Bird watching 

Malawi is home to over 650 species of birds, 10% of which cannot be found anywhere else in southern Africa. Malawi is an invaluable birding destination for ornithologists and bird lovers, but even if you've never been birding before, the colorful variety of birds will fascinate you and give you the experience of a lifetime. Malawi has a wide range of bird species, from the truly endemic Yellow-throated Apalis, to the endangered Cholo Alethe and the very large Marabou Stork, which reaches over 150 cm. The reason for this is easily seen in Malawi's geographical location and the diversity of its environmental range. Malawi is a unique country, being long and narrow in shape, with one third of its land area occupied by the huge and beautiful Lake Malawi. The Nyika plateau in the north, the forests in the mountains of Mulanje in the south, and the wetlands on the shores of Lake Malawi and along the Shire River - plateaus, mountains, lakes and wetlands all coexist in a relatively small area of land, providing for all kinds of bird habitat requirements. No particular bird species is often limited to a single habitat, and they can all be seen almost anywhere if the conditions are right. However, the majority of natural habitats are found within national parks, wildlife reserves and forest reserves and are the first choice of birders wishing to experience the richness of Malawi‘s birdlife. Nyika National Park, Liwonde National Park, Lengwe National Park, the Lake Malawi which is the waterfowl sanctuary and the Miombo Forest in the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve are particularly popular with birders. Expert guides are also available in the parks. More than 80% of Malawi’s species have been recorded as breeding in Malawi, so bird-watching in Malawi is possible at any time of year. However, if you want to see many species, including migratory birds from Europe, Asia and North Africa, the most suitable time for birding is from late September near the end of the dry season to April at the end of the rainy season. November and December are the best times for birding before the rains because this is when bird numbers are at their highest and the plum - age of many birds is at its most colorful.