The best times to visit Malawi

---

For most people the dry (winter) season is the most attractive (that is April/May to October/November).

The chances of rain is slim, daytime temperatures are generally pleasant (in the 20s degrees Celcius) and the low vegetation and limited availability of water mean that game viewing is at its best.

However, some of the best birdwatching can be done from November to April and the orchids of Nyika are best seen from December to March/April.

Malawi’s temperatures are moderated by altitude.

In the hottest month (usually November) maximum temperatures will be around 30 degrees celcius. In the coldest month (probably July) maximum temperatures will be in the low 20 degrees celcius. On the uplands (e.g. Zomba, Nyika and Vipyha) it can be quite cold at night.

The hottest area, all year, is that at the lowest altitude – the Lower Shire Valley. Rainfall is extremely rare in the dry season and even in the so-called wet season, the rains are usually short-lived storms, as is typical of the tropics, and at no time does the climate seriously inhibit the traveler.

Around the country, rainfall varies, with the highlands receiving the highest figures.