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Best time to visit Malawi

Africa's best tailor-made safaris

The Best Time to Visit Malawi

The Malawi travel season hits its peak between May and October when the dry season sweeps through the plains, leaving behind golden grasslands and fewer watering holes. This causes the wildlife of the region to gather around the few water sources left, creating incredible viewing opportunities during game drives.

For those who are dreaming of a safari and beach vacation, the best time to visit Lake Malawi coincides with the best time to head to Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park. July to October is when wildlife watching is at its peak, and, in Lake Malawi, the calm and clear water is perfect for snorkelling and diving.

Best Time

July to October

(Dry conditions)

High Season

May to October

(Dry conditions and best wildlife viewing opportunities)

Low Season

November to April

(Rainy season, lush greenery)

Best Weather

May to August

(Cool temperatures, little to no rain)

Worst Weather

January to March and December

(High rainfall and humidity)

Dry Season: May to October

  • Green Checkmark The best time to visit Malawi is during the dry season, as wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent – the bush thins and animals congregate around remaining water sources.
  • Green Checkmark Very little to no rainfall is present, making remote corners of parks easily accessible.
  • Green Checkmark Water visibility is excellent in Lake Malawi for magical snorkelling and diving excursions.
  • Red Error Icon The dry weather causes dustier conditions.
  • Red Error Icon More fellow travellers due to high season (but Malawi is never really crowded).

Wet Season: November to April

  • Green Checkmark Migratory bird species can be seen in Malawi’s reserves and parks, creating excellent opportunities for birdwatching safaris.
  • Green Checkmark Rain clears the air and greens the landscape, creating fantastic photography conditions.
  • Red Error Icon Game viewing becomes more challenging as animals disperse due to the abundance of water sources.
  • Red Error Icon High humidity and increased rainfall can make safaris more uncomfortable.
  • Red Error Icon Some roads can become impassable due to wet conditions.

Peak Season

Low Season

Shoulder Season

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"We booked our 10-day safari in Tanzania and Kenya through Discover Africa, and it exceeded every expectation. From our first conversation through the end of our journey, everything was exceptionally well organized, allowing us to focus entirely on enjoying ..."

Dwyane George, United States•04 Aug 2026•

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"Many thanks to Discover Africa for organising a great trip to Victoria Falls and Botswana. Chrizaan was extremely helpful in planning the trip (including promptly arranging visa related paperwork etc) and answering queries. The quality of the accommodations..."

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"We had an amazing time at our safari place(Kapama Karula) organized by Susan from Discover Africa! She is very professional and gave us unforgettable time in South Africa! I highly recommend Susan and discover Africa!"

Luana, Brazil•21 Apr 2026•

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"We had a truly magical safari experience perfectly planned & organised for us by Susan Veldman at Discover Africa. We flew from Cape Town to Hoedspruit and then seamlessly transferred to the most beautiful lodge in the Karongwe private game reserve. ..."

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"Discover Africa and their trip advisor Megan Warrington did a fantastic job arranging our trip to Cape Town, Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), and the Chobe River and Kwara Camp in Botswana. We originally planned this trip a few years ago, but had to cancel. Megan..."

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"We just returned from our first African trip and had an absolutely amazing and memory making trip. We are usually self planners for our vacations but with essentially no knowledge I attempted to do research on Africa and felt overwhelmed. As suggested from ..."

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