These are the best places to travel this summer

Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in water

Getty Images

Plan your trip with Guide, an AI travel planner!

Create a personalized trip itinerary in seconds using artificial intelligence.

Create a trip

Overview

Zambia's wildlife and waterfalls, Malawi's lake and mountains, Mozambique's islands and beaches. Each country has its own personality. Focus on exploring one, or sample a bit of all three.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Southern Carmine Bee-eater in the air in South Luangwa.
134023874
africa, africa safari, africa wildlife, african, beautiful bird, bee eater, birds, birds eye view, birds flying, birds in flight, colorful, colorful animal, colorful bird, departure, flights, flying, flying bird, flying birds, freedom, freedom concept, happiness, nature reserve, red bird, safari animals, wild animals, wildlife, zambia

    South Luangwa National Park

    Zambia

    For scenery, variety and density of animals, South Luangwa is the best park in Zambia and one of the most majestic in Africa. Impalas, pukus, waterbucks,…

  • MALAWI - 2016/05/29: A Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in a tree in Liwonde National Park, Malawi. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    Lilongwe Wildlife Centre

    Lilongwe

    This 1.1-sq-km wilderness area is Malawi's only sanctuary for orphaned, injured and rescued wild animals, and plays an active role in conservation. Local…

  • Mozambique, Bazaruto Archipelago. Divers kit up on a zodiac, ready to explore the stunning coral reefs off Benguerra Island.

    Bazaruto National Park

    Bazaruto Archipelago

    This1400-sq-km park protects the five islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago, plus surrounding waters. Thanks to this protected status, and to the…

  • African elephants with young ( Loxodonta africana africana) in the Shire river, Liwonde National Park.

    Liwonde National Park

    Malawi

    With its lodges and safari activities, Liwonde is the closest thing Malawi has to a traditional wildlife park. Dominating the west, the Shire River…

  • Karonga, Northern, Malawi, East Africa, Africa

    Cultural & Museum Centre Karonga

    Malawi

    This museum, off the M1, celebrates the numerous fossil discoveries made in these parts, and the skeleton of the Malawisaurus (or a copy of it, anyway)…

  • Majete Wildlife Reserve

    Majete Wildlife Reserve

    Malawi

    Since African Parks took over management of this rugged wilderness on the western bank of the Shire River in 2003, things have really been looking up…

  • Parliament Building

    Parliament Building

    Lilongwe

    To get up close to Malawi’s movers and shakers, head to the home of the national parliament. It moved in 1994 from Zomba to the ostentatious palace of…

  • Mozambique, Maputo, the Baixa area, the victorian style railway station designed by G. Eiffel in 1910

    Train Station

    Maputo

    Maputo’s landmark train station is one of the city’s most imposing buildings. The dome was designed by an associate of Alexandre Gustav Eiffel (of Eiffel…

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique