Southern Region: History, Culture and Wildlife

Malawi’s Southern Region offers a range of starting points for planning a trip: history, cultural landscapes, outdoor activities, and wildlife and birdlife. Zomba, the Zomba Plateau, the Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape, and various protected areas and wetlands each have their own appeal. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider which themes matter for your trip; this gives the rest of your planning a specific regional focus.

Zomba: History and Activities

Zomba was the capital of the British colonial administration and independent Malawi until 1975. In 1975, the capital was moved to Lilongwe. Its former role as capital and the move together provide a clear historical reference point for travelers interested in Malawi’s history.

Blantyre offers a different point of reference: it is Malawi’s economic center. Outdoor activities take center stage on the Zomba Plateau. These include hiking, trekking, and mountain biking; the plateau also offers views. The list includes both activities on foot and mountain biking, while the views add a landscape element. The plateau thus offers a different focus from the historical and economic connections of Zomba and Blantyre.

Cultural Connections in Southern Malawi

The Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape in southern Malawi was created and is maintained through the cultural practices and beliefs of the Yao, Mang’anja, and Lhomwe. This brings the role of these communities into focus alongside the landscape itself. Two contexts should be distinguished in relation to tea: tea plantations are part of the cultural heritage of the Shire Highlands, while Satemwa is associated with tea plantations near Thyolo.

Wildlife and Birdlife

Majete Wildlife Reserve is considered a Big Five reserve. The Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve has 273 recorded bird species; the number of species may change over time. Elephant Marsh is known for its birdlife. For a bird-focused visit, the information varies in specificity: Mwabvi has a species count, while Elephant Marsh is known more generally for its birdlife. Majete offers a different focus with its Big Five classification.

The Shire River is also associated with boat safaris, adding a waterside theme to the region’s natural attractions.

Malawi in a Broader Context

In Malawi, Lake Malawi National Park includes Miombo woodlands on land, an aquatic ecosystem, and a total of 13 islands. The habitats in Lake Malawi National Park in Malawi range from rocky shores and sandy beaches to wooded slopes, swamps, and lagoons. The waters and fish of Lake Malawi are protected in Malawi. Malawi’s Nyika National Park is home to 85 mammal species and more than 420 bird species; these figures may vary depending on the survey method and over time.

Discover more destinations: Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Mangochi, Monkey Bay, Mulanje, Chembe, Northern Region.

For the main travel overview: Malawi.