liwonde National Park has many hippos, crocodiles, and elephants as well as other mammals and birds. The Vwaza Marsh Reserve also has many hippos, elephants, buffalos, antelopes and birds. You are likely to come in very close contact with the elephants here. Hikers will appreciate Mount Mulanje, which has some of the best hiking and trekking trails in Malawi. The well-maintained trails and superb views make for a rewarding hike up Mulanje, which is the highest mountain in South Central Africa and is also known as the “Island in the Sky”.