Destinations
Reasons To Visit- Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is one of the most impressive and beautiful lakes in the Southern Hemisphere. In fact, it is the third largest in Africa. You’ll be forgiven if you think you’re on a sub-tropical island with its sandy beaches and palm trees, backed by towering mountains covered in rainforest. Lake Malawi’s waters are also home to hundreds of species of fish, giving life to rural fishing villages along its shores.
Freshwater diving and snorkelling
Malawi is possibly one of the best freshwater diving and snorkelling spots in Africa. It is also a great place to learn how to dive if you are a first-timer. Keen divers are often eager to “tick-off” a dive in this spot as the visibility is excellent, the water is warm and you don’t have to go out in a boat to see the nearest coral reef.Malawi is possibly one of the best freshwater diving and snorkelling spots in Africa. It is also a great place to learn how to dive if you are a first-timer. Keen divers are often eager to “tick-off” a dive in this spot as the visibility is excellent, the water is warm and you don’t have to go out in a boat to see the nearest coral reef.
Bush and Beach
Malawi is one of the easiest countries in which to combine ‘bush and beach’. And you can do this without losing a forced overnight stay in Johannesburg. Liwonde National Park is only 2 to 3 hours from the southern part of Lake Malawi. Furthermore, there are daily flights from the South Luangwa National Park into Lilongwe and connecting flights onto Lake Malawi. You can be on safari in South Luangwa in the morning and on the beach at Lake Malawi in the afternoon – a perfect combo!
Hiking
There are a number of magnificent hiking opportunities in this vast country. The Zomba Plateau, which rises to a height of 1 800metres (6 000 feet), presents relaxed hikes through lush forested areas. Experience incredible panoramic views and great bird-watching opportunities. Alternatively, Mount Mulanje is a huge granite massif in southern Malawi that provides wonderful hikes for families with its abundance of streams and peaks to explore. Another option is Nyika Plateau with its beautiful high rolling hills of grasslands dotted with zebra, antelope, orchids and butterflies – a hikers paradise!
Birding
Many African countries claim to be a birdwatcher’s paradise, but perhaps Malawi steals the prize. Its variety of habitats; from wetlands, to lakes, to forest, to Afro-montane highlands supports a remarkable diversity of birds. It has an astonishing list of 650 bird species, many of which are difficult to see anywhere else in the world. Special birds include Lilian’s Lovebird, Brown-breasted Barbet, White-backed Night Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Long-toed Lapwing, Bat Hawk, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Palmnut Vulture, Osprey, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Fiery-necked and Gabon Nightjars, and calling African Barred Owlets. It’s certainly worth adding to your bucket list if you are an enthusiastic birder.
Yachting on Lake Malawi
Yachting on the crystal clear waters of Lake Malawi is a wonderful activity for a few days. The advantage of yachting is that many of the small fishing villages and coves on Lake Malawi would be very tricky to access by road. Start at the southern tip of Lake Malawi and then gently cruise up for 3-4 nights visiting hidden coves and islands. If you have enough time, you can sail all the way up to Liwonde Island to spend a couple of nights at Kaya Mawa before returning south.
Byiking in Nyika
The Nyika Plateau is Malawi’s largest National Park that boasts a stunning afro-montane plateau with plenty of plains game to view. Watch out for zebra, Roan antelope, eland and bush pig. In addition, there are 400 species of birds and over 200 orchid species to look out for. This is a truly superb environment for mountain biking in the bush!
Friendly People
Malawi is known as the “warm heart of Africa”, and rightly so. Malawi’s people are friendly and peaceful, making you feel completely welcome and at ease in their beautiful country.
Reasons To Visit- cape town
Table Mountain
Defining the Cape Town cityscape, Table Mountain is one of the most instantly recognisable landmarks in the entire world. Far more than just a mountain, Table Mountain has attracted more than 25 million visitors since it opened as a tourist attraction in 1929. The view from atop Table Mountain is one to be remembered. Its panoramic views of Cape Town and its surrounds are without a doubt its bigger draw card, but there is more to the mountain than simply soaking in the vista. The Table Mountain Cable Car offers up stunning views en route to the mountaintop, where you can take in a 360 degree view of the city, Table Bay, and the rest of the national park. The more adventurous can choose to take guided or unguided hikes along the mountain’s three hiking trails, and abseiling is also on offer. For those with kids or with less adventurous tastes, a restaurant, WiFi lounge, and a number of boutique stores also offer something to do.
