What captures visitors most about Malawi is its geographical diversity: the vast shimmering lakes, dramatic mountain peaks, and the roaming lions of Majete Wildlife Reserve.

Diminutive Malawi is actually one of Southern Africa’s least visited countries, with many travellers favouring better known safari destinations such as Zambia and Botswana, but to visit this landlocked region is to get an everlasting impression of Africa’s diversity. There is just so much there to fill the time of the intrepid traveller. Wildlife abounds – you’ll spot hippos, crocodiles, black rhinos and even lions and leopard, thanks to recent reintroduction programmes; it’s also a twitcher’s utopia with over 400 species of bird recorded.

And what of the phenomenal landscape upon which this wildlife lives? On the one hand there are looming mountains and wild forests ripe for trekking, and on the other Lake Malawi, the country’s very own sparkling inland sea fringed with golden beach and lapped at by luminescent waters. Not only that, but the country is safe, friendly and reasonably easy to negotiate, making it just as rewarding for self drivers as those on small group tours.