Regions & Cities
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Blantyre
Blantyre wears its trading history: colonial buildings, sprawling markets and a strong coffee-and-tea trade; hikers also use the city as a launch point for Mulanje Massif excursions.
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Zomba
Zomba perches under a cool plateau: the Zomba Plateau’s walking trails, waterfalls and pine forests attract hikers, while the town’s colonial-era buildings recall its past as a capital.
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Monkey Bay
Perched on Lake Malawi’s southern shore, Monkey Bay draws divers to clear freshwater reefs, local boatmen offering island trips, sandy bays for slow afternoons, and markets selling fresh fish grilled over coals.
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Thyolo
Thyolo’s rolling hills are stitched with tea estates; tourists tour plantations, sample estate teas, hike in nearby Mulanje Plateau foothills and watch workers at processing sheds.
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Mulanje
Mulanje is the base for Mount Mulanje’s granite massif and Sapitwa peak.
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Chiradzulu
At the foot of Chiradzulu Mountain, the district draws hikers, birders and tea-plantation visitors.
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Liwonde National Park
Liwonde National Park along the Shire River offers boat safaris, frequent elephant and hippo sightings, and guided game drives; visitors come for accessible wildlife viewing and river-based birdwatching.
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Shire Highlands
Highland region around Zomba and Blantyre in southern Malawi, known for rolling hills, tea estates, hiking trails, waterfalls and colonial‑era towns used as bases for excursions.
Southern Malawi at a Glance
Local Time
2:09 AM
GMT+2
Population
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Best Things to Do in Southern Malawi
Trail
Mount Mulanje
National Park
Liwonde National Park
Malawi national park noted for elephants and river safaris
Wildlife Reserve
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Restored wildlife reserve home to Malawi's big game
Lake
Lake Chilwa
Shallow, seasonal lake important for local fisheries
National Park
Lake Malawi National Park
UNESCO park protecting Lake Malawi's aquatic biodiversity
Mountains
Mulanje Massif
Granite massif with Malawi's highest peak and forests
Lake
Lake Malombe
Shallow lake in southern Malawi, important fisheries
University
University of Malawi
Public university campus in Zomba
Lake
Lake Chiuta
Transboundary shallow lake between Malawi and Mozambique
Island
Chisi Island
Island in Lake Chilwa, Malawi, important bird habitat
Park
Lengwe National Park
Malawi park noted for nyala antelope and dry forests
Plateau
Shire Highlands
Highland region in Malawi, source area of Shire River