Robben Island
South Africa's apartheid history is an element of the nation's past that cannot be overlooked, and many visitors to the rainbow nation are interested in learning more about this dark period. Visitors to Cape Town can learn more about this period with a visit to Robben Island. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Robben Island served as a prison for over two hundred years – most famously housing inspirational South African president, Nelson Mandela.Robben Island is a somber window into South Africa's past. Established as a prison by the Dutch in the 17th century, Robben Island has a rich and sordid history as a maximum security prison, whaling port, and leper colony. As if these weren’t dark enough, the island is also a notorious site for shipwrecks. Robben Island is primarily visited by those wishing to learn more about its history as a prison and to follow in the footsteps of its most famous prison, Nelson Mandela. Multimedia tours and explorations of the former prison facilities offer an education into South Africa’s apartheid history.
Beaches
Cape Town is home to some of Africa's most beautiful beaches. From the sunbathing haven that is Clifton Beaches to the penguin playground of Boulders Beach, there is an abundance of options for those wanting to work on their tans and have a little fun in the sun.Boulders Beach is famous for its penguins, but it's beautiful in its own right. What gives Cape Town such a unique variety of beaches is the fact it marks the point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. A beach on the western Cape is something entirely different to one on the eastern side. You could spend a week in Cape Town and not manage to fully explore all of its beaches!
Hit the Garden Route
Stretching for a shade under 300 kilometers, South Africa's famous Garden Route nonetheless packs in an astonishing variety of landscapes, wildlife, and activities. The scenic coastal drive is dotted with isolated beaches and lagoons, towering mountain ranges, ancient forests crisscrossed with hiking trails, rivers to kayak, and towns to explore. The drive itself could be done in a single day – but visitors often take several days or even weeks to do the route justice. Just one of many stunning views along the Garden Route. Highlights along the way include the Garden Route National Park for hiking and marine wildlife, Robberg Nature & Marine Reserve for its rugged coastline, the stunning views of Knynsa Lagoon, and private reserves such as Knysna Elephant Park or Botlierskop Private Reserve for a more up close animal experience. Cape Town is a perfect starting (or ending) point for your Garden Route experience!
The Colours of Bo-Kaap
A former township that was once known as the Malay Quarter, colourful Bo Kaap is now one of the trendiest districts in an already trendy city. Perfectly exemplifying the multiculturalism that makes South Africa "The Rainbow Nation", Bo-Kaap is a perfect place to see a different side of South African life. Whether you're taking a Cape Malay cooking class, exploring the bustling markets, or immersing yourself in the region with a homestay - there's plenty to see and do.
Wine Tourism
South African wine is rightly viewed as some of the finest wine in the world, and Cape Town is right on the doorstep of South African wine country. The Cape Winelands is home to some of the nation's most scenic wine country. Enjoy world class wine against a stunning backdrop in the Cape Winelands. With eighteen official wine routes (and two brandy routes), this historic region is an area of exotic flavours, breathtaking landscapes, and delicious foods just begging to be explored. Duck out of Cape Town for a day of wine tasting or extend your stay in one of the region's many gorgeous B&Bs and boutiques.
Whale Watching
It's not just Big Five Safaris that draw tourists to South Africa every year. You can have a fascinating wildlife experience beneath the waves as well! Every year, Southern Right Whales and Humpback Whales make their migration into the warm Cape waters where they put on a spectacular show for those in attendance. A huge variety of tour operators are on hand to help in arranging Cape whale watching tours, and Shadows of Africa is here to help you find the absolute best whale watching experience.
Shark Diving
For those with a taste for adventure, shark diving in Cape Town is one of the more extreme wildlife experience you'll ever have. It takes a special kind of crazy to lower yourself into the deep blue waters with man-eating Great White Sharks, but for those with a taste for it, there are plenty of operators willing to lower you into the cage for an up close and personal shark encounter.
Take a day trip to see the penguins and seals
Whales and sharks might not be your cup of tea, but there are friendlier marine animals to see without even having to set foot on a boat. Boulders Beach is a haven for the young and the young at heart wanting to see Africa's adorable jackass penguins,
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Boasting as 'the most beautiful garden in Africa', Cape Town's Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens definitely has a right to the claim. Situated on the eastern side of Table Mountain, this luscious green paradise is a haven of cool in sometimes hot Cape Town. Far more than just a garden, the 528 hectare estate is home to a startling variety of plants, birds, and animals.