Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa, is one of the continent's best loved holiday destinations and though not as regularly visited as Tanzania, Kenya or South Africa, once you've been you'll be itching to return.

It's a land of varied landscapes, from high wetlands to grassy plains and dusty savannas. Safaris are a popular choice. You'll find some of Africa's classic large mammals here too, with elephants and leopards and even black rhinos prowling the country's numerous national parks. Even the Malawi capital of Lilongwe gets in on the action, with a wildlife sanctuary that's well worth a visit.

And then of course, there's a rather large pond to consider... Think Malawi and most people will think of Lake Malawi, the enormous expanse of fresh water that dominates the eastern flank of the country. Africa's third largest lake is also one of it's deepest and oldest, supporting an extraordinary array of aquatic life - there are more believed to be more species of fish in Lake Malawi than any other lake in the world. This in turn helps support Malawi's 600 species of bird.

To the mix, add a population of smiling, friendly people and you'll start to realise why Malawi holidays can be so special. The scenery is immense, the wildlife too in this charming, warm heart of Africa.