How much does it cost to stay in a hotel in Malawi?

Prices for hotels in Malawi typically run from USD 120 to USD 950 per person per night. Lilongwe and Blantyre are the best-value bases, lakeside properties on Lake Malawi sit in the middle of the range, and safari camps in Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve cost a little more. Nyika National Park is the priciest corner, with just two properties serving the whole park.

Where should I stay for a safari in Malawi?

For a safari in Malawi, base yourself in Liwonde National Park or Majete Wildlife Reserve, and ideally both. In Liwonde, Mvuu Lodge sits on a hippo-packed lagoon off the Shire River, with boat safaris past crocodiles, elephants and some seriously good birdlife. Majete, Malawi's first Big Five reserve, is a proper conservation comeback story, and Mkulumadzi Lodge has eight river-view chalets reached by a suspension footbridge. Do both and you get boats, bush and the full Big Five.

Where should I stay on Lake Malawi?

On Lake Malawi, stay on an island: Kaya Mawa for a splurge, Blue Zebra Island Lodge for something more laid-back. Kaya Mawa is a light-aircraft hop to Likoma Island, with stone cottages built into granite rocks above a white-sand bay. Blue Zebra is a 20-minute boat ride to Nankoma Island, in Lake Malawi National Park, with snorkelling, kayaking and a resident bush baby at dinner. Either way, your sundowner comes with a view of open water.

Where should I stay in Malawi for a honeymoon?

For a honeymoon in Malawi, pair a few nights on safari with a barefoot finish on Lake Malawi. Start at Mvuu Lodge in Liwonde, where the honeymoon suite has an outdoor bathtub beside a hippo-filled lagoon, or Mkulumadzi Lodge in Majete, with sunken baths facing the Shire River. Then fly to Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island and swim from your terrace to breakfast on the beach.

Hotels in Malawi | Timbuktu Travel

Makuzi Beach Lodge

Western Shore, Lake Malawi

11 Rooms

From $210 per person/night

Tropical, beach-like paradise a stone's throw from the edge of Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is Africa's third largest lake, at 560km long and 80km wide. An extraordinary geographic phenomenon with azure waters and white sand beaches, it forms the core industrial centre of this landlocked country and a paradisal escape for tourists. Makuzi Beach Lodge sits on the north-west shore, tucked into a secluded cove, surrounded by lush indigenous forest. This intimate setting offers something for the max-out relaxer and the eager adventurer alike. Whether you're keen to snorkel, kayak, hike or stretch out with some beach yoga, there's enough to keep a busybody's interest. Or, if you're more horizontally inclined, the wide beachfront with scattered thatch umbrellas is an ideal spot for some tropical time-out.

Chintheche Inn

Western Shore, Lake Malawi

10 Rooms

From $290 per person/night

Laid back, family-friendly lodge on Lake Malawi's stunning north-west shore

Lake Malawi is regarded by many as the heart and soul of its tiny landlocked country - a boon to locals who subsist on its freshwater fish, and a magnet for tourists who seek deep tropical waters and white sand beaches. The lake is ocean-like - 560km long, 80km wide - fringed by indigenous forests, with the Viphya Mountains in the background. Chintheche Inn sits on the north-west edge, on a private stretch of sand, perfectly poised to take advantage of many activities - water sports, fishing, mountain trails and snorkelling off a nearby island. Its idyllic setting is enhanced only by the wonderful, warm-hearted hospitality of the lodge staff, legendary for their welcoming spirit.

Madzi Kuwala Lake Retreat

Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi

6 Rooms

From $90 per person/night

Self-catering comfort in idyllic seclusion on the shores of Lake Malawi

Malawi is a sliver of a country, humble but ablaze with scenic beauty and wide-smiled people. And with Lake Malawi stretching nearly 350 km from north to south, the country is a tropical paradise. Madzi Kuwala Lake Retreat is a fully equipped self-catering family home on the lake's southern shore. With six rooms, all the mod cons and private staff, the retreat is just the place to kick off your travelling shoes and feel the holiday vibe. The grounds are visited by baboons, vervet monkeys, monitor lizards and bush babies; and ospreys guard the private beach. Sheer bliss...

