Malawi shares borders with Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. I travelled into Malawi by bus through the Zambian border. Whether you’re in the North, South or central Malawi, you learn something fascinating about the local tribe and customs. Malawi is such a beautiful country with its beaches, mountains and abundant wildlife. I spent two weeks exploring this amazing country and can’t wait to get back, the time I spent horse riding on Kande beach was some of the best moments of my trip.
Best time to Visit
Malawi’s diverse landscape means regional variations in the weather are significant. The lower lying lake shore areas are warmer all year round, while temperatures in the uplands are cool in the day with chilly evenings; mainly in winter. The best time to visit is all year round.
Things to do and see
- Lake Malawi: The Lake plays an important role in Malawi’s economy. Fishing villages are spread across the shore using the lake as a means of income. There are also long stretches of golden uninhabited sand, were tourist can Kayak, sail, snorkel, scuba dive and water ski.
- Climb Mulanje Massif: For a unique experience consider hiking the 3,200ft Mulanje mountain, in the south of Malawi. Permits and guides are needed to hike on Mulanje, lots of information is available in Mulanje town.
- Liwonde National Park: is situated in the south of Malawi, close to the Mozambique border. The park covers 548km. Not as popular as neighbouring safaris in Africa, but a great place to spot the big five.
- Kande Beach: Is worth the visit completely unspoiled in the northern region of Malawi. An oasis for water sports, horse riding and simply relaxing on the white sandy beaches.
Food and drink
Malawi’s staple food is a form of thick porridge, rolled into balls and dipped into a variety of beef, chicken and fish stews. Those who can’t afford meat eat mainly beans with tiny dried fish and vegetables. Majority restaurants do not serve pork to accommodate the large Muslim population.
Transportation
Air: Airports in Lilongwe and Blantyre deal with international flights from Ethiopia, Nairobi, Kenya and South Africa. There are no directs flights from London to Malawi, you must connect to one of these countries. There are also flights to Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe from Malawi.
Roads: The roads in the big cities are well maintained, however, in the rural areas the roads can be difficult to drive in the wet season.
Ferry: There are limited ferry service on Lake Malawi which include stops in Tanzania and Mozambique. There are also water taxi’s on Lake Malawi.
Taxi: Licensed and unlicensed taxi’s operate in Malawi. Always be prepared to negotiate the price before starting your ride.
Visa
Visas for Malawi are required by all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals; You can obtain a Visa on arrival.
Languages
The official language of Malawi is Chichewa and English. However, there are many tribal languages spoken also.
Racism/Sexism/Discrimination
Social etiquette
Conservative casual wear is generally acceptable everywhere, due to the large Muslim population. Malawians are friendly people. Do not take pictures of people without asking permission. Photography within airports and of military installations is not permitted.
money
The currency of Malawi is the Kwacha (MWK). Credit cards are not widely accepted in Malawi, even at many of the lodges and hotels, and there are few ATM machines. I would therefore recommend you bring lots of cash to exchange with you.
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory but always enthusiastically received if you are happy with the service and would like to tip.
Adaptor
Malawi uses the same plug as in the UK, three rectangular pins. Malawi operates on a 230V supply and 50Hz voltage.
Wifi
There are a few internet cafes in Malawi. Major hotels have free internet access.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 