Malawi in April

Shoulder season: green hills, clearing skies; Easter brings local travel.

April is rated good. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatDry season starts; lake visibility improves for snorkelling at Cape Maclear.
• JuneGreatCool nights, clear days; good month for Mulanje and Nyika.
• JulyGreatEuropean holidays fill lodges; 6 July Independence Day.
• AugustGreatPeak season: calm lake, good game at Liwonde; book beds early.

• Lakeshore · Cape Maclear, Senga Bay, Nkhata Bay, Likomafine

  Lake water is clearest and calmest May–Oct; the mwera wind from the south-east can whip up waves Jun–Aug. Oct–Nov is very hot at 500 m.

• Shire valley parks · Liwonde, Majete, Lengwefine

  Game concentrates on the Shire River as the bush dries Aug–Nov; October can pass 40 °C (104 °F). Some tracks close in the rains.Game concentrates on the Shire River as the bush dries Aug–Nov; October can pass 104 °F (40 °C). Some tracks close in the rains.

• Highlands and plateaus · Zomba, Mulanje, Nyika, Viphyafine

  Cold nights Jun–Aug (frost on Nyika); Mulanje hut routes are wet and slippery Dec–Mar.

• Central plateau and cities · Lilongwe, Dedza, Blantyrefine

  Pleasant dry winters; storms Dec–Mar and power and fuel shortages at any time.

• Central Malawi: Central Malawi plateau · Lilongwe areadry

  Dry season May–Nov, 20‑30 °C (86 °F); occasional thunderstorms Dec–Mar.Dry season May–Nov, 20‑86 °F (30 °C); occasional thunderstorms Dec–Mar.

• Northern Malawi: Northern lakeshore · Lake Malawi coastdry

  May–Nov are dry with cooler evenings; rain peaks Dec–Mar.

• Southern Malawi: Southern Malawi · Blantyre, Zomba, Mulanje, Lake Malawi shoreaugust

  Dry season; reliable roads, good wildlife viewing and pleasant lake conditions. Hot Dec–Mar can exceed 30 °C (86 °F).Dry season; reliable roads, good wildlife viewing and pleasant lake conditions. Hot Dec–Mar can exceed 86 °F (30 °C).

• Lilongwe26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 rain days
• Blantyre18 °C (64 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 46 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 46 rain days
• Cape Maclear26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
• Chikwawa29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 7 rain days
• Chintheche27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Chitimba29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 10 rain days
• Chizumulu Island28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
• Karonga25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
• Likoma Island26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
• Livingstonia26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 10 rain days
• Mangochi27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• Monkey Bay27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 6 rain days
• Mua25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
• Mzuzu26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 9 rain days
• Nkhata Bay29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 14 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 14 rain days
• Nkhotakota27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• Zomba26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 12 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Easter (Good Friday, Easter Monday)

  Mar–Apr (moves yearly)

  Long weekend; lake resorts and buses busy.

• Eid al-Fitr

  Varies (lunar)

  Public holiday; Muslim lakeshore towns such as Mangochi celebrate.

Crowds · Malawi

Low

Prices · Malawi

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Malawi, side by side.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Lilongwe

  Green, drying out.

• Zomba

  Best months: Apr–Oct