MALAWI TRAVEL GUIDE

ESSENTIALS | WHEN TO GO | WEATHER | COSTS | ACTIVITIES | SIGHTS

INTRODUCTION

The warm heart of Africa is how the friendly people of Malawi like to describe their small, landlocked country that lies almost in the middle of the great African continent.

The mountains, plateaus, rain forests and rivers of Malawi share space with the Lake Malawi, a beautiful inland lake lying in a deep trough created by the Great Rift Valley stretching for some 500km down the eastern border of Malawi. The area surrounding the Lake is given over to neatly laid out tea and tobacco plantations juxtaposed with lush rain forests, evergreen woods and grasslands where conservation areas protect the native habitats of rare wildflowers, orchids, birds and animals.

COVID-19 TRAVEL STATUS

Updated:

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Malawi re-opened its airspace to a limited number of weekly commercial flights on September 1.Travelers who are eligible for entry must have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) test result issued within 10 days before arrival, and are subject to medical screening and must self-quarantine for 14 days. Travelers will be required to remain at the airport or a testing center until their COVID-19 test results are known, usually within 24 hours. A completed "Travel Surveillance Form" must be presented upon arrival.Individuals testing positive for coronavirus on arrival may be taken for treatment at a government facility. All other individuals will be required to self-isolate at home or in a government facility for 14 days and will remain under surveillance by health workers.

TRAVEL ADVISORY

LOCATION MAP

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QUICK FACTS

• Capital: Lilongwe
• Currency: Malawian kwacha (MWK)
• Area: 94,080 km²
• Population: 18,14 million (2018)
• Language: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally
• Religion: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

• 15 January, John Chilembwe Day
• 3 March, Martyrs’ Day
• 14 May, President Kamuzu Banda’s Birthday
• 14 June, Freedom Day
• 6 July, Independence Day
• 15 October, Mother’s Day
• 26 December, Boxing Day

Also, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Eid al-Fitr.

FESTIVALS

WEATHER SYNOPSIS

Malawi’s climate is as varied as the country’s topography. The vast surface water of Lake Niassa tends to have a cooling effect on the margins of the lake, where long, hot seasons with high humidity occur, along with mean annual temperatures of 24°C. Rainfall patterns are heaviest along the coast of Lake Malawi where precipitation is heaviest (averaging 1600 mm annually); the rest of the country’s rainfall ranges between 750 and 1000 mm annually. Overall, the country experiences three seasons: a cool season (May to mid-August), a hot season (mid-August to November), and a rainy season (November to April), with rains continuing longer in the northern and eastern mountains.

TOURIST SEASONS

HOT MONTHS:

MODERATE MONTHS:

COLD MONTHS:

WET MONTHS:

DRY MONTHS:

SPORT & ACTIVITIES

HEALTH

Be aware of possible health risks in 

Malawi

Yellow fever - The yellow fever virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America. The virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no medicine to treat or cure an infection. To prevent getting sick from yellow fever, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and get vaccinated.

Zika Virus - Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during the day and night. Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.

Malaria - Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented.

Dengue - Dengue is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during the day and night. About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick. For people who get sick with dengue, symptoms can be mild or severe.

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