Mozambique / Malawi

Landscape

The north is characterised by its great highlands. Forming a forested spine up from Central Malawi, the Viphya Highlands is an undulating plateau rising to 6000ft (1800m) although some peaks stretch a further 1000ft (300m) higher. On the borders with Zambia and with Tanzania, in the north, other significant ranges include the Malingu Mountains and the Misuku Hills rising to over 7000ft (2100m) and 6500ft (2000m) respectively. But the most magnificent of all is the Nyika Plateau, towering to no less than 8000ft (2500m). The rolling landscapes of the centre of the plateau are described as whalebacks but the edges of this granite core are scarp-like especially where, in the north-east, it forms the edge of the Great Rift Valley.

Malawi Travel Guide.Malawi can offer visitors unique scenery, rare wildlife and stunning valleys. Evergreen forests and waterfalls can be viewed from the heights of the plateaus. Activities are central to any visit. The national parks are attractive places for wildlife and game viewing in the most unspoilt of settings. Safe from the tarred roads and convoys of tourists, visitors can trek in entirely natural surroundings.

Malawi has nine national parks and wildlife reserves, six of which are especially recommended for visitors. There are also many attractive and accessible forest reserves. All the parks and reserves are uncrowded and give visitors an excellent experience of unspoilt wilderness.

Its most famous feature must be Lake Malawi, which stretches from the northern tip of the country to Mangochi in the south. Some of the rarest tropical fish in the world are unique to this vast lake, and it is also home to varieties of eagle and kingfisher.

Factfile

Joanna Walters flew with Kenya Airways (01784 888222) via Nairobi and Lusaka. British Airways (0845 773 3377) has suspended flights via Kenya but flies once a week directly from London to the Malawian capital Lilongwe. The diving locations of southern Lake Malawi and safari camps in the Liwonde national park are a three- to four-hour drive away. Air Malawi flies from Lilongwe to Blantyre, nearer the lake. It also flies at low level in small planes, giving sweeping views of elephant herds, from Blantyre to the airstrip adjacent to the resort of Club Makokola on Lake Malawi, which has boat safari, snorkelling or yachting and easy road links to Cape Maclear.

Sunvil Africa (0208 232 9777) offers a nine-night package including three days on Lake Malawi and two nights on safari for £1,414. The price includes flights, accommodation, transfers and park fees.

At Cape Maclear, Scuba Shack offers diving instruction courtesy of Padi-qualified Nahoko and Glen Campbell (00 265 993 4220 or email doogles@africa-online.net). Examples of prices are: beginner's course: US$50 (£31), open water and advanced open water course including six nights accommodation $300 (£181), open water instructor's course $885 (£533).

Next door, Kayak Africa offers diving, island luxury cabins and kayaking.

Club Makokola offers day tours, snorkelling and boating and is planning diving instruction in the near future (00 265 159 4244).

Riverboat and drive safaris are available at Mvuu Camp & Lodge in the Liwonde National Park.

General information from the Malawi Ministry of Tourism, Parks and Wildlife.

some of the bigger rivers can be paddled at any time, big volume brown torrents in wet season or low volume tech creeking in dry season.

Hi Dave,



I believe Malawi does have a lot of potential for whitewater exploration. But whether there is enough, and whether it fits in with time scales is a bit tricky. The Shire river drains from the south end of Lake Malawi and offers some big volume 4+, however there are several hydro electric plants, and lots of crocs and hippos. The Shire runs all year because it drains the lake, although there is a barrage to control flow, but they need consistent flow for the hydro electric. Olaf Obsommer and crew have paddled some of the Shire and might be able to supply some beta. There are Quite a few rivers that drain the northern area of Malawi that could offer potential, the northen area of Malawi has several upland areas. The Further north you go the steep things get. I have looked at a few short sections of the Bua, and South Rukuru river. Both seem to have potential. There are quite a few rivers in the area that on paper look good, but I’ve not seen. There are some steeper rivers in the south, but I have not spent much time in the south of the country and know little about them. The Wet season starts in November, and runs through till March/April. Some of the steeper smaller creeks will need to be paddled in wet season, but some of the bigger rivers can be paddled at any time, big volume brown torrents in wet season or low volume tech creeking in dry season.

I have blogged a few picture from Malawi in the past, they can be seen HERE and HERE. If you have any other questions let me know and I’ll try my best to help out.



Regards,



Jim