Malawi
Leisure and Sport
Click to view all our recommended itineraries for Adventure
Activity Holidays in Malawi
Hiking
Mountaineering & Rock
Climbing
Bird Watching
Sport Fishing
Watersports
Scuba Diving
Golf
Horse Riding
HIKING
Malawi's highland areas offer unrivalled
opportunities for those wanting to explore the country on foot. Mount Mulanje
and Zomba Plateau, in particular are
favourites for hikers and mountain climbers alike. In some of the game parks,
particularly the Nyika National Park, walking
safaris are available under the protection of a game guard.
| The Africa Guide's recommended
Book |
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Trekking in East Africa
(Maps Worldwide)
Published by Lonely Planet
Publications Series Walking Guides
This guide, covering Kenya, Tanzania,
Uganda, Malawi and Zambia, provides practical information on how to prepare a
trek, what to take, the best trails and how to hire a guide
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MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
Rising up to 3,000 metres,
Mount Mulanje is one of Malawi's most spectacular sights, with its highest peak
being Sapitwa at 3,002 mtrs. The mountain covers an area of more than 1,000 sq
km. On its slopes grow the Mulanje cedars, some of them over 200 years old.
Deep gorges, impressive waterfall and trout streams cut their paths from its
heights, while in the lush foothills are tea plantations. The Chambe, west face
direct, is claimed to be one of the longest rock climbs in Africa, offering
1675mtrs of roped climbing. There are a couple of regular routes climbed,
starting at Likhubula Forestry Station these are the Skyline Path to Chambe
Basis and the Lichenya Path to Lichenya Plateau.
Organising a hike up
Mulanje is straightforward and is best organised from the base at Likhubula
Forestry Station where you can book mountain huts and arrange porters and
guides, who offer their services for a very reasonable price. There is no
entrance fee and huts are very cheap at about US$2 per night. Camping is not
allowed on the mountain, you will need to have with you a good sleeping bag or
thick black and warm clothing as the nights can get quite cold.
A
Guide to the Mulanje Massif is widely available in Blantyre and the Map Sales
office sells an excellent map of the Massif. Rock climbers and hikers planning
to use unusual routes are advised to contact the Mountain Club of Malawi in
Blantyre.
Mulanje
Mountain Hiking
6 day itinerary: Unique hiking on South Central
Africa's highest mountain - Mulanje - offering superb views and experiences for
novices and experienced climbers alike
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to view full itinerary and request more info...
BIRD WATCHING
Although Malawi is a small country,
it has a prolific birdlife with over 500 species of bird to be found within the
country. Most species breed in Malawi but some migrate from Europe and Asia to
spend the rainy season in Malawi, with some species preferring to spend the dry
months in other areas of Africa. November to January are the best month for
birding enthusiasts.
The rocky hills of the Lakeshore and Dowa and
Dedza are the best spaces to spot birds of prey, including the black eagle,
lanner and peregrine falcon.
In the lakeshore forest, the green
coucal, blue-mantled crested flycatcher and red-caped robin can be seen. Monkey
Bay and Salima are the best areas to spot the African Fish Eagle, golden and
brown throated weavers, collared and mottled spinetails and the palm swift.
The Elephant Marsh located in the Shire Valley, southern Malawi is a
haven for bird watchers with large numbers and great varieties to be found.
Other species found in the country include; Stierling's woodpecker, olive
headed weaver, lesser seadcracker, hornbills, starlings, guinea fowl, cuckoo,
bush-shrike, kingfishers, hoopoes, hamerkop, herons, bee eaters and many
more.
Dzalanyama
Birdwatching Break
2 night / 3 day short excursion into the
Dzalanyama Forest Reserve - an area renowned for Miombo birdlife Species - Over
240 species recorded
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to view full itinerary and request more info...
| The Africa Guide's recommended
book |
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Birds of Southern Africa
(amazon.com)
- USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK
by Ber Van Perlo
describing all
1,250 bird species one might see not only in South Africa but in Zambia and
Malawi (both long neglected elsewhere), Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana,
Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. And this is the only guide to illustrate the birds of
Angola (including Cabinda), home of the striking White-headed Robin Chat of
river basins and the Angolan Cave Chat, a dweller of rocky hillsides.
