Malawi Safari Vacations

Best time to visit Malawi

Although Malawi is a landlocked country, a large portion of it is dominated by Lake Malawi. Treated as a beach destination, Malawi can combine very easily with Zambia to form a fantastic bush-and-beach holiday. Our view on the best time to visit Malawi takes into consideration Zambia’s best walking and wildlife seasons, and also when the activities on Lake Malawi are available. From December to March it’s the humid green season during which many lodges are closed, so we advise generally avoiding those months and visiting Malawi in either the shoulder or the peak season. For scuba diving, sunbathing, and sailing, we suggest heading out during the dry shoulder season – May, June, or October – when the lake conditions are perfect. For a more in-depth month-by-month guide, please scroll through the information below.

sundowners, beach look out, kaya mawa, malawi

January - Mixed month to visit Malawi

January is a mixed month in Malawi – it is very humid and wet, with heavy rains and thunderstorms.
Many of Lake Malawi’s lodges close this month, and any that remain open offer little in the way of activities.
January is a magical month for birders – if you stay in a lodge offering birding as an activity, you’ll see many migratory species.
Combining Malawi safari with a Zambia safari in January provides opportunities for low rates, boating safaris, and gorgeously green scenery.
January is at the height of the country’s green season, but temperatures are still high, so we advise you pack light waterproofs.

Green season

Max temp 84 F

Rain & thunderstorms

Lake lodges closed

Birding month

Rains bring mosquitoes

February - Mixed month to visit Malawi

February is the middle of the green and rainy season in Malawi. It is not a popular month, due to the high humidity.
The constant rainfall doesn’t appeal to everyone, and with the green season comes lots of mosquitoes.
In common with January, February is a quiet time – perfect if you prefer to avoid other travelers while on holiday.
Thunderstorms are less frequent than throughout January, but the rain is just as relentless.
Clients hoping to visit Zambia as well as Malawi might find that it’s a tricky time to be on safari – many camps are closed and thick vegetation conceals the wildlife.

Green season

Max temp 84 F

Heavy rain & thunderstorms

Birding is superb

Many lodges are closed

Lush vegetation

fish craters, snorkelling, kaya mawa, malawi

March - Mixed month to visit Malawi

March is the final month of Malawi's green season, when the rain tends to taper off. Substantial rainfall can still be expected in fits and starts.
Conditions can feel humid before the rains move away, and if the rain lingers, they can feel relentless.
Properties around Lake Malawi that were closed due to heavy rain can re-open towards the end of the month, depending on conditions.
March is fab for birders, as migratory birds start to stretch their wings in preparation for their long flights back to the Northern Hemisphere.
If you’re combining Malawi safari and Zambia, rains can continue to hinder safari activities, and some access roads are flooded.

Green season

Max temp 84 F

Heavy rain & thunderstorms

Malawi in bloom

Great birding

Hard to avoid

April - Good month to visit Malawi

Malawi in April sees the end of the rainy season, with thunderstorms beginning to subside. As this is a shoulder season month, costs are lower than during peak times.
All Malawi safari lodges along Lake Malawi’s shores re-open, yet many of the bushcamps in Zambia are still closed.
Temperatures are high, but humidity is on the way down.
By this time of year, most of the migratory birds have started to fly away.
Sometimes the rains linger, and with them the humidity and the mosquitoes.

Shoulder season

Max temp 84 F

Storms subsiding

Few mosquitoes

Lodges re-open

Diving & snorkelling

May - Good month to visit Malawi

Shoulder-season May is a good time to visit Malawi, with all lake lodges open and offering a thrilling range of activities to enjoy.
The bush-and-beach combination of Zambia and Lake Malawi is much better this month, as Zambia also experiences comfortable temperatures as well as beautiful scenery, and quiet lodges.
Temperatures are cooling down. Malawi’s higher regions can experience quite dramatic drops at night and early morning, so remember to pack a jumper.
All the lake lodges have re-opened and rates remain lower than later in the dry, peak season.
Lake visitors can get stuck in to an exhilarating variety of activities, such as diving, snorkeling, and kayaking, as well as experiencing some laidback beach time.

Shoulder season

Max temp 81 F

Little rain

Low rates

Few mosquitoes

ideal bush & beach combo

June - Best month to visit Malawi

The first month of dry season, June in Malawi is a great time to visit. All lodges are open and offering plenty of things to do.
This is the start of the most popular times to visit – so Malawi’s safari lodge and camp rates are on the rise.
As Malawi enters its winter season, temperatures are at their lowest, so don’t forget to pack lots of layers for cool evenings!
Combine Malawi with a safari in Zambia this month, and you’ll enjoy increasingly reliable wildlife sightings, and the beginning of walking safari season.
You can enjoy the full range of activities on the lake – diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and more – in addition to relaxing on the shore.

