Your passport to adventure
PHONE: 0800 544 023
PHONE: 0800 544 023
Our Malawi tours explore the highlands split by the Great Rift Valley and the enormous Lake Malawi.
You could be forgiven for overlooking this less-visited African country, and you'd certainly be missing out on a real treat if you did. Most well known for 'the lake' - the 500km long Lake Malawi is the heart of the country and a Malawi tour offers some of the most amazing experiences to be found anywhere.
Whether it's kayaking along the stunning shore, diving or snorkelling the crystal clear water or just relaxing on the beaches, Lake Malawi is a truly memorable experience. Away from the lake, our Malawi tours take you to Liwonde National Park, which is home to the 'Big Five' - lion, rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo.
The dramatic mountain scenery around Nyika National Park offers some of the most enjoyable hiking routes in the whole of Africa.
Our Malawi tours have so much to offer anyone willing to take the plunge. Whether it's trekking in the highland wilderness, Malawi safari trips, swimming in the warm blue waters of Lake Malawi, or just relaxing and soaking up the uniquely vibrant culture of this alluring country, you're sure to leave with a longing to return.
Need more inspiration? Here are some quick facts that will make you want to explore Africa.
Do you want to know more about Malawi and its beauty? Or do you need accurate visa information?
Contact the Malawi tourism board for more information.
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Malawi is a safe country to visit, as the crime rate is extremely low and the people are welcoming.
The currency used in Malawi is the Malawian kwacha (MWK), which is subdivided into 100 tambala.
From November to April, Malawi is hot and experiences a summer rainfall season. To avoid this, it is best to visit Malawi during the drier months, from early May to late October.
There is no strict dress code in Malawi, but women might feel more comfortable to wear conservative clothing in the towns. You should also avoid blue or black clothing, as this is thought to attract tsetse flies.
The tap water in Malawi is not safe for drinking unless it has been filtered or boiled. Bottled water is widely available, except in some remote areas.
Planning a trip to Malawi all depends on the goals you'd like to achieve - what places you want to visit, how long you plan on staying and most importantly, your budget.
At Encounters Travel, we have Malawi tours ranging from 2835 USD per person - it also includes a well thought out itinerary - leaving all the planning to us.
An average meal in Malawi costs around MWK 5,767 per person - keeping in mind that breakfast is usually a little bit more affordable than lunch and dinner.
Also, the cost of your meal is dependent on where you eat - fine dining or street food.
Although English is the official language in Malawi, it is only spoken by 1% of the population. Chichewa, however, is the more recognised language of the country - spoken by more than half of the population.
Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Malawi. The CDC and WHO recommend hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, Tdap, chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
The cost of a trip to Malawi depends on several factors, such as your budget, how long you plan on staying and the type of accommodation you want to stay at.
At Encounters Travel, we have Malawi tours ranging from $2835 per person. This includes accommodation, travel, and meals.
There are many tourist attractions to check out while in Malawi - our top five are:
An average of three to five days should be enough time to cover important and major sites in Malawi - of coarse if you can stay longer to explore more it's encouraged.
The best time to visit Malawi is during its drier winter months - from May to October.
Winter gets chilly high up on the northern Nyika Plateau but down on the shore of Lake Malawi, you can expect warm and sunny days - great beach weather!
Malawi is generally an extremely affordable holiday destination and your money can most certainly go far.
If you're travelling with dollars, its recommend to bring along small bills as you can pick up beautiful and affordable handmade crafts at the local markets.
There was a lot of communication from the beginning. The encounters staff was very responsive and the tour guide was great and very accommodating. Encounters was also able to help me with last minute changes to my itinerary while I was on the trip.
Took care of every single detail from prior to our arrival in Cario until we we're dropped of at the airport a week later.
Our hotels, tours, meals, and tour group we're all wonderful.
Our tour guide was wonderful!
The price was great and the people wonderful!
Amazing tour. Any issues we had were addressed in a timely fashion and the resolutions were satisfactory. My only complaint is the driver picking us up was late and none of the cell numbers worked when we tried to call and figure out what to do.
My experience with Encounters was excellent from start to finish. The Tour Guide, Sheriff, was the most passionate, enthusiastic and professional guide I have ever had on a tour and his love for Egypt really made me enjoy my time so much more.
I was cautious about arriving in Egypt given the current circumstances about the country, but felt safer that I did living in London as soon as I arrived. All of the Encounters staff are very professional.
Ant provided excellent service. He always responded as quickly as he could, attending to the questions I had for him. He was also very patient and pleasant. I depended on his knowledge and service to make the trip.
I liked the service and the tour guide & driver on the tour. They were professional and provided very good service. I thought 1-2 hotels on the trip were not quite 4-star. It also happened that this group of people was always late for schedule and our walk pace was too slow. It really needs the guide to make people on schedule and be punctual for the activity. Overall I think the time management of this tour needs improvement.
Time: GMT+2
Dial Code: +265
Area: 118,484 km2
Elevation: The lowest point in Malawi is the junction of the Shire River and the border of Mozambique at 37m (121 ft.) | The highest point in Malawi is Sapitwa Peak, Mulanje 3,002m (9,849 ft.)
Population: 19,164,728 (2018)
Capital: Lilongwe
Government: Republic, Presidential system, Unitary state
Language: English, Chewa
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a country in Southeast Africa. It is a landlocked country that is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Mozambique on the east, south and west, and Tanzania to the northeast. Lake Malawi takes up about a third of Malawi's area. The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, which is also the largest city in the country.
The economy in Malawi relies mainly on agriculture, and it is among the world's least developed countries. The Great Rift Valley runs through the country, to the east of Lake Malawi - one of the deepest lakes in the world. To the south of Lake Malawi lie the Shire Highlands. In this area, the Zomba and the Mulanje mountain peaks are situated.
The climate of Malawi is hot in the low-lying areas and more temperate in the Northern Highlands. The country has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include the Lake Malawi National Park and the Chongoni Rock Art Area. There are five national parks, four wildlife and game reserves, and two other protected areas scattered throughout the country.
The main religion practised in Malawi is Christianity, and there is a significant Muslim minority. The official language spoken in Malawi is English, and major languages include Chichewa - a language spoken by over 57% of the population. The indigenous ethnic groups of Malawi are known for skills such as basketry and mask carving. As a result of the friendly locals, the country is nicknamed 'The warm heart of Africa'.
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