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| Welcome to Malawi |
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Country Profile
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| 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 3000m (9843ft), 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 1000m (3300ft) high, with fine upland scenery. This is the country's main agricultural area. The Southern Region is mostly low-lying except for the 2100m-high (6890ft) Zomba Plateau south of Lake Malawi and the huge, isolated Mulanje Massif (3000m/10,000ft) in the southeast.
The variety of landscape and the wildlife it supports make this relatively unspoilt country particularly attractive to visitors.
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| Language |
| he national language is the widely spoken Chichewa but the official language, and that of the business community, is English.
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| Passports |
| Passport valid for at least six months beyond date of intended departure required by all. |
| Visas |
Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of commonwealth countries (except India, Nigeria and Pakistan), Iceland, Israel, Madagascar, Nepal, Norway and San Marino;
(b) 1. nationals of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and USA;
(c) nationals in transit who are continuing their journey by the same or connecting aircraft to a third country within 24 hours. Permission must be obtained to leave the airport, however.
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.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.
Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Two application forms. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Fee. (e) Onward or return air ticket. (f) Proof of means of support during residence in country. (g) Confirmed hotel booking or host address of where visitor may stay. (h) Letter from company/sponsor, where required.
Working days required: In most cases, applications will be processed within five working days, but for nationals of India, Nigeria and Pakistan, applications may take two to three weeks.
Temporary residence: Application should be made prior to arrival. Contact the Controller of Immigration Services, PO Box 331,
Blantyre, Malawi.
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| Currency |
Kwacha (K) = 100
tambala. Notes are in denominations of K500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of K1 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: Acceptance of credit and debit cards is very limited, although in the capital and in main hotels Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express can be used. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: As with major currencies, including US Dollars, Euros and Sterling, travellers cheques can be exchanged in banks, hotels and other institutions. In remote areas, the Treasury Office of Local District Commissioner's offices will cash travellers
cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling or South African Rand.
Departure tax: A passenger service charge of US$20 (payable in US currency) is levied on all international flights. Malawi passport holders can pay in local currency (K950). Children under two years of age and transit passengers are exempt.
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| Food & Drink |
| Fresh fish from Lake Malawi is the country's speciality, chambo (Tilapia fish) being the main lake delicacy. There are trout from streams on the Zomba, Mulanje and Nyika plateaux. 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, the unique Lake Malawi dishes. |
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Poultry and dairy produce are plentiful and tropical fruits are abundant in season.
The local beer is very good and imported beer and soft drinks are widely available. Malawi gin, which is well known and inexpensive, and tonic have reached almost cult status. Wine is imported largely from South Africa. |
| 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 |
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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 function every day. |
| Special events |
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Dance plays a part in most ceremonies in Malawi, an
important dance being the Gule Wamkulu, with its heavily
carved masks, feathers and skin paint. It is performed by
the Chewa and Mang'anja, and this and other national dances
can be seen at the annual Malawi Republic Day celebrations
held the first week in July. |
| Social Conventions |
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Despite the large number of tribal backgrounds in the Malawi population, integration is well established and the visitor 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 stict dress code of Dr Banda's days are gone but modest dress should be worn unless at the beach or when playing sport. Tipping: Generally not expected, but some employees who are very poorly paid might appreciate a small tip for good service. |
| Health |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from or transiting infected areas.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Malawi. However, cholera is a risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix.
Note: It has been reported that cholera vaccination certificates have been demanded at the border with Tanzania; if immunisation is necessary, avoid the use of local needles under all circumstances.
3: Typhoid may occur in rural areas.
4: Malaria risk exists all year throughout the country. The predominant malignant falciparum strain is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.
Health care: Health insurance is essential. It is advisable to take personal medical supplies. |
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