Safaris and stargazing on a family Malawi holiday

Discovering the best of Malawi

Heidi and Jonathan
Heidi and Jonathan
Traveller
Published on
20 Sept 2018
Updated on
25 Apr 2025
Discovering Baobabs In Malawi

A family travels to Malawi on holiday and discovers majestic wildlife, a warm and friendly culture and landscapes of beauty.

We wanted to head off the beaten track a little for an adventurous Malawi family holiday with our young children this year. We contacted Far and Wild, giving them a basic brief of what we liked, how long we had and a budget and, after some cogitation and a little bit of refinement, they presented us with an itinerary that met all of our requirements. Our adventure was to include some safari, some luxury accommodation, some culture, some relaxation and a little bit of astronomy. Thoughtfully, each transfer took no more than a couple of hours to best suit the kids. We couldn't wait.

Mkulumadzi Veranda
Mkulumadzi Lodge
Mvuu Lodge Veranda
Mvuu Camp

The UK summer holiday was the perfect time to travel to southern Africa, as it is pleasantly warm and dry without the oppressive heat and humidity that hits later in the year - and fewer mosquitoes, too. Our stays at Mkulumadzi Lodge in Majete National Park and Mvuu Camp in Liwonde National Park were particularly memorable; the accommodation was stunning with wildlife and spectacular scenery right on the doorstep. We would awake to the sound of the dawn chorus and watch the starry sky give way to daylight, with hippos and crocodiles visible while we lay in bed!

Hippos Greeted Us In The Mornings
We were greeted by hippos in the mornings

We were lucky enough to see leopards in Majete, had a thrillingly close (yet safe!) encounter with elephants during a boat safari in Liwonde and saw numerous antelope and bird species. Our guides were knowledgeable, patiently answered our and our childrens' questions, and they learned our interests and adapted our game drives so we saw more of what we wanted to see. They even took us out after dark to go star gazing.

Elephant In Liwonde
Elephant in Liwonde
A Leopard In Majete
Majete leopard
Monkey In Malawi
We saw lots of monkeys too

The safari experiences alone would have made for an unforgettable holiday, but there is more to Malawi than 'just' safari. Our trip was rounded off with a stay at the luxurious Pumulani Lodge on Lake Malawi, where we relaxed and recharged, and had a chance to use their telescope to view the planets, before heading home.

Kayaking Lake Malawi
Kayaking on Lake Malawi

The scenery, ranging from the Baobab-studded plains dotted with traditional villages, to the dizzying escarpments and vast vistas of the mountains and plateaux, to the shimmering expanse of Lake Malawi itself, formed the backdrop of our adventure. The people we met exuded a warm friendliness and humbling stoicism. Malawi was beautiful and inspiring and we made some memories there that will stay with all of us for life.

A Family Selfie In Majete
A family selfie in Majete
Horse Riding In Malawi
Horse riding time

If you'd like a little more inspiration for your family safari holiday, have a read of our best family safari trip ideas and planning tips or talk to one of our experts, who will be able to share their insight and help you plan your dream trip.

Enquire button

Wondering when to visit? Take a look at this guide on the best time to visit Malawi.

Looking for some more inspiration? Take a look at our best safari holidays ideas, our favourite family safaris, our big five safari guide or our top African safari honeymoon suggestions.

Start planning your tailor-made Malawi safari – call us on 01768 603 715 and speak with a Malawi travel expert.

Speak to a Malawi expert today

and start planning your tailor-made holiday

Call 0203 111 1315
or
Our Malawi Experts
Ali 1

Alistair

Ben morison bio pic May18

Ben

Otti profile pic

Ottilie

Shirley Newman

What can I say….my son and myself had the most wonderful time in Kenya thanks to the first-class itinerary that Ben and Louise put together for us. We spoke with Ben many times to ensure he ‘got it right’. This was our 2nd visit to Kenya, and it certainly lived up to our expectations and memories. We stayed in four locations, firstly at the wonderful El Karama Lodge, Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy, where we even had a visit from Ruth from Far and Wild! Then, for a return visit, to Saruni Samburu, which is absolutely stunning and still one of our favourite places in the world. Next came Basecamp Mara Camp, where we saw our first Cheetah, the only animal we didn’t see on our first visit. After that, onto the wonderful Leopards Hill in the Naiboisho Conservancy, what a way to spend the last four days of this trip. Here we finally spent many hours with a beautiful leopard. Throughout our time in Kenya, we saw many lions, giraffes, elephants, ostriches, hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards, to name just a few. Nothing was too much trouble for all the staff; we cannot have been looked after any better. Since our return again Ben phoned to see how it went in addition to emails. I would highly recommend Far and Wild; they are so knowledgeable and have personally visited the lodges and areas. We are already planning another visit, and we cannot wait.

