Health Considerations
· Before undertaking any travel all clients are encouraged to consult
with their GP and/or local travel clinic for the most up-to-
..date health information on the destinations
they are travelling to.
NB: Visitors to Malawi who have passed through Yellow Fever infected
areas (e.g. Tanzania or Kenya) will be required to provide proof of a
Yellow Fever vaccination before entering Malawi.
Travel Insurance
· When travelling internationally, it is important to ensure that
a Travel Insurance Policy appropriately covers you against any
..unforeseen eventualities.
· Your insurance broker or provider will offer the necessary advice
on specific travel insurance policies.
· Travellers from South Africa can go to the IslandsOnly Travel
Shop for more details of tailor made travel policies.
Departure Taxes
· All departure taxes are included in the price of your airline
ticket. There are no additional taxes to be paid in Malawi.
Location:
The independent state of Malawi is a small, landlocked country wedged
between the countries Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. It is roughly 900km
long, 80km to 150km wide and covers an area of 120,000km². The country’s
dominant features are the Great Rift Valley and Lake Malawi, the third
largest lake on the continent.
Malawi is located on the eastern side of south-central Africa, between
the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Geography:
The geography of Malawi is dominated by Lake Malawi, which lies in a giant
depression formed by the Great Rift Valley running through the country.
The lake itself covers a fifth of the country. Together these two features
make for some impressive landscapes, from the sandy lakeshore to the precipitous
cliffs that rise out of the lake to form the walls of the Rift Valley.
These give way to the highland regions and rolling plateaus.
History:
The early history of Malawi from the 14th to 19th centuries is dominated
by various migrations of the Bantu peoples as they spread across the region.
Some were more warlike than others and as the slave trade took hold in
East Africa, so the search for healthy men and women to sell spread inland,
with result that many indigenous and migrant ‘Malawians’ were
captured and sold. Lake Malawi, as it later became known, was an important
link in the slave trade across Africa.
The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese, travelling inland from
their east-coast colony, now called Mozambique. However, it was the British
and particularly Dr David Livingstone who put Malawi on the map, so to
speak. His influence brought about the founding of the Universities Mission
in Central Africa (UMCA) with the aim of spreading Christianity, combating
the slave trade and encouraging trade and commerce. In spite of the ongoing
European competition for area around Lake Malawi the first British Protectorate
was declared in 1889. This protectorate grew and in 1907 the Colony of
Nyasaland was declared. In 1953 Nyasaland became part of the Federation
of Northern (now Zambia) and Southern (now Zimbabwe) Rhodesia. Growing
disenchantment and political opposition from the African population led,
ultimately, to the formation of the Malawi Congress Party, which, after
constitutional talks in London and resulting elections, swept to power.
Malawi became independent in 1964. In 1966 the Republic of Malawi was
born and Hastings Banda became president.
Government:
Hastings Banda’s effective dictatorship came to an end in 1994 with
elections that finally realised a transition to multiparty democracy and
a functioning parliamentary system of government. The president is head
of state.
Population:
Estimates put the population at just over 10 million people, most of whom
are of African origin and live in the rural areas. Small populations of
Europeans and Asians live in the cities.
Languages:
The official language is English which is widely spoken in the towns and
cities as well as in the rural areas. Chewa or Chichewa is the national
language, which is commonly spoken throughout the country. The different
ethnic groups and tribes have their own dialects but these are limited
to specific areas.
Religion:
Most Malawians follow the Christian faith as put forth by the Protestant
churches that were started by the original missionaries to the country.
Catholicism is practised in smaller numbers while many follow indigenous
Christian faiths that are mixed with traditional tribal beliefs.
Economy:
The Malawi economy is reliant on the agricultural sector. The majority
of the population lives in the rural areas where they are engaged as subsistence
farmers or are employed on large commercial farms. Tobacco is the largest
export, responsible for about 70% of Malawi’s foreign earnings.
Other export crops include tea and sugar.
Currency:
The Malawi Kwacha (MK) is divided into 100 tambala (t).
Weights and measures:
The metric system is used
Climate:
During the summer months, from mid-October to the end of April and particularly
from January to March, the days are hot (+30°C) with frequent rain
showers in afternoon.
April to May the days are warm (+26°C) and dry with pleasant cool
evenings with light breezes.
The ‘winter’ months from June to August are dry with warm
days (+26°C) and cool nights and the occasional strong winds.
During September and October, one can expect hot to very hot days (+30°C)
and warm nights.
From November to the beginning of January days are hot to very hot (+30°C),
with warm nights. One can also expect some early rain showers.
Time:
GMT +2
Electricity:
220 to 240 volts
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