The most luxurious lodges in Malawi
Peacock Cichlid Safari
4 days • 1 location
LILONGWE AIRPORT TO LILONGWE AIRPORT
US$2,520 - US$3,650 per person
Kaya Mawa
Kaya Mawa is a luxurious lakeside lodge with eleven rooms, all different in size and style. One room even occupies its own island. All are built out of local stone and furnished with locally crafted furniture and decorated with beautifully hand-made throws and cushions.
Red Zebra Cichlid Safari
7 days • 2 locations
BLANTYRE AIRPORT TO LILONGWE AIRPORT
US$3,440 - US$4,730 per person
Pumulani
Each air-conditioned villa at Pumulani is vast: a massive bathroom with twin showers and elegant freestanding bath leads to a spacious bedroom, a separate lounge and a veranda. If space is your ultimate luxury, Pumulani is a great choice – complete with some great views.
Mkulumadzi
The spacious rooms with private verandas at Mkulumadzi Lodge are a comfortable spot to relax between safari activities. A clever cooling system above the beds, plus the use of locally sourced materials and vegetated roofs, ensure comfortable temperatures during the summer heat.
Utaka Cichlid Safari
10 days • 3 locations
BLANTYRE AIRPORT TO LILONGWE AIRPORT
US$4,610 - US$6,250 per person
Pumulani
Each air-conditioned villa at Pumulani is vast: a massive bathroom with twin showers and elegant freestanding bath leads to a spacious bedroom, a separate lounge and a veranda. If space is your ultimate luxury, Pumulani is a great choice – complete with some great views.
Mkulumadzi
The spacious rooms with private verandas at Mkulumadzi Lodge are a comfortable spot to relax between safari activities. A clever cooling system above the beds, plus the use of locally sourced materials and vegetated roofs, ensure comfortable temperatures during the summer heat.
Hyena Safari
11 days • 4 locations
VICTORIA FALLS AIRPORT TO LILONGWE AIRPORT
US$7,680 - US$10,320 per person
Kaya Mawa
Kaya Mawa is a luxurious lakeside lodge with eleven rooms, all different in size and style. One room even occupies its own island. All are built out of local stone and furnished with locally crafted furniture and decorated with beautifully hand-made throws and cushions.
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Luxury elsewhere in Africa
Our top ideas and inspiration for Luxury in other countries.

Botswana
Botswana’s tourism policy aims for high value, low impact tourism. This results in high prices, ...

Kenya
Kenya is distinguished by the diversity of its landscapes, wildlife and culture – but there’s an ...

Mozambique
Mozambique is off the beaten track. The tourism industry is currently still developing and many ...

Namibia
Wide-open spaces, seemingly endless wilderness and a sense of solitude almost guaranteed: Namibia ...

Rwanda
Rwanda offers striking scenery, diverse wildlife and great cultural experiences – but until recently, ...

Seychelles
With the sun reflecting on the deep blue Indian Ocean, palm-fringed beaches and lush forests, the ...

South Africa
South Africa is an amazing place to experience a luxury holiday. Here you can relax on incredible ...

Tanzania
When it comes to luxurious accommodation, Tanzania isn’t short of beautiful camps and lodges offering ...

Zambia
Zambia has plentiful wildlife across huge areas and many very experienced guides. Although as its ...

Zanzibar
With endless palm-fringed beaches, turquoise waters and accommodation built with world-class comfort ...

Zimbabwe
With great game viewing, vast national parks and some stunning scenery, Zimbabwe is fantastic to ...
Where to see wildlife species in Africa
Maximise the chances of seeing your favourite African animals based on traveller sightings reports from the field.

Elephant
Loxodonta africana
By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.
90% SUCCESS
2,886 sightings from 3,195 observations

Leopard
Panthera pardus
The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.
46% SUCCESS
1,537 sightings from 3,315 observations

Lion
Panthera leo
Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.
81% SUCCESS
2,403 sightings from 2,971 observations

Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
The cheetah is the fastest land animal and the only cat that hunts by pure speed. Found largely in open grasslands, its slim, elegant form is today an increasingly rare sight.
31% SUCCESS
787 sightings from 2,530 observations

Wild dog
Lycaon pictus
African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.
32% SUCCESS
702 sightings from 2,215 observations

Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.
53% SUCCESS
1,671 sightings from 3,146 observations

Black Rhino
Diceros bicornis
The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.
30% SUCCESS
477 sightings from 1,590 observations

Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.
85% SUCCESS
2,766 sightings from 3,237 observations

Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.
82% SUCCESS
2,022 sightings from 2,461 observations

Hippo
Hippopotamus amphibius
The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.
89% SUCCESS
2,096 sightings from 2,359 observations

Sable antelope
Hippotragus niger
Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.
21% SUCCESS
355 sightings from 1,669 observations

Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.
47% SUCCESS
1,110 sightings from 2,368 observations

Roan antelope
Hippotragus equinus
Africa’s second largest antelope and one of its most handsome, with a powerful build and distinctive markings, roan are wary of people, but renowned for their bravery against predators.
22% SUCCESS
370 sightings from 1,667 observations

Wildebeest
Connochaetes sp.
Superficially bovine in appearance, wildebeests are known for their spectacular migrations sometimes in huge numbers. These resilient animals are some of Africa’s most successful herbivores.
67% SUCCESS
1,952 sightings from 2,935 observations

Zebra
Equus sp.
The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.
84% SUCCESS
3,046 sightings from 3,627 observations

Pangolin
Smutsia sp.
Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.
2% SUCCESS
43 sightings from 2,657 observations

Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.
2% SUCCESS
64 sightings from 2,717 observations