Norman Carr Cottage

Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi

6 Rooms

From $260 per person/night

Life on the idle side on the southern shores of Lake Malawi

Cloistered within the dense indigenous forest of tranquil Namakoma Bay, south-east of Cape Maclear at the southern end of Lake Malawi, this charming little getaway strikes just the right balance between organised and carefree. There's a real sense of being at home at Norman Carr Cottage, no matter how long you stay. The small team of staff, among whom is the amiable owner and host, demonstrate first-hand why Malawi is proclaimed "the warm heart of Africa". The cottage's simple, neat grounds open to the beach-front. Here, the tonics of unrivalled peace and epic adventures await, in whatever dose you require.

Livingstonia Beach Hotel

Lake Malawi

32 Rooms

From $330 per person/night

Island-style comfort, a sandy beach and the azure waters of Lake Malawi.

Malawi is well-loved for its massive ocean-like lake, which at 560 km long and 80 km wide forms the blue heart of the country – and for its warm culture of hospitality. On the lake's southwest shore is Livingstonia Beach Hotel, a colonial-esque estate with rambling terraces, tailored tropical gardens and a kilometre-long stretch of private beach. From the hotel, you can kayak the clear blue waters, snorkel and scuba dive to discover the fresh underwater life, and enjoy a sunset cruise with a crisp local brew. You'll discover exactly why Lake Malawi rates among our favourite destinations in Africa...

Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel

Lake Malawi

From $330 per person/night

Mzuzu is the gateway and the focal point of growth in the Malawi’s Northern Region, and Sunbird Mzuzu is the only premier hotel in this region. Nestled in the green surrounds of the Mzuzu Golf Course, it offers the ideal base from which to explore the unspoilt North. The hotel is 100 km from Chintheche beautiful beaches, 120 km from Livingstonia Mission, and 150 km from the Nyika National Park, Malawi’s largest park.

Zulunkhuni River Lodge

Lake Malawi

Imagine a cove so remote, so exquisitely untouched, that no road leads there… Between Nkhata Bay and Chitimba is the least developed stretch of coastline on the Malawi lake shore. This area is populated by tiny fishing communities, often cut off from the rest of the country with access only by boat. This is due to the unique topography of steep forested escarpments and roaring waterfalls which make the area a road builder’s nightmare and an ecologist’s paradise. Zulunkhuni River Lodge is an eco-lodge set within this paradise.

Chembe Eagles Nest

Lake Malawi

11 Rooms

At Chembe Eagles Nest, the quiet and idyllic chalets all face Lake Malawi under a sheltered thatched patio with a pair of easy chairs to watch the exquisite sunsets. If you are more inclined to outdoor living, the adjoining campsite with spectacular views of the hills and lake will suit you best. Campers have their own wash-up area, braai facilities and beautifully pristine ablutions with ample privacy from the rest of the lodge. The restaurant has been designed with a warm and contemporary feel, carefully designed to enable space yet intimacy, offering a panoramic view of the wonderful gardens and Lake Malawi. The pool sits at the view of the rooms and the beach where people sit and chat or read, and then it gently gets deeper. There are lots of fun activities at Chembe that will excite you - from music to fishing, boating and swimming.

The Makokola Retreat

Lake Malawi

From $180 per person/night

The Makokola Retreat is located on the palm fringed southern shore of Lake Malawi, a setting that is beautiful almost beyond belief. Its waters are the habitat of more species of fish than that of any other body of fresh water on the earth.

A tropical haven with a relaxed pace, Malawi is famous for its artistic traditions, including dances, wood sculpture, painting, embroidery and music amongst others.

