Malawi remained under native rule until 1891 when it was colonized by the British, who ruled the country until 1964. There is a diverse population of native peoples, Asians and Europeans, with several languages spoken and an array of religious beliefs. Although there was tribal conflict in the past, by 2008 it had diminished considerably and the concept of a Malawian nationality had begun to form. Malawi has a culture combining native and colonial aspects, including sports, art, dance and music.

(Click on above Map to View bigger Map)

Lake Malawi View Map Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa and one of the Great Rift Valley lakes which lies in a depression which plunges below 2,300 ft below sea level. Half the south-eastern section of the Lake belongs to Mozambique, while Tanzania lies along the north-eastern shore. There are four busy ports and hundreds of fishing villages. However, there are still many stretches that are completely deserted with plenty of sandy beaches. Lake Malawi National Park View Map Located in Malawi at the southern end of Lake Malawi, Lake Malawi National Park is the only national park in Malawi that was created to protect fish and aquatic habitats. Despite this, the Park does include a fair amount of land, including several small islands in Lake Malawi, and is home to other animals such as baboons. A large baobab tree, purportedly over 800 years old, is said to have been a favourite of Dr. David Livingstone as a place where he could give sermons and speak with other missionaries. The graves of five early missionaries are also found in the park. The many endemic fish species make it a key example of specialized evolution. For this characteristic, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.  Lake Malawi-Mozambique View Map Lilongwe View Map Lilongwe is the second largest city and the official capital of Malawi. It lies in the country's central region, on the Lilongwe River, near the border of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and on the main north-south highway of Malawi, the M1. Liwonde National Park View Map Liwonde National Park lies at the southern end of Lake Malawi and borders Lake Malombe. It encompasses riverine swamps, deciduous woodland, open grassland and even mopane woodland on the higher stretches and has some of the most scenic game viewing in Malawi and is reputedly the best for bird watching in Southern Africa. Nyika National Park View Map Nyika National Park covers practically the whole of the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi. Access is by a single dirt road which branches north off the road from Rumphi to the Katumbi border post and winds its way up the south-western scarp of the plateau, continues over the top, where it forms the border with Zambia, then descends the north-west scarp in a series of bends and continues north to the Chisenga border post. On the top of the plateau, a spur goes east to Chelinda, the headquarters of the park nearer the centre. Viphya Mountains View Map Viphya Mountains are highlands in north-central Malawi. They comprise two main blocks, divided by a 15-mile wide saddle and extend 130 miles from Mount Champhila in the south to Mount Uzumara in the north-northeast. The general elevation of 5,000–6,000 feet is interrupted by the saddle (4,000 feet), consisting of parallel rift faults in the west and rugged dissected terrain in the east. The undulating plateau surface is covered with grassland, patches of primary forest, and residual hills. Zomba View Map