Our list of Malawi's finest hotels, lodges and tented camps - properties we consider truly special and recommend to our clients.

Malawi cannot compare with many other wildlife destinations in east and southern Africa however the country's beauty and warmth make it a very unique destination – especially as an extension to a wildlife viewing safari. Tourism infrastructure is good and a variety of activities and habitats are on offer – from kayaking on Lake Malawi to horse back riding on misty mountain tops.

Kaya Mawa, Likoma Island, Malawi – Likoma Island is the larger of two small islands situated in the far north of Lake Malawi, very close to the Mozambique coastline. To visit the island is to step back in time. Just 17 square kilometers with one small dirt road and two vehicles, the local people survive largely by fishing, and rice and cassava farming. The island has hundreds of huge baobab trees and a number of glorious sandy beaches and rocky coves. The waters are crystal clear throughout the year and the diving and snorkeling is among the best in Lake Malawi. Kaya Mawa Lodge is situated on the south-western tip of the island at the head of a crescent-shaped bay, surrounded by mango trees and ancient baobabs. Translated as “Maybe tomorrow” in the local Tonga dialect, the lodge uses the stunning natural surroundings of beach, rock, island and lake to create a lodge of unique character, imagination and very special ambience. With no machinery available on the island, Kaya Mawa Lodge was built entirely by hand, in partnership with the local community. It consists of ten stone and teak-framed thatched cottages set into a granite headland. There is a honeymoon house tucked away on its own private island that is reached by boat or a wooden walkway. Each cottage faces the lake and has a 7x6 foot mahogany four-poster bed, a shower, a sunken stone bathtub and a toilet with a view. The view from the shower in the honeymoon suite defies description. All the cottages have private terraces with direct access to the water and some can only be reached by walkways built over the lake. The stunning setting of the lodge and the unique comfort of the rooms means that many guests choose to make relaxation their main activity, but enough activities are on offer to keep guests busy. Besides lazing by the pool or on the beach guests may scuba dive (including Padi diving courses), snorkel, swim, sail, fish, mountain bike or stroll through the villages, en-route to the famous Anglican Cathedral. Day trips to Mozambique can also be arranged.