Liwonde Safari Camp

Liwonde

From $60 per person/night

The rustic atmosphere of the camp is enhanced by its location in one of the richest habitats of the park. Just lazing about on one of the camp's various observation decks to watch the elephants or count the many species of birds, is the perfect way to spend a day here. Walking safaris are available around the camp. Our fully equipped safari vehicles are always ready to take guests on game drives and our expertise and experience in the park guarantee the best possible safaris. For an idyllic sunset trip we can arrange a boat safari, to steam up the Shire River amongst the hippo's and crocodiles. Of course we can also arrange morning boat safaris.

Thawela Tented camp

Majete Reserve

6 Rooms

From $120 per person/night

This highly diverse reserve features undulating hills, low-lying grassy plains, and mixed woodland punctuated by the ghost-like Star Chestnut trees and large mahoganies. To the reserve’s east, the Shire river cuts through the landscape and ultimately crashes over the Kapuchira Falls. Majete Hill, the reserve’s highest point, provides a breath-taking vantage point from which to see the whole reserve. In prime location for easy access to the reserve, and with its own productive waterhole, Thawale Camp is a simple peaceful outpost from which to experience Majete’s diverse wildlife offering. Completely unfenced, a stay here is a safari in its own right. Adding to the lure is Thawale Camp’s conservation model whereby 100% of its revenue is ploughed directly back into the reserve and surrounding communities.

Mulanje & Highlands Hike

Mulanje & the Highlands

Popular |

From $150 per person/night

Mulanje Mountain, known to the locals as ‘the island in the sky’, is the highest mountain in southern-central Africa, and Sapitwa, its highest peak, overlooks the clouds from 10,000 ft and boasts unparalleled views of southern Malawi, so it's well worth a visit. Enjoy traversing up this unique and unspoiled mountain range with a fantastic team to guide you every step of the way ensuring you are safe, well-fed and watered, well-informed and most importantly – enjoying life! Embark on an adventure of a lifetime, and enjoy the experience of climbing through tunnels, around large boulders and under curving trees and witness the most soul-nourishing and awe-inspiring views across Southern Malawi as the sun sets on another unforgettable day.

Kefi Hotel

Zomba Plateau

Popular |

10 Rooms

From $50 per person/night

Experience a unique, personalised accommodation experience at Kefi Hotel, with rooms complete with locally inspired décor, private porches for guests to relax and scenic vistas in a tranquil, lush forested surrounding. Kefi Hotel is a serene escape only about an hour from Blantyre city. An old colonial house converted into a charming hotel, Kefi Hotel is located at the foot of Zomba Plateau within walking distance from sights, scenes and shopping areas in Zomba.

Mijn Kitchen Coffee Shop and B&B

Blantyre

5 Rooms

From $60 per person/night

Mijn Kitchen Coffee Shop and B&B is a charming establishment nestled in the heart of Blantyre, Malawi. This small family-owned business boasts a cosy coffee shop, unique in its range of artisanal foods and freshly brewed coffee, as well as a fully furnished bed and breakfast. Mijn Kitchen Bed and Breakfast has five fully furnished en-suite bedrooms that provide a mix of luxury and comfort, allowing guests to feel right at home during their stay in Blantyre. Four of these rooms are fitted with double beds and one has a duo of single beds. It is very centrally located with the business district, supermarkets and restaurants all in close proximity.

Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel

Blantyre

From $80 per person/night

Located in Blantyre, the commercial capital of Malawi, Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel is strategically positioned in the city centre. The Hotel is set among lush tropical gardens overlooking the city in the north and the Historical Ndirande mountain in the south. Rooms are en suite, air-conditioned, have digital satellite television, international direct dialling, WI-FI internet, e-mail facilities, internet ports and 220 volts power points (British standard). Taxi services are available at the hotel’s own taxi rank. Blantyre’s International Airport at Chileka is a comfortable 10km, 15 minutes, away. The hotel runs an airport shuttle service at a nominal bus fee.