Malawi

Malawi has been called the Warm Heart of Africa for as long as anyone can remember — a nickname that refers to both its climate and its people, and holds up honestly on both counts. This is one of Africa's friendliest destinations, and one of its most underrated. A long, narrow country squeezed between Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia, Malawi is dominated by the extraordinary Lake Malawi, which stretches for 580 kilometres along its eastern border and covers about a fifth of the country's total area.

Lake Malawi is the country's headline — a freshwater sea the size of Belgium, crystal clear, home to more species of fish than any other lake on Earth, and fringed by beaches that would be world-famous if they were anywhere else. Kayaking, snorkelling among cichlids, diving, and island-hopping out to Likoma and Chizumulu are the classic lake experiences, and the backpacker-to-luxury range of accommodation means you can do the lake on almost any budget.

Malawi's wildlife story is also remarkable. Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve — both managed by African Parks — have been transformed from near-empty land in the 1990s into thriving ecosystems now holding the Big Five, wild dogs, and cheetahs. The reintroduction work here is some of the best conservation in Africa today, and the parks themselves are comparatively crowds-free. South of the lake, Mount Mulanje rises as a vast granite massif with some of the best multi-day hiking in Southern Africa. Combine Malawi with Zambia, Tanzania, or Mozambique for an exceptional less-travelled itinerary — the country is easy overland, affordable, and genuinely different.