Travel guide – malawi

malawi
Go back to travel guide home

Overview

Promoted as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’, Malawi is a long, thin country renowned for the unequalled friendliness of its people, unspoilt national parks and wildlife reserves, and the beaches and tropical fish life of Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa. It is dominated by the vast lake, as well as the Great Rift Valley that cuts through the country from north to south, creating fertile valleys, cool mountains and verdant plateaus.

Lake Malawi is an irresistible attraction for travellers, with its beaches, resorts, watersports and outstanding variety of fish life a magnet for divers and snorkellers. The lake is home to a bigger variety of fish species than any other freshwater lake on earth, most of them protected within the Lake Malawi National Park at its southern tip. Most visitors head for the small, restful village at Cape Maclear, which along with its offshore islands, is part of the park. Equally popular, Nkhata Bay to the north has bays, beaches and various water activities. Spread along the length of the lakeshore are numerous traditional fishing villages, and the fishermen in their dugout canoes form a quintessential postcard silhouette against the spectacular golden sunset.

Malawi is also blessed with numerous game reserves and national parks that are uncrowded, well stocked with animals and a renowned variety of birdlife, and offer a unique wilderness experience. The northern Nyika Plateau, at around 7,500ft (2,300m), is one of the world’s highest game reserves and is a remote area located in the most unspoilt and least visited part of the country, with beautiful grasslands and waterfalls, the highest concentration of leopard in Central Africa, and famous for its abundant orchid species. To the south the best-known park is Liwonde National Park with thousands of hippos and crocodiles on the banks of the Shire River, as well as large numbers of elephants, zebra and antelope.

The southern part of the country is the most developed and the most populated. Although Lilongwe is the capital, the region is home to Malawi’s largest city and main commercial centre, Blantyre, which is a good base for visiting two of the area’s attractions – the vast massif of Mt Mulunje, offering some of the finest hiking trails in the country, and Zomba Plateau.

Malawi has remained peaceful for over a century, unaffected by war and internal strife that has torn many other African countries apart, and although poor and densely populated, the country offers visitors a wealth of scenic highlights, culture and activities.

Climate

Winter is the best time to visit, coinciding with the dry season, and lasts from May to October. June and July are the coolest months with average daytime temperatures of 70ºF (21ºC), and cold nights especially in the highlands. The dry season is also the best time for game viewing and hiking. November to April is the hot, humid rainy season with more rain falling on the higher plateaus than around the lake, and Fahrenheit temperatures reaching into the 90s (mid-30s). Some roads may become impassable during heavy rains.

Health

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers coming from an infected area. Malaria is prevalent all year round and advice should be sought on what prophylactics are best. There is a risk of bilharzia in certain parts of Lake Malawi, particularly where the water is shallow and stagnant - advice should be sought from local authorities. Immunisation against typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus, rabies and polio is recommended. Tsetse flies carrying sleeping sickness exist in some of the national parks. HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent. It is advisable to drink bottled water, which is widely available, as drinking water may not be safe especially in the rural areas. Hospitals are available in the large towns, but medical facilities are basic, immediate cash payment for medical services is often required, and some medicines may be in short supply; medical insurance is strongly advised.

The basics

Time

Local time is GMT +2.

Electricity

Electrical current is 220/240 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, rectangular blade plugs are standard.

Language

English is the official language, but Chichewa is more commonly spoken.

Tipping

Service charges are not included in hotel and restaurant bills, and tipping is at the client's discretion. It is common practice to tip guides in the national parks.

Safety

Malawi is considered a safe country in which to travel and the majority of visits are trouble-free, but sensible precautions should be taken with regards to personal possessions and security, particularly after dark. There have been reports of robberies, money scams involving tourists, and 4x4 vehicles being hijacked; also be alert for muggers and bag snatchers. In Lilongwe the majority of incidents take place on Kenyatta Drive and around the bus station, so visitors should be particularly vigilant in these areas.

Customs

It is courteous to ask permission before taking photographs of people.

Communications

The international dialling code for Malawi is +265. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). There are no area codes. The telephone system is not very reliable, but Internet, email and fax are available in most towns and tourist areas. The GSM 900 cell phone network gives coverage to most of the country and is compatible with most international operators.

Duty Free

Travellers to Malawi do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 225g of tobacco. For travellers over 16 years 1 litre spirits, 1 litre beer and 1 litre wine can be brought into the country without incurring duty fees.

top of page