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Basic Facts
Full Name : Republic of Malawi (formerly Nyasaland)Capital : Blantyre
Time : GMT +2 hours
Currency : Malawi Kwatcha (MK)
Language : Chichewa, English
Getting Around
Rail & BusBuses are more commonly used by tourists, as trains tend to be slow and crowded. There is a daily service from Blantyre to Balaka and twice-weekly services from Limbe to Nsanje and Balaka to Nayuchi on the Moçambiquan border. Buses are a reliable means of transport. A luxury air-conditioned bus operates three times daily between Lilongwe and Blantyre, and three times weekly between Lilongwe and Mzuzu. Express bus services operate regularly between major towns. Slow, crowded local services run along rural routes. Minibuses operate in and around most towns and villages and roads that the larger buses cannot access. Hitching is possible but slow and unreliable and most drivers will expect a small fee if they pick you up. The Ilala II ferry travels the length of the lake weekly on a six day cruise. It is used by locals as a novel bus, and by tourists as a relaxing way to explore the lake. Many hotels and lodges run transfers to and from the airports.
Airports
The major airports are:
Lilongwe Kamuzu International (LLW)
Blantyre Chileka (BLZ)
Major air links exist between Malawi and South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Moçambique, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Dubai, UK & Netherlands. There are a total of 45 airports within Malawi, of which only five are tarred. Reliable domestic services also serve Karonga, Mzuzu and Lakeshore. Private services can be chartered. Fares for this will depend on the number of passengers in your group. All foreign visitors leaving from any of the international airports are required to pay US$20 airport tax.
Roads
There is a total of 28,400km of highways, of which only 5,254 are tarred. The main route runs from the north through Mzuzu and Lilongwe to Blantyre. It is generally in good condition, but some areas are potholed. Secondary routes are usually gravel roads of varying conditions, some passable with four-wheel drive vehicles only. Always check on the road conditions before setting out on a trip, especially during the rainy season. Car hire is available in most towns. Be sure to check your car thoroughly before accepting it. An international driving license is required. Make inquiries as to the location and availability of petrol pumps. On all roads, even highways, be aware of bicycles and children crossing the roads, and for livestock and wildlife. Other drivers are major hazards too, Malawian drivers are notoriously bad. A good hooter is of utmost importance!
Passports and Visas
Entry Requirements(as at June 2000)
Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa: Commonwealth countries, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, USA Not many nationals require a visa, check with your nearest Malawian Consulate or Malawi Diplomatic Mission for the current visa requirements. Most visitors will receive a 30 day tourist pass. If you have a return ticket indicating that you require a longer period, you may easily get two or three months. Where visas are required, you will need an application form and two or three passport photographs. A visa costs around US$25. This is a guide only. Rules change regularly so please check with your nearest Malawian Consulate for up to date information.
General Accommodation Info
There is a huge variety of accommodation along the lakeshore and in the national parks. Upmarket hotels and lodges have full facilities, including TVs, telephones, etc. Some lodges have game drives. All other hotel and lodges are usually of excellent standard. Self-catering chalets and cabins and campsites are available with varying facilities. Self-catering usually includes the use of a communal kitchen, or a staffed kitchen, where your food is prepared to your specifications by cook.When To Go
The best time for game viewing is early May to late October. This is the dry season when vegetation is less dense. Also, there is a greater chance of seeing animals gathering at perennial water holes. July is the coolest month and it gets hotter later in the year. In May to July the landscape is at its best, though this means game viewing may not be. The best weather is in August, but as this is the month for school holidays, national parks and lodges on the lake become very crowded. During the rainy season (January to March) some roads become impassable, even by the toughest four-wheel drive vehicle. Bird-watching is good all year round, but most especially during October and November. These months can be very hot and very wet. Hiking is possible all year, but it is recommended that this not be undertaken in the wet season. August and September are the most comfortable times for climbing the Southern Highlands as the mountain air is crisp and cool.Currency
The unit of currency is the kwacha (MK) which is divided into 100 tambala. There are notes of Mk100, 50, 20, 10 & 5. Coins of Mk1, and 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 & 1 tambala.
Exchange Rate
You will find the exchange rate is in your favour. Visitors from North America, Australasia and Europe will find that items cost half or two thirds of what they are used to paying, and locally produced goods and food is even cheaper.
Banks
The major banks are the National Bank of Malawi and the Commercial Bank of Malawi. Both have branches in most towns throughout the country. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 13:00 or 14:00. In small towns they may only open two or three days a week. Traveller's cheques and major currencies can be exchanged in banks, hotels & other institutions. In remote areas, local district commissioner's offices will cash cheques. It is strongly discouraged to change money on the black market. The chances of money changing being a scam are high - a sure sign of this is an offer of a rate 10% higher than bank rates.
Major hotels have foreign exchange facilities and most shops, lodges and travel agencies will accept traveller's cheques.
Credit Cards
In the cities and major towns, credit cards are widely accepted. Major hotels also accept credit card payments. Note that US dollars, British pounds, German marks and South African rands are widely accepted.
It is advisable to always carry small change as this makes bargaining for curios easier. Your clothes, shoes and stationary can also be bartered in exchange for curios at markets and road side stalls.
