Practical information Malawi

45747  sq.mi

13 hrs 30 mins. London is 4,960 mi from Lilongwe.

7028757 hab.

Lilongwe's Kamuzu International airport is 14 miles north of the city. A taxi takes you from the airport to the town-centre for about 7 euros. Airport tax is 950 kwachas for internal flights and 20 USD for international flights.

No area is forbidden to tourists by local authorities. However, you should be very careful on Mozambique borders. Insecurity in the major cities and tourist areas can be linked to armed robbery (Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world).

English and Chichewa, and many other Bantu languages are spoken in Malawi.

French, Italian, German and Japanese citizens are exempt from an entry visa into the country.

60 % of the population are Christian protestants, 20 % practice traditional religions, 15 % are Muslims and a minority are Hindus.

The local currency is the Kwacha (MWK), which consists of 100 Tambalas. £1 Sterling = 230 MWK. US Dollars and travellers cheques are accepted everywhere and money can be exchanged in banks at the normal market rate. There is no black market for currency exchange here and no monitoring of currency exchange. Visa and American Express credit cards are rarely accepted outside of hotels. Bank opening hours: 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Plane: Air Malawi serves flights between Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Karonga. It is also possible to rent planes that can land in very small airports.
Boat: regular lines serve the major cities from lake Malawi.
Train : the main railway connects the cities of Mchinji, Lilongwe, Salima, Chipoka, Blantyre, Limbe and Nsanje. Other lines connect Lilongwe, Salima and Blantyre. Get information from the Malawi Railways, PO box 5144, Limbe. Telephone: 640 844. 640 844.
Fax : 640 683. 640 683.
Bus : private coach companies serve the major cities. The most comfortable and expensive is Coachline, connecting Lilongwe and Blantyre in 5 hours or Lilongwe and Mzuzu in 7 hours, without stopovers.
Car: there are car rentals in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Book well in advance, for it is highly asked for. Roads are not always in good state (pot holes) and driving can be difficult or dangerous. International driver's licence and left-hand driving (minimum age: 21) for tourists who intend to rent a car.
In town: two-storey buses serve Blantyre and Lilongwe. There are not enough taxis and they can only be in stations.

Malawi is one of the countries most affected by AIDS.
Cholera epidemics occur frequently during the rainy season. It is recommended to get vaccinated against cholera and measles. It is recommended to take an anti-malaria treatment, the country is listed in zone 3. Do not drink tap water, unboiled or untreated water, and do not consume raw vegetables or fruits.

220-240V, 50Hz. An adapter for electrical outlets is necessary.

To call Malawi from the UK : dial 00 + 265 + the number you are calling.
From Malawi to the UK : dial 101 + 44 + number you are calling (without the 0).