WHAT OUR FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FILM LOCATIONS IN MALAWI, AFRICA
Malawi is best known for its natural beauty and African wildlife. The country runs the length of Lake Malawi along the Great Rift Valley added to its hilly landscape this region offers a diversity of film locations ranging from lush rainforests, to highlands, to plains, to dramatic river valleys.. Lake Malawi is home to more species of fish than any other lake.
Tobacco, cotton, tea, sugarcane, corn, and coffee plantations are on offer as agricultural film locations. Malawi mines uranium and coal.
Malawi has hosted productions including The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019), and Gabriel and the Mountain (2017).
Film locations can be divided into the following regions:
The Central Region includes the districts of Dedza, Dowa, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Mchinji, Nkhotakota, Ntcheu, Ntchisi, and Salima with Lilongwe being the capital. Wildlife Reserve in this regions is known for its miombo forests and fauna such as elephants, hippopotamus, baboons, leopards, buffalo and zebras.Ntchisi Forest Reserve is one of the last remaining patches of tropical rainforest in southern Africa. The reserve is home to a diversity of birds and monkeys, and rare flora such as orchids, forest mushrooms, and wild figs.
In the north we have the districts of Chitipa, Karonga, Likoma, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay, and Rumphi. Chintheche has some of Lake Malawi’s best beaches and Likoma Island in Lake Malawi is known for St Peter’s Cathedral.This region also offer national parks which are known for its grassland, forest and wooded valleys which are home to elephants, leopards, buffalos, zebras, and a diversity of birds. The rainy season brings over 200 types of orchid to flower. Manchewe Waterfalls plunge 125m into a valley below.
Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mwanza, Nsanje, Thyolo, Phalombe, Zomba, and Neno are in the south.Lake Malawi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its diversity of freshwater tropical fish and birdlife. Cape Maclear, located in the park is known for its beautiful beaches and resorts.Lake Chilwa is the country’s second largest lake. Its shallow waters are home to a variety of bird life. Other wild life reserves in this region are home to a large numbers of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, lions, cheetahs, giraffe, buffalo, black rhino, lion,antelope and hyena.
Zomba Plateau is a massif known for its cedar, pine and cypress forests, as well as lakes and waterfalls. The sweeping landscape views from the peak can be accessed by vehicle. Nearby waterfalls of note include Williams Falls and Mandala Falls.
Mulanje massif is the country’s highest peak.
Blantyre is Malawi’s financial centre. St Michael and All Angels Church is an interesting location in Blantyre.
The Thyolo Tea Estates are in the area between Mulanje and Blantyre.