A country · 41 places · 3 regions

Malawi, all of it.

41 curated places across 3 regions — photographed, mapped, and noted with the season each is best in.

Likoma Island · via Wikimedia Commons

Malawi reads below in 3 chapters — Southern Region, Northern Region and Central Region — in any order you like.

Chapter I · Southern Region · 15 places

Southern Region

A table mountain rising to about 2,000 meters above the old colonial capital, laced with trout streams, cedar forest, and miles of walking trails. Viewpoints such as Emperor's View look out across the Shire Highlands toward Mount Mulanje on clear days. Horse riding and mountain-biking outfits operate from the plateau-top lodges.

Zomba Plateau

Southern Region, Malawi

✦ May to October · $

Cape Maclear

Southern Region, Malawi

✦ May to October · $

Liwonde National Park

Southern Region, Malawi

✦ May to October · $$

All 15 places in Southern Region →

via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter II · Northern Region · 11 places

Northern Region

A Malawian island enclave inside Mozambican waters, reached by the veteran ferry Ilala or light aircraft. Its outsized Anglican cathedral, built of local granite in the early 1900s, rivals European churches in scale. Baobab-studded hills, empty beaches, and a slow island rhythm reward those who make the crossing.

✦ May to October · $

Meet Likoma Island All 11 places in Northern Region →

Chapter III · Central Region · 8 places

Central Region

Malawi's second-largest park spreads across miombo woodland and grassy dambos. Recent elephant translocations have revived its status as a rewilding success story.