“Check in now before the crowds do” is the advice from the travel experts Rough Guides as they announce Malawi as #3 in their Places to Visit in 2018.

Each year, Rough Guides authors and editors travel tens of thousands of miles, searching out the best destinations, sights and experiences, from new trekking routes and historical trails to underrated cities and conservation success stories, this week they revealed 18 places that should be on your radar in 2018 and Malawi came in at number 3 – number 1 for Africa.

Rough Guides comment that whilst Malawi has always been known as “the warm heart of Africa” because of its friendly, welcoming people, “Malawi is fast gaining a reputation as a fabulous safari destination too.” Three of its reserves – Majete, Liwonde and Nkhotakota – are now run by conservation organisation African Parks which has been busy regenerating them and reintroducing wildlife.

Today, Majete is home to all of the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard), which roam its lush rolling hills and riverine landscapes.

This year also saw Liwonde welcome cheetah as new residents to its game-rich plains dominated by the beautiful Shire River snaking its way through the park. More predators, including lions, are due in 2018. And following the world’s biggest ever translocation of elephants, wonderfully wild and rugged Nkhotakota became home to 500 elephants translocated from Majete and Liwonde.

As well as having superb Lake, Landscape, Culture and now Wildlife experiences, Malawi is warm and welcoming and still untouched and unspoilt by mass tourism – offering the ideal opportunity to experience real Africa. This Rough Guides accolade confirms Malawi’s emergence as one of Africa’s ‘hottest’ and most complete destinations.