Dry season

Max temp 79 F

Little rain

Shoulder season rates

Virtually no mosquitoes

Great Zambia safari combo

July - Best month to visit Malawi

July is a dry-season month, when safari properties in Malawi are at their peak for popularity and typically most expensive.
This month features hardly any rain and provides numerous opportunities on diving, snorkeling, and kayaking excursions.
The enticing conditions attract a lot of other travelers, which won’t appeal to anyone seeking complete solitude by the lake (try May, perhaps).
July is perfect for combining a lake holiday with a Zambia safari, the latter featuring clear skies, fantastic wildlife sightings (especially big cats!), and some of the best walking safaris.
Days are warm but not humid, while nights are relatively cool – temperatures are at their most comfortable all year.

Dry season

Max temp 79 F

Very little rain

Book early

Great safari & beach month

Hardly any mosquitoes

sunset paddle boarding, pumulani lodge, malawi

August - Best month to visit Malawi

One of the most popular months to visit Lake Malawi, dry-season August is characterized by very little rain and loads of sunshine.
It is also peak season so it can feel a little busier, as a lot of travelers visit during August – but Malawi is still comparatively off the beaten track.
Malawi safari lodges along the lake can get very busy, so make sure to book early to avoid disappointment.
August is an amazing month to be on safari in Zambia, with frequent big cat sightings and thrilling walking safaris – you could combine time in one of this country’s national parks and a few days on Lake Malawi.
Temperatures start to rise as September looms – it is hot but not humid during the day, while nights are comfortable on the whole.

Dry season

Max temp 81 F

Very little rain

Excellent safari month

Hardly any mosquitoes

Peak season rates

September - Best month to visit Malawi

September is one of the best months to visit Malawi. This is a late dry-season month, with exceptionally good conditions for sailing and diving.
Temperatures are rising out of winter – some years, the heat builds quickly throughout the month and can feel stifling.
As well as sailing, you can enjoy sunbathing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and much more.
It is peak season for a safari in Zambia, which means it is a great time to combine a trip to Malawi with a Zambia safari – however, please note that peak season makes bush–beach combos more costly.
Lake of Stars Festival takes place at the end of September – this is a 3-day annual festival featuring musical acts on the shores of Lake Malawi.

Dry season

Max temp 84 F

Very little rain

YZ favorite month

Book early for peak season

Lake of Stars Festival

October - Best month to visit Malawi

The last month of Malawi's dry season, October is a great month to visit if you like the warmth.
The temperatures are still rising, along with the humidity, so comfy cool layers are essential.
Towards the end of the month, property rates are on their way down from peak pricing.
If you visit Zambia as part of a bush-and-beach holiday, you’ll experience first-class wildlife viewing, as water sources are scarce and animals cluster around the few remaining waterholes.
There’s a lot to enjoy on and around Lake Malawi – sunbathing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and more.

Dry season

Max temp 86 F

Some chances of rain

Few mosquitoes

Bush and beach month

Hot beach days

snorkelling boat trip, pumulani lodge, malawi

November - Good month to visit Malawi

November is a transitional month in Malawi. It can be extremely hot, until the rains return towards the end of the month.
This month can feel too hot for some travelers and it can get very humid too.
November is also a transition month in Zambia, and many of the remoter bushcamps close at the start of the month.
The majority of Malawi safari lodges continue to offer a good range of activities – however, the rainy conditions don't make for the best beach sunbathing.
It isn’t peak season, so it’s less expensive and there is likely more availability than in June, July, and August.

Transitional month

Max temp 88 F

Heavy rain & humid

Hottest month

Good birding month

Rains bring mosquitoes

sundowners camp fire, pumulani lodge, malawi

December - Mixed month to visit Malawi

December is the first month of green season, and sees plenty of rain and humidity, even thunderstorms.
Malawi’s safari lodge rates are relatively low in December – however, many of the lake lodges are now closed.
Lots of Zambia’s remote camps are closed in December, so this isn't a particularly good time to combine Lake Malawi and a Zambia safari.
Birdwatching is great in December, as a lot of migratory species are present.
If you plan on visiting over the Christmas season, Lilongwe and Blantyre have Christmas bazaars to celebrate the festive season.

Green season

Max temp 84 F

Rain & thunderstorms

Orchids in Nyika

Not a good beach month

Lots of mosquitoes