Where to book and travel to

About

Travelling Safely

Our Content

Our People

Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.

Lake Malawi

Dominating this slender country, the enormous Lake Malawi fills the famous Rift Valley.

Beside the lake, life is slow moving and traditional. Fishing sustains the countless communities that dot the beautiful shores, with some villages inaccessible by road and still sustained by the ageing MV Ilala as it potters its way around the lake.

Beaches line the lakeshore along its entire length, but it is the handful of offshore islands that are arguably most unspoilt and beautiful. The wealth of marine life – including hundreds of species of colourful cichlids – makes for fantastic snorkelling and diving. And for those who want to stay above water, activities range from paddleboarding and kitesurfing to sailing and kayaking.

Kayaking, Lake Malawi, Malawi — Lake Malawi, Malawi

Swimming, Lake Malawi, Malawi — Lake Malawi, Malawi

Why travel to Lake Malawi

Explore this vast lake that fills the Rift Valley
Snorkel in the warm, salt-free waters
Kayak, sail, dive and more
Stay at isolated island camps, only accessible by plane or boat

Experiences

Discover some of our suggested activities to include on your Malawi holiday

Island Camps

Stay at isolated island camps on Lake Malawi, only accessible by plane or boat.

Suggested camp

Lake Malawi Watersports

Spend time on the shores of Lake Malawi and try swimming, snorkelling, sailing, kayaking and even diving.

Suggested property

Sunset Dhow Cruise

Take a sunset cruise on Lake Malawi aboard an old fishing dhow. Sip sundowner drinks and nibble on snacks as the sun sinks below the horizon.

Suggested Lodge

Cichlids

Snorkel and swim amongst the rocks that dot the lake’s shores, looking out for the colourful cichlids (fish) for which Lake Malawi is famed. Hundreds of different species are said to exist here.

Suggested Hotel

Discover more experiences

Where to stay

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Pumulani Lodge £££££

Malawi
Beach and Island Escapes

Pumulani is a beach lodge on the protected shores of Lake Malawi within Lake Malawi National Park. There are 10 villas spread out along a lush hillside overlooking the lake. Each villa boasts a large bedroom, spacious living area and a private deck with lake view. There is also a pool and private beach access. Activities include waterskiing, sailing, diving, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing, and bird watching. Sunset cruises on a traditional wooden 40ft sailing boat are also available. Lake Malawi National Park is a World Heritage Site worth exploring, especially for its rare species of fish such as colourful cichlids.

View Property

Mumbo Island £££££

Lake Malawi
Beach and Island Escapes

Mumbo Island is an exclusive camp situated on a pristine and otherwise-deserted tropical island floating on the clear waters of Lake Malawi. The camp comprises five large safari tents, each fully furnished with its own shaded view-deck and hammock, and blending seamlessly into the lush foliage. There is a dining area, bar and water sport gazebo. With waters that are so crystal clear, the diving and snorkelling are among the best in Lake Malawi. This is the perfect place to relax in tranquil surroundings and eat delicious cuisine and for the more energetic there is a variety of activities. Sea kayaking, snorkelling and scuba facilities are on offer. Birders will enjoy the abundant Fish Eagles and snorkellers can view enormous numbers of the Cichlid fish species.

View Property

Kaya Mawa £££££

Malawi
Beach and Island Escapes

Kaya Mawa is a beach safari lodge on Likoma, an isolated island covered with mango trees and ancient baobabs and surrounded by sandy beaches and rocky coves. With breathtaking views of the mountains and wilderness of Mozambique, Likoma remains almost untouched since its discovery by Scottish missionaries at the end of the 19th century. Rated by Condé Nast Magazine as one of the planet’s ten most romantic destinations, Kaya Mawa has seven rooms and four-family houses. All have en suite bathrooms, private terraces, and either a private plunge pool or direct access to the water. Each house faces the lake and has a large mahogany four-poster bed, a shower, and a sunken stone bathtub. There is a beach bar and a restaurant, both with lake views.

View Property

More luxury accommodation

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?

More about Steppes

Featured in the press

Your Wishlist Account

Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.

Your Wishlist Account

Account Created

All you need to do now is activate this account by clicking on the link we’ve just sent you via email to the address you’ve just provided or log in below.

Reset your password

Enter your email below.

We've sent you an email to reset your password

you will receive an email from us in the next few minutes. Click in the link in the email to change your password.

if you can't see an email from us in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder as it may have been mistakenly categorised as spam or try a different email address.

Lake Malawi

Why travel to Lake Malawi