Lilongwe , Malawi ( CNN ) -- Despite a majestic lake stretching through its eastern border that gives way to beautiful beaches , Malawi is the African country less-traveled . But it 's the place to be if you want to enjoy a natural paradise without everybody else . Though it has n't become a booming destination like Tanzania , Kenya or South Africa , Malawi has numerous attractions . Named one of the top 10 places to go in 2014 by Lonely Planet , Malawi is one of the lesser known destinations on the travel guide 's annual list , which includes Brazil , Sweden and the Seychelles . The country is touted for its wildlife and beaches . But there 's more to Malawi than animal parks , warm sands and Madonna 's adoptions . 1 . The locals are friendly . Called the `` Warm Heart of Africa , '' in the native language , Malawi locals exude friendliness . It 's common for strangers to wave and greet visitors as if they know them . And it 's easy to make them smile with a `` moni '' ( pronounced mo-nee , not money ) , which means hello in Chichewa , the local language , and `` Zikomo '' ( thank you ) . Curious kids often come by to say hi and see what you 're up to . The refrain I heard repeatedly was , `` Welcome . You are welcome . '' Although overt friendliness often arouses suspicion in the world traveler , especially when someone 's trying to sell you tchotckes , there 's hardly any hawking or selling of tacky souvenirs in Malawi -- the people are genuinely friendly . Founded in 1964 , Malawi has never experienced a civil war . 2 . It 's not crowded . You can enjoy the pristine views of massive Lake Malawi -- known locally as Lake Nyasa , it 's the ninth largest lake in the world -- without having your perfect day wrecked by a bunch of vacationers blasting horrible music . Instead , you 'll hear restaurants jamming 1990s pop music such as the Backstreet Boys -- ca n't win them all . Another perk : you wo n't have to jostle for reservations at hotels , restaurants or game parks . Most of the travelers you 'll likely encounter in Malawi are tobacco businessmen or NGO workers -- nary a tourist in sight . Even the capital of Lilongwe has the relaxed vibe of a garden . There are few cars and you can walk to places without feeling overwhelmed or fearful of getting run over . ( The country 's commercial capital of Blantyre is much busier . ) You can go from the high life of the Kumbali Country Lodge , where Madonna stays , or sleep in more budget accommodations . 3 . Lake Malawi is spectacular . Although Malawi is landlocked , its giant , freshwater lake is its life blood . The sunny beaches of Lake Malawi are golden and the waters are nearly empty except for a few boats . Lake Malawi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It 's home to the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world , thought to be between 500 and 1,000 , according to UNESCO . It 's perfect for freshwater snorkeling and diving in clear water . The lake draws in a variety of bird species , as well as hippos , warthogs , baboons and occasional elephants . Not bad company to enjoy the water with ( maybe not the hippos ) . 4 . Rehabilitated game parks and natural reserves . Tour companies offer safaris in parks and reserves that include eco-friendly trips , mountain biking , horseback riding and traditional housing stays . One of the best known parks is Majete Wildlife Reserve , which became a target for poaching that continued into the 1990s . By the 2000s , thanks to a partnership between the government and a non-profit organization , the park was repopulated and rehabilitated . The Big Five ( elephant , rhino , lion , leopard , buffalo ) can be viewed here . `` Malawi is not a wildlife destination , it 's not Masai Mara , but that 's changing , '' says Rob McConaghy of Ulendo , a travel group operating in Malawi . `` Majete National Park is run as a private park and has reintroduced so much game , you can see the Big Five now . '' 5 . Easygoing vibe . Malawi is , in large part , a place of peace and quiet , without the traffic jams and hassles of city life . The country is largely rural ; only 15.7 % of the population live in urban areas . Clear skies and bright stars make it thrilling for star gazers . The trend is toward self-drive holidays -- visitors rent cars and drive themselves through the country . `` As a country , people perceive Malawi being safe , stable and peaceful , '' says McConaghy . `` It gives an impression of a nice , warm friendly country to travel in . ''
Malawi was named one of the top 10 places to visit in 2014 by Lonely Planet . It 's noted for its wildlife and beaches . Malawi has friendly people , an easygoing vibe , Lake Malawi and good game parks .