After having heard me speak of my trips to Malawi, I think it's time for you to visit Malawi on your own. Many things are equal, with few small differences.
Dry season is, also, the period of the clearest water possible in the Lake.
Keep this in mind if, as I suspect, looking at cichlids in their real environment is your main aim. Another suggested option is KLM passing from Amsterdam. BA proved itself a bit cheaper. No further suggestions, simply check carefully what's going on where you happen to live. Any way, some extra precautions are worth taking.