Malawi

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Overview

Malawi is becoming well known for the number of activities it can offer visitors. Wildlife and game viewing in the national parks are especially attractive to those wanting to experience trekking and viewing in entirely natural surroundings without tarred roads filled with convoys of 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Malawi has nine national parks and wildlife reserves but six are especially recommended for visitors. There are also many attractive and accessible forest reserves. All the parks and reserves are uncrowded and give visitors an excellent experience of unspoilt wilderness.

Area - 118,484 sq km (45,747 sq miles).
Population - 12 million (UN estimate 2003).
Population Density - 649 per sq km.
Capital - Lilongwe. Population: 597,619 including suburbs (2003). Blantyre-Limbe, with a population of 646,235 (2003) is the largest city in the country.
Government - Republic since 1966. Gained independence from the UK in 1964.
Language - The national language is the widely spoken Chichewa but the official language, and that of the business community, is English.
Religion - 80% are Christian, 13% Muslim, 7% follow traditional beliefs and there is a small Hindu minority.
Time - GMT + 2.
Social Conventions - Despite the large number of tribal backgrounds in the Malawi population, integration is well established and visitors need not be aware of any social differences. The white population is very small in number. There are some religious differences, most noticeable among the Muslim population and especially as far as alcohol consumption is concerned. Malawians place emphasis on the importance of shaking hands on meeting and departing. The special handshake, which includes grasping the thumb and putting the other hand on the forearm, is best avoided unless practised. Children and some women may curtsey as a greeting or if being made a presentation. Offering a soft drink to a visitor is common at meetings. Malawians tend to be conventional rather than casual in their dress, especially in formal gatherings. The strict dress code of Dr Banda's days are gone but modest dress should be worn unless at the beach or playing sport.
Electricity - 230 volts AC, 50Hz. The standard plug is square three-pin.
Head of State - President Bingu Wa Mutharika since 2004.

Culture

Food and Drink
Hotel restaurants and many of those in the cities are of a good standard. They offer a wide choice of dishes including European, Korean and Chinese as well as authentic Malawi dishes and haute cuisine. Poultry and dairy produce are plentiful and tropical fruits are abundant in season.
National specialities:
o Fresh fish from Lake Malawi is the country's speciality, chambo (Tilapia fish) being the main lake delicacy.
o There are trout from streams on the Zomba, Mulanje and Nyika plateaux.
National drinks:
o The local beer is very good.
o Malawi gin and tonic is well known and inexpensive, with almost cult status.

Tipping: Generally not expected, but some employees who are very poorly paid might appreciate a small tip for good service.

Nightlife
There is little nightlife in the European or US sense. Some restaurants have entertainment as do some of the hotels but outside Blantyre and Lilongwe this will usually take the form of a display of dancing during or after dinner at the lakeshore hotels.

Shopping
Malawi produces a variety of colourful arts and crafts. Items are invariably handmade and there is no factory production of curios. Purchases include woodcarvings, wood and cane furniture, soapstone carvings, decorated wooden articles, colourful textiles, pottery, beadwork, cane and raffia items. The standard of woodcarving is one of the highest in Africa. The Mua Mission, south of Salima, where carvers are trained, has an excellent shop. Traditional musical instruments are also sold throughout Malawi.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1700. Markets and roadside stalls trade every day.

Environment

Climate - Varies from cool in the highlands to warm around Lake Malawi. Winter (May to July) is dry and nights can be chilly, particularly in the highlands. The rainy season runs from November to March. Around Lake Malawi, in winter, the climate is particularly dry with pleasant cooling breezes.
Required Clothing
Lightweights are worn all year in the Lake Malawi area, with warmer clothes advised in the mountains, particularly during winter and on chilly evenings elsewhere. Visitors to Nyika and Zomba should note that the nights can be cold. Dark or 'natural' coloured clothing should be worn for game viewing.

Malawi shares borders to the north and northeast with Tanzania, to the south, east and southwest with Mozambique and to the west with Zambia. Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa, is the dominant feature of the country, forming the eastern boundary with Tanzania and Mozambique. The scenery varies in the country's three regions. The Northern Region is mountainous, with the highest peaks reaching over 2,500m (8,200ft), and features the rolling Nyika Plateau, rugged escarpments, valleys and the thickly forested slopes of the Viphya Plateau. The Central Region is mainly a plateau, over 1,000m (3,300ft) high, with fine upland scenery. This is the country's main agricultural area. The Southern Region is mostly low-lying except for the 2,100m- (6,890ft-) high Zomba Plateau south of Lake Malawi and the huge, isolated Mulanje Massif (3,000m/10,000ft) in the southeast. The variety of landscape and the wildlife it supports make this relatively unspoilt country particularly attractive to visitors.

Money

Currency
Kwacha (MWK) = 100 tambala. Notes are in denominations of MWK500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of MWK1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 tambala.

Currency Exchange
US Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros or South African Rand are readily exchanged but lesser-known currencies may prove difficult to exchange.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
Acceptance of credit and debit cards is very limited, although in Lilongwe and Blantyre and in main hotels, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa can be used.

Traveller's Cheques
Traveller's cheques can be exchanged in banks, hotels and other institutions. In remote areas, the Treasury Office of Local District Commissioner's offices will cash traveller's cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling or South African Rand.

Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1400.

Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into Malawi by passengers without incurring customs duty:
o 200 cigarettes or 225g of tobacco in any form.
o For those over 16 years of age, also 1l of spirits and 1l of beer and 1l of wine.
Restricted items
The import of firearms is prohibited unless a permit has been bought in advance from the Registrar of Firearms, Box 41, Zomba.

Traveller's Guide

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months beyond date of intended departure required.
Note: All travellers are required to have a return air-ticket except in special circumstances such as long-term study visits or working contracts etc.

Visas
Not required , except the following:
a) nationals of Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia, who do need a visa.
Types of Visa and Cost
Single-entry: £45. Multiple-entry: £70 (up to six months); £90 (up to one year). Transit: £32.
Validity
Three months from date of issue.

Applications to: Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission);

High Commission for the Republic of Malawi and Malawi Tourist Office in the UK 33 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 4QT, UK
Tel: (020) 7491 4172/7.
E-mail: tourism@malawihighcomm.prestel.co.uk (tourism section).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1600.

Malawi Tourism Association in the UK
4 Christian Fields, London SW16 3JZ, UK
Tel: (0115) 982 1903.
Website: www.malawitourism.com

Embassy of the Republic of Malawi in the USA
1156 15th Street, Suite 320, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 721 0270.
Fax: (202) 721 0288.

Working Days Required : Applications will be normally be processed within 5 working days.

Health Care
Health insurance is essential. It is advisable to take personal medical supplies, including needles.

As a UK specialist for independent travel, Footloose Adventure Travel can tailor-make all your holiday, trek, hotel, transport and tour requirements. We offer the security of booking with a UK company and the benefit of our experience and local knowledge.