15 Off-the-Beaten-Track Places to Visit in Malawi

Malawi doesn’t always appear on typical African travel itineraries, it’s very underrated, but travellers who visit quickly discover something special. Beyond the well-known highlights, there are many off-the-beaten-track places to visit in Malawi that offer heart-stopping landscapes, welcoming communities and unforgettable family experiences. Malawi is FULL of hidden gems.

So if you want your family to travel with genuine and meaningful experience in Africa that hasn’t been catapulted into the tourism scene, then book your tickets, because Malawi should be your African destination of choice.

Now, let’s not hold you up!

Here’s our 15 Off-the-Beaten-Track Places to Visit in Malawi

1. Sombani Hut, Mulanje Mountain

Ok, so this place to visit in Malawi is a bit of a cheat, because Mulanje Mountain is one of the country’s main attractions. However, most people stick to the South Western side of the mountain, the side that’s easily accessible on tarmac roads. If you want to travel off the beaten-track dirt road, head around the mountain and hike up to one of Mulanje’s lesser frequented huts, like Sombani.

Why Mulanje Mountain is special

It feels like you’re in another world, a hidden part of the world. A world well worth a visit and a hike.

Family Experience

Sombani Hut is a (relatively) short hike, manageable for families. With younger legs, expect it to take you the best part of a day with regular breaks. You’ll never forget the satisfaction of reaching the top or the feeling of lying under the inky black skies pricked with stars.

2. Tea Estates, Thyolo

The Tea Estates have their own mico-climate going on, it’s wild to experience both the landscape and the air change as you drive into the area. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and there’s plenty to do.

Why the Tea Estates in Thyolo are special

Thyolo’s climate and topography are unique and there is plenty to do and experience.

Family Experience

From tea tasting to tea picking and coffee picking, you can even throw in history, walks in dense forest and birdwatching to the day’s activities. It’s a remarkable experience.

3. The Waterfalls, Zomba Plateau

Zomba is the cultural capital of Malawi. There are many historical landmarks and sites, we recommend a guide to take you around for the day. The waterfalls and views from the plateau are especially captivating. We’d recommend a guide to get the best out of the mountain. Signage is fairly poor.

Why Zomba Waterfalls are Special

Zomba holds a cascade of different waterfalls. It could be called the raining plateau. You can hike, 4×4 drive around the plateau or horseride.

Family Experience

Why not visit the Queen’s view after a waterfall hike and get a photo with sweeping views of Malawi (the Queen Mother was said to have been at that very point in 1967).

4. The Botanic Gardens & Arboretum, Zomba

We love the botanical gardens in Zomba, don’t expect tourism level standards, this is a working garden where many heritage species of plants and trees are kept safe. The team at the gardens make for interesting conversation and it’s worth knowing we’ve tapped into the knowledge and contacts here, to help our Tree Project be successful.

Why Zomba Botanical Gardens are Special

The botanical gardens are part of Malawi’s hope to restore much of the indigenous land that’s been destroyed. It’s a remarkable place of knowledge and history, the staff that work there are helpful and dedicated to conservation.

Family Experience

This rare find is educational, if you choose to have conversations, you’ll learn a lot of Malawi’s flora and fauna. Also of its current plight and battle with deforestation.

5. Zomba Spice Market

We’re keeping this one quick because it’s not going to be a long stop, but another hidden gem worth experiencing.

Why Zomba Spice Market is Special

The whole market has a unique buzz about it, largely influenced by its colonial past. Malawi is not a big foodie culture, yet here in Zomba, aromatic locally sourced spices are found in quantity.

Family Experience

Some markets are best left to locals, but Zomba market is known for its vibe, artisans, spices and crafts. It’s a good cultural experience for the whole family – but still, be mindful of opportunists.

6. The Malape Pillars

At the foot of the Chikala Hills, these pillars are a hike or cycle ride to get to, awarding them a place on our hidden-gems list.

Why The Malape Pillars are Special

These sandstone pillars are known as the “Malawian Canyon” and are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list, because of their unique geological value.

Family Experience

There’s no geology quite like these pillars anywhere else in the world. If you fancy standing beneath their great heights, read this UNESCO listing about them first!

7. Ruo Waterfall, the tallest on Mulanje

There are many falls on Mulanje, Ruo is the tallest and arguably the most beautiful.

Why The Ruo Waterfall is Special

By this point in our blog, I think you’ll realise we love a good hike. Ruo Falls are on a beautiful 4 day hike called the Ruo Loop Traverse. The falls plunge down into the Ruo gorge amid forest and steep drops. Simply, spectacular.

Family Experience

Ruo Falls can be accessed without a 4 day hike, but imagine the family stories once you’re out the other side of such an adventure!

