Climate au Malawi
Malawi enjoys a tropical climate, with temperatures and rainfall varying according to season and altitude. There are three seasons: between November-December and March-April, the climate is hot and humid, the rainy season. Downpours are frequent, and storms on Lake Malawi can be impressive. The landscape is lush and green, and the Nyika Plateau becomes a breeding ground for orchids. The rains are preceded by two to three dry and often torrid months (September, October and sometimes November), particularly on the shores of Lake Malawi and in the lower Shire valley, where temperatures can reach 40° C. From April to August, i.e. during the austral winter, the climate is mild and dry on the lowland plains, but the high plateaus (Mulanje, Zomba, Nyika and Viphya) are dominated by coolness and even coldness (sub-zero temperatures are not uncommon, especially at night).
Regional climatic features
Malawi can be visited all year round. During the rainy season, from November to April, nature turns green, flowers bloom and tourist numbers are lower. Violent squalls, however, can make many trails impassable and outdoor activities uncertain. Above 1,000 metres, the weather is fine all year round, but on the high plateaus, as in the north on the slopes of Mount Mulanje, rainfall is frequent. The climate is hot and humid along the lake and downstream of the Shire, with daytime highs of 27 to 29°C in the Lilongwe area and much lower in the south. The rest of the country is milder and less humid during these months, with an average daytime maximum of around 25°C.
During the austral winter, i.e. between April and August, mild temperatures prevail during the day and evenings are cool, but it almost never rains. Night frosts are to be expected at higher altitudes. From June to August, the lake and southern regions are pleasant, with daytime highs averaging 23°C, but elsewhere it can be cool at night (10 to 14°C), as in the high-altitude regions of Mulanje and Nyika (6 to 8°C) - from June to July. Karonga in the far north experiences little variation in temperature, with daytime highs remaining around 25 to 26°C throughout the year. However, April and May rarely see a peak in humidity, due to strong southerly winds from the lake. This dry season is undoubtedly the most pleasant for visiting the country.
September and October are dry and (very) hot, and temperatures can become scorching in the lowlands: nevertheless, this is the best time to observe the rich local birdlife.
Seasonal tourism
In Malawi, the highest temperatures are recorded in October-November, and the lowest in June-July. Temperature extremes are 28°C and 10°C on the plateaus and 32°C to 14°C on the Rift Valley plains. Dress for the season, and bear in mind that temperatures are strongly influenced by altitude. We can't stress this enough: winter evenings, nights and early mornings can be cold on the Malawian plateaus. Whatever the season, you'll need a swimsuit, hat, sandals and walking shoes, Bermuda shorts, cotton shirts and T-shirts, pullovers, pants or long skirts for the evenings, cotton socks, k-way or poncho (useful even in the dry season in the immediate vicinity of waterfalls). In the dry season, particularly between May and August: windbreaker, fleece, thick socks, gloves, scarf and hat can be useful for excursions to the Nyika heights and Mulanje peaks.