16 Aug 2025
Elizabeth Spells

I have just returned from the most amazing trip to Tanzania, booked with Far & Wild. Everything went so smoothly from the first time I spoke with them. The planning was great, the itinerary was perfect for us, and the lodges were amazing. We spent 10 nights with an amazing guide, travelling through Northern Tanzania and even got to see the migration, which was a lifetime ambition of mine. This wasn't our first safari, so we were nervous as to how it would compare, but it was spot on. We're particularly grateful that she suggested a private 'bush lunch' in the Ngorongoro Crater as the public picnic spot was very busy! I will certainly be using them again to book our next trip....we're thinking of a relaxing beach stay next time to get over the excitement of safari!

17 Sept 2025
Orla Rhodes

Just back from another amazing F&W organised trip to Namibia with the family (8 adults). Having been there before, Alistair tailored our trip to include our favourite locations and added a new one for us, Okonjima Plains camp, which we loved.The quality of accommodation and guiding, activities, food and drinks was exceptional throughout. Although not inexpensive I felt it was good value for the level of luxury we had. Kwessi Dunes, Shipwreck lodge, Ongava, Okonjima with pit stops Windhoek (city tour recommended ), Swakopmund (Sandwich Harbour and Walvis Bay tour) and Grootberg lodge (best sundowner drive )

31 Jul 2024
Arnhild Schia

We had a wonderful trip to São Tomé and Príncipe - a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea with paradise (almost empty) beaches and jungle forest. It was all well organised by Far and Wild and we stayed at Omali lodge at Sao Tome, then on Roca Sundy, and Sunday Praia at Principe - a great combination of different types of resorts/hotels. Omali is close to Sao Tome town with its colonial buildings, markets, hustle and bustle. Roca Sunday gives an old plantation experience and Sundy Praia a luxury beach experience. Very friendly (from time to time a bit slow) service, great fresh food, specifically if you like fish/seafood, vegetables and fruits (almost all sourced locally). Nice temperature between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius, nice swimming conditions. We really recommend this for those who want to experience a pristine destination with few other tourists and friendly and welcoming people. The islands also feel (and I believe are) very safe. At Principe, there are no dangerous animals, snakes or whatever, and it was great to be able to hike in the jungle without being very conscious of where to put your hands and feet. Go before everyone else does!

3 Jul 2024
Henri Papenfus

Back home again, basking in the joys of a superb safari. Every aspect you arranged for us, including linking up with Mack Air and Wild Horizons locally to transport us. The choice of camps, Camp Hwange in Zimbabwe and Muchenenje Safari Lodge in Botswana, was spot on and exactly what we had hoped for - ideally situated, comfortable, in good surroundings, and with excellent wildlife on the doorstep and throughout the wider country. The service staff in each looked after us very well, catering was excellent, and the game guides were professional, knowledgeable and helpful. The weather was, as usual for that part of the world, also good at the time of our visit. Blue skies and stunning sunsets. Warm but not too hot during the day, although quite cold at sunrise when viewing game. The viewing started. You made us happy, and we recommend you to similar safari enthusiasts with confidence.

28 Jun 2024
AC

Far and Wild went above and beyond to make sure my trip to Zambia was special. I would definitely recommend them and their services to anyone wanting to travel to Africa.

5 Jun 2024
Tiny

Lovely holiday at the amazing Almanara on Galu beach, a beach like no other. Far and Wild excelled themselves from beginning to end of our holiday in beautiful Kenya.... What a country!,

5 Jun 2024
Stodge

Wow! These guys are amazing. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Friendly AND efficient! Sorted out our trip (last minute and lots of different family member needs, sorry!) in record time and everything worked like clockwork. Trip of a lifetime to the Masai Mara. Will be back (and use F&W again!)!

5 Jun 2024
Fiona C

It was a dreamy holiday on the Kenyan Coast - Far and Wild, their efficiency and professionalism allowed us to relax and be the happiest family alive !! We cannot fault them, their care and understanding of what we wanted from a holiday ensured we had the most memorable trip. We will be booking with them again for sure!

5 Jun 2024