8. Zoa Falls & Hike

There’s a hiking theme in this blog and that’s because of our title, “15 Off-the-Beaten-Track Places to Visit in Malawi”, territory that comes with hikes and 4×4’s. Zoa falls is no exception.

Why Zoa Falls are Special

Zoa falls are remote, unfrequented and impressive.

This is the best blog and descriptor for it.

Family Experience

Zoa shows you the power of nature, and going somewhere little trodden together – that’s a thrill. I’m loading up your memory bank here!

9. Mpemba Hill with panoramic views

Now here’s a location you won’t find on any travel blogs or social media accounts. Mpemba Hill is home to some of our Tree Planting partners. We’ve started hiking its paths because, well who can resist a good hill walk?

Why Mpemba Hill is Special

Mpemba hill is just outside Blantyre. From the hilltop you can see the rift valley, Majete across to Thyolo and into Mozambique. It’s quite a spectacular 360degree panorama.

Family Experience

The hill is in rural communities and hiking the hill you’ll meet local families and children connected to Fisherman’s Rest Community Projects. If you’re staying with us at the lodge, Mpemba hill will be combined with meeting a family and experiencing their homestead, you may even get a cup of tea and a moment to plant some trees…

10. Ancient Fig Tree, Fisherman’s Rest Nature Reserve

We couldn’t NOT list our spectacular forest and nature reserve. Going from strength to strength, our forest is slowly being restored to its indigenous roots. It’s also an educational hub for local community farmers strengthening their incomes and land ecology with microforests.

Why Mbame Forest is Special

Home to monkey, duiker, impala and all manner of birds and reptiles as well as hyena. Mbame forest has sections of old historic forest, including a spectacular fig tree; the regeneration and restoration of this forest is remarkable.

Family Experience

Visit now and visit again in 20 years to see the difference… Enjoy learning with the Fisherman’s Team, learn about our tree planting project, the trees, their uses and value to local people.

11. Majete Hill, inside Majete National Park

Majete Hill is a quick stop on this tour of hidden gems in Malawi (all Southern Malawi, I’ll add) Inside Majete National Park you’ll need a 4×4 or a guide for this trip. Arrange it through the park and get their advice on accessibility. It’s a beautiful part of the park to visit, but definitely less well trodden. If you want to stay in the middle of nowhere then Mwembezi Gorge Bush Camp is the escape for you.

12. CCAP and St Michael of all Angels

This church is wild. Every brick and carving was done by hand, it was designed and coordinated between 1888 and 1891 by a missionary with no formal architectural or construction training and a team of Malawian’s who’d never seen a building like it or built a building like it.

Now it’s in need of a lot of restoration, but the skills of builders and audacity of the building is worth a visit. Hire a local guide and enjoy a full history of the area.

Why St Michael of all Angels is Special

It’s full of structural ingenuity and rule breaking design. Not Scottish, not English, but Malawian. And it was the first Christian church built between the Zambezi and Nile rivers.

Family Experience

A tour of this church and the historic mission site is a lesson of the past. The good and the bad, it’ll encourage conversations that are always good to have.

13. Majete Wildlife Reserve

We’ve included Majete Wildlife Reserve because it’s the first of African Parks restoration projects in Malawi and a true conservation success. It’s located in the south of the country making it less accessible than the central parks for many tourists. It is on this list because a safari park is a place you must visit in Malawi and any park in Malawi is like a low-key safari 20 years ago in Africa, quiet, remote and off-the-beaten track…

14. Chadzunda Market

The market is local to Fisherman’s Rest. It pops on a Wednesday and a Saturday, it’s the place to get brightly coloured african fabrics, tailored clothes, mangos and dried fish. We frequent it often with our guests, spending money in local communities is a significant way to support the local economy when you visit, and people hugely appreciate it.

Why Chadzunda Market is Special

It’s a small market, very local and you feel comfortable walking around greeting people and admiring their produce.

Family Experience

Not all markets are fun to be in, however this is a good market option for children to experience (and find some unusual gems to buy).

15. Community Projects at Fisherman’s Rest

We had to get Fisherman’s Rest Community Projects on the list! An unsung travel destination in Malawi and not your normal thing to do.

Why Fisherman’s Rest Lodge and Community Projects is Special

At Fisherman’s Rest we’re an NGO and UK registered charity. Which means a few things. Firstly that we can collect and donate funds that go straight to source and secondly we aren’t about exploiting people for tourism. Rather allowing tourists an insight into ongoing, sustainable Malawian projects, families, culture and experiencing a truly welcoming and resilient people.

Family Experience

Being a part of projects is not something you’ll want to do for an afternoon. It’s at least three days (we advise five or more) of learning and doing. From helping on borehole repairs, to building Changu stoves to planting trees and singing and laughing with families at the community centre. It’s a life changing experience for the whole family.

Find out more about Travel to Fisherman’s Rest Malawi