Malawi

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Malawi is the ‘warm heart of Africa’: a sliver of a country hemmed in by Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and Botswana, Malawi is home to some of the continent’s most welcoming people. Malawi is relatively small – which means travelling around isn’t too arduous, as distances are never that big – but packed with varied terrain.

Dominating Malawi is 560km-long Lake Malawi, which is lined with some stunning beaches and fascinating villages, and offers great snorkelling. Away from the lake, Malawi has some of Africa’s least-sung wildlife hotspots – Liwonde, the beautiful park hugging the Shire River in the country’s south, is packed with elephants and other animals, but few tourists.

Other wilderness areas, including the ravines around Mount Mulanje, the marshes of Vwaza and the Nyika Plateau, are even less visited. The history here is rich, too: missionary David Livingstone left his mark, and there are towns and memorials bearing references to him all over Malawi.

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Lilongwe
Lilongwe, Malawi

It was a simple trading center in the late 50’s, having spawned no famous leader, recorded no historic event, and having no entries in the book of facts that would highlight its background. Yet, Lilongwe rested directly in the center of the country that was soon to become an independent nation, and was in the region of the man who would become the first president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi

The southern city of Blantyre is the oldest European settlement in the country and a bustling center of commercial activity. The Blantyre Mission was founded in 1876 and named after the small village where David Livingston was born. Climate, combined with rich fields drew the Europeans to the settlement and Blantyre grew in stature as a center for trade between Lake Malawi on the northeast and the Zambezi River Valley to the south.

Zomba
Zomba, Malawi

Until 1975 the southern city of Zomba was the capital of the nation. Although the capital was moved north to Lilongwe after the departure of the British Zomba still remained the home of the Parliament until 1994 when the government officials finally made the move complete to Lilongwe in the central region. Zomba is 40 miles north of the commercial center of Blantyre and is situated at the foot of Zomba Mountain. With a population of around 100,000 Zomba maintains a pleasant old world charm accented by a cluster of old colonial buildings and wooded slopes that lead up to the mountain.

Mzuzu
Mzuzu, Malawi

Less than fifty years ago the name Mzuzu was only associated with a stream running through the rural countryside of the northern part of Malawi. Today it refers to the capital city of the northern region. A settlement standing by the junction of the lakeshore road (M5) and Malawi’s main north-south highway (M1), Mzuzu hosts a population of approximately 120,000 which makes it the third largest city in the nation

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Location

Malawi is located in southeast Africa, landlocked between Mozambique to the east and south, Zambia to the west, and Tanzania to the north. Malawi is separated from Mozambique and Tanzania to a large extent by Lake Malawi, which lies on the country's eastern edge.

Transportation

Malawi’s International Airport “Kamuzu International Airport” is located 20 km away from Lilongwe. Getting to Malawi by plane can be a bit time-consuming as you need to switch planes quite often. However, it is probably the most convenient way. To find the best flight deals, we can honestly recommend Skyscanner. Another time-consuming way to travel to Malawi Africa is by bus. There are busses like Inter Cape, Kobs Bus or the local mini busses from Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa going to Malawi.

Languages Spoken

There are 16 listed languages in Malawi. Chichewa is the most widely spoken language in Malawi, mostly in the central and southern regions of the country. It can be understood by almost everyone. To communicate in English is not a problem at all as English is spoken by almost everyone. 

Currency

The local currency is Malawian Kwacha (MWK) but USD is accepted almost everywhere. One of the best advises I can give is to sort out your money once you are in the bigger cities like Lilongwe, Mzuzu or Blantyre. Especially at Cape MaClear, Kande Beach, and Nkhata Bay, we experienced problems with withdrawing money. Either the ATM´s wouldn’t accept Master Card (only visa), didn´t work, had a daily limit or there was no ATM at all. Also, don´t rely on the card machine in the hostels/hotels. They might not always work.

Visas

Some nationalities need a visa to travel Malawi. Some can also obtain their Tourist visa on arrival. Since Germany is part of the countries that can obtain their visa on arrival I got my straight at the airport in Lilongwe. Especially for the payment at the airport make sure you have a credit card with you or U.S. dollar to pay for the visa. I paid about $70 dollar. Here you can check whichever is the case for your nationality.

Electricity

Electricity in Malawi is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Malawi with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

Vaccinations

Malaria prophylaxis is necessary in Malawi and you should be up to date with other inoculations such as tetanus and typhoid. Bilharzia, a water-borne parasitic infection, is present in Lake Malawi. You’re more susceptible to the parasite if you swim close to shore in silty areas.

Hippos and crocs are a danger: both come out at dusk to graze and hunt. Don't approach them and never swim in Lake Malawi after 4pm.

Emergency Calls

Emergency Telephone Numbers


Police: 997
Fire: 999
Medical: 998

When to visit
Best time to visit the destination

Mid-November to late April is hot and wet in Malawi; the rains may make some roads impassable, but they also make the vegetation lush and green. May to August is cooler and dry; September to mid-November is warm, dry and great for wildlife viewing as the sparse bush makes animals easier to spot. October sees the Lake of Stars Festival hit the beaches of Lake Malawi. October/November is the best time for birdwatchers to visit Malawi, as European migrant species are passing through.

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Majete Wildlife Reserve

Since African Parks took over management of this rugged wilderness on the western bank of the Shire River in 2003, things have really been looking up. There are now more than 3000 animals in the reserve, most translocated from other parks in Malawi and elsewhere in Southern Africa, including lions, hyenas, sable antelope, nyalas, black rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, hippos and leopards.

Lake Malawi National Park

Much of the area around Cape Maclear, including several offshore islands, is part of Lake Malawi National Park, one of Africa's few freshwater aquatic parks and a Unesco World Heritage Site. When organising activities on the lake, check if prices include the park entrance fee. 

Liwonde National Park

With its lodges and safari activities, Liwonde is the closest thing Malawi has to a traditional wildlife park. Dominating the west, the Shire River overflows with hippos and crocodiles and is a favourite stomping ground for the 500-plus elephants. Waterbucks are also common near the water, while beautiful sable and roan antelopes, zebras and elands populate the floodplains.

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve

Comprising 1800 sq km of rough, inhospitable terrain – dense miombo (moist woodland), bush and evergreens – and a couple of navigable roads, this reserve has been undergoing a renaissance. Once poached, abandoned and encroached upon by human settlements, its fortunes have improved thanks to increased funding, two lodges, and management by African Parks, which was halfway through a historic reintroduction of 500 elephants in late 2016. There are also roan and sable antelopes here, buffaloes, baboons, waterbucks, leopards and even occasional itinerant lions.

Nyika National Park

Malawi's oldest reserve is easily one of the most magical experiences in any trip to the country. Towering over 2000m above sea level, the Nyika Plateau is enigmatic; one moment its rolling grasslands recall the Yorkshire Dales, but then an antelope leaps across your bonnet, you note the nearby mound of steaming elephant dung and you remember you're in Africa (and that Nyika is home to a very large population of leopards!).

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