The Seasons

In general, mid-December to mid-April is the ‘rainy season’. This time of year brings long heavy rains usually for a few hours in the early morning followed by sunny skies and crisp air. This is the greenest, most beautiful time of year in Malawi, although there can be stretches of several days of seemingly ceaseless rains!

Mid-May to the end of July is the ‘windy season’ at the lake and winter in the mountains’ main towns. This is the least appealing time for water sports enthusiasts as the lake is often rough with waves crashing over the boulders. It is an excellent time to travel in the country, however, as the air is cool, the skies are sunny and there is usually a gentle breeze in the villages. Many photographers feel this is the best time to visit Malawi as the landscape is still green yet the rains have cleared.

The ‘hot, dry season’ starts at the end of July and continues through until December when the rains begin again. Daily temperatures average 30-32°C (85-90°F) and there is virtually no humidity. Evenings are calm, comfortable and ideally tropical.

Having said this, things are changing gradually due to ‘global warming’ and the weather can sometimes be rather unpredictable.