 Getting to Malawi - International flightsFrom South Africa:
There are daily flights on SAA from Johannesburg. Flight times also allow you to connect from Cape Town, Durban and other cities. Bottom line - leave home in the morning and by sunset you will be sipping a cold Carlsberg beer or Gin and Tonic as you gaze over the lake.
From Europe:
There are daily flights on Kenya Airways via Nairobi; and daily flights on Ethiopian Airways via Addis Ababa. Taking an overnight flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, and connecting from there is also an option.
All above-mentioned flights arrive in Malawi around midday, which leaves enough time transfer from the airport to your first lodge of choice. Malawi's two international airports in Lilongwe and Blantyre have been recently upgraded and are pretty efficient and welcoming. |
 Getting there from within MalawiPre-booked road transfers:
Pre-arrange a road transfer from the airport (or any other pick-up point) in Malawi's main centres of Lilongwe and Blantyre; from any nearby lodge or National Park; or from the nearest airfield at Club Makokola.
Self-drive:
Cape Maclear is an enclave within the Lake Malawi National Park, and is 25km from Monkey Bay (the nearest town). Excellent new tarred roads lead to Monkey Bay, and a scenic winding dirt raod takest you the final 18km to the National Park and beach. All turn-offs are well sign-posted, and 4x4 vehicles are not required. Secure parking is available at all Cape Maclear lodges.
By air:
Catch a private air charter from Lilongwe/Blantyre to the lakeshore airstrip at Club Makokola, followed by a road transfer for the remaining 50km to Cape Maclear. The flying time from Lilongwe/Blantyre to Club Makokola is 40 minutes, and the driving time from there to Cape Maclear is one hour.
Public transport:
A great way for some cultural exposure, and cheap but slow and steady. There is an extensive bus and minibus taxi network in Malawi, with many vehicles moving each day between all towns. Allow a full day to get from Lilongwe or Blantyre to Cape Maclear, with the route almost always going via Monkey Bay.
By boat or yacht:
It is possible to travel to Cape Maclear by boat or yacht charter from, for example Senga Bay or Likoma Island. |
 Driving to Malawi from South AfricaThis is a highly recommended African safari. The road network between South Africa and Malawi offers at least three main routes, making a circular trip a good option. The most direct and quickest route is via Harare (Zimbabwe) and Tete (Mozambique); and the two "up the wing" options are either up the Mozambique coast, or through Namibia/Botswana and then Zambia. With good tar roads all the way a 4x4 vehicle is not required. To get the most out of the journey a total of about three weeks are required. This will allow you plenty of time to stop and enjoy iconic spots en route such as Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta. |