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FISHING
Malawi may be landlocked but, for the
angler, the Lake, together with a surprising variety of river conditions, makes
the country a most rewarding destinations.
In Lake Malawi itself have
evolved more than 400 species of fish, of which 95% are found nowhere else. The
great majority are brilliantly coloured tropical aquarium fish, many of them
types of cichlid or mbuna. The Lake also contains many kinds of game
fish too - Tiger Fish, ncheni, and Lake Salmon, mpasa, an even
doughtier fighter confined to the centre and north, providing some of the most
exciting sport.
Around the river mouths near Salima and off Mbenje
Island a little further north, two species of catfish,vundu and the
delicious kampango, both regularly exceed 10kg.
On the upper
Shire River many of the Lake fish are found, including sungwa, a type of
perch, which here makes up in cunning what it concedes in, weight to its Lake
cousins. Just below the Kapichira Falls in Majete are numbers of ncheni
up to 7kg, and lower down vundu up to 15kg and barbel up to 28kg swim up
from the Zambezi.
The lakeside hotels north of Mangochi are all excellent
centres for angling and boats can be arranged in advance.
The fish in
Lake Malawi have always been a major source of food for many local people but
overfishing has become a major problem - fish like Chambo, once
abundant, are now scarce and if caught, very small. The government is trying to
restrict locals trawling for fish and educating them to respect breeding and
growth periods.
Freshwater Trout fishing is a popular sport in the
trout dams and streams of Zomba Plateau, Nyika Plateau and Mulanje Massif. The
angling season is from September to May and visitors should bring their own rod
and tackle. Locally made flies are available. You may need a fishing permit,
check with Angling Society of Malawi, PO Box 744, Blantyre - Tel: +(265)
1671000 Fax: +(265) 1671151. Tlx: 44320.
WATERSPORTS
The Lake provides ideal sailing
conditions, with no tides or currents, and a fairly consistent south-easterly
wind from February to October. This wind, known locally as the "Mwera",
is strongest from August to September, and is replaced by a stronger, but less
predictable northerly, the "Mpoto", between November and January. The
calmest months are December to March but rough, windy weather can occur
unexpectedly at any time. Sailing boats and dinghies are available for hire at
Nkopola Lodge, Club Makolola and Livingstonia
Beach Hotel.
The major event of the year, with quite an international
following, is the challenging Lake Malawi Yacht Marathon, an eight-day, 56Okm
race taking place in July.
SCUBA DIVING
With more than 500 different species
of fish, warm, clear waters and safe conditions the lake is ideal for divers.
Courses are available for beginners and equipment is available for hire for
experienced divers. The most popular spots are Nkhata Bay on the northern
lakeshore and Cape Maclear in the southern part of the lake. The best time of
the year to dive is from August to December. Water temperatures vary from
22°C to 27°C and visibility ranges from 5 to 30 mtrs.
GOLF
Golf is a popular pastime with the
ex-patriots and locals and there is an excellent 18-hole golf course in
Lilongwe with a club house and swimming pool. There are also 9-hole courses in
Blantyre, Dedza, Limbe, Mzuzu, Zomba and at Kamuzu Academy. Caddies are
available for hire and some places hire golf clubs. Some courses do have a
dress code.
Blantyre Sports Club, Box 245 Blantyre Tel:
+(265) 1671173
Dwangwa Sugar Corp. Ltd., Dwangwa. Tel: +(265)
1295266 Fax: +(265) 1295460
Lilongwe Golf Club, Box 160 Lilongwe.
Tel: +(265) 1741548
Limbe Country Club, Box 5021
Limbe. Tel: +(265) 1641022
Mulanje Club Ltd., Mulanje.
Tel: +(265) 1465260
Mzuzu Club, Box 45 Mzuzu. Tel:
+(265) 1335040
Zomba Gymkhana Club, Box 39 Zomba. Tel: +(265)
1522275
HORSE RIDING
Various horse riding safaris are on
offer on the Nyika Plateau, an ideal way to explore the area as many parts are
inaccessible to vehicles. There is also a Gymkhana club on Zomba plateau and it
is possible to arrange horse riding.
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