Overview

Malawi is a unique country full of outdoor adventure. The country has rare wildlife, evergreen forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled wilderness. There are nine national parks and wildlife reserves and many forest reserves open to visitors. Malawi is famous for Lake Malawi which begins at the north end of the country and extends to the south. It is full of rare tropical fish, various eagles and king fishers.

European Airlines flying to Malawi include British Airways and KLM via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Intra-African airline lift includes Air Malawi, Air Zimbabwe, Air Tanzania, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines. Most international flights land at Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, but several flights from Johannesburg and Harare, land at Blantyre in the southern half of the nation.

Most tourists to Malawi arrive in Lilongwe via air. Malawi has nine wildlife reserves including five National Parks, and a handful of lodges. Tourism is in its infancy, but growing Wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, antelope and rhino as well as a wide variety of bird species. Car hire companies are available and based primarily in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Potholes and rough driving conditions are typical and roads are narrow. Driving is on the left. Drivers should anticipate poor road conditions as well as animal and humans on the roadways. Nighttime driving is not recommended. Guided tours are advisable.

As one might expect, accommodations vary widely from first class properties to very basic facilities. The infrastructure is not as developed as in Kenya, but is improving. Liwonde and Nyika national parks, Lengwe and Vwaza Marsh wildlife reserves all provide adequate or better lodging at extremely affordable rates. Lake Malawi National Park is the largest freshwater reserve in Africa and is biggest attraction, occupying a full fifth of the country. Lake Malawi resembles an inland tropical ocean with clear, warm water and rocky islands. Sailing, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and recreation on the sandy beaches are typical pastimes, especially post-safari.

Nyika National Park is well known for its hiking and horse riding tours and Liwonde National Park is famous as one of the best bird watching destinations in Africa with more than 600 species.

Geography

Malawi is situated in southeastern Africa. The Great Rift Valley traverses the country from north to south. In this deep trough lies Lake Malawi, the third-largest lake in Africa, comprising about 20% of Malawi's area. The Shire River flows from the south end of the lake and joins the Zambezi River 400 kilometers (250 mi.) farther south in Mozambique. East and west of the Rift Valley, the land forms high plateaus, generally between 900 and 1,200 meters (3,000-4,000 ft.) above sea level. In the north, the Nyika Uplands rise as high as 2,600 meters (8,500 ft.); south of the lake lie the Shire Highlands, with an elevation of 600-1,600 meters (2,000-5,000 ft.), rising to Mts. Zomba and Mulanje, 2,130 and 3,048 meters (7,000 and 10,000 ft.). In the extreme south, the elevation is only 60-90 meters (200-300 ft.) above sea level.

Malawi is one of Sub-Saharan Africa's most densely populated countries. The population of Lilongwe--Malawi's capital since 1971--of 670,000 makes it the largest city in the country (preliminary results from the 2008 Malawi population and housing census). All government ministries and the parliament are located in Lilongwe. Blantyre remains Malawi's major commercial center with a population of 660,000. Malawi's President resides in Lilongwe. The Supreme Court is seated in Blantyre.

Quick Facts

• People
  • Nationality: Noun and adjective--Malawian(s).
  • Population (2008 est.): 13,066,320 (preliminary results from the 2008 Malawi population and housing census).
  • Annual growth rate (2008): 2.8%.
  • Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European.
  • Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%.
  • Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), regional dialects, i.e., Chitumbuka, Chiyao, Chilomwe.
  • Education: Years compulsory--none. Enrollment (2006)--primary, 86%. Literacy (2004 est., age 15 and older)--69%.
  • Health: Infant mortality rate (2006)--72 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy (at birth, 2005 est.)--40 yrs.
    
• Government
  • Type: Multi-party democracy.
  • Independence: July 6, 1964.
  • Constitution: May 18, 1995.
  • Branches: Executive--president (the president is both chief of state and head of government), first and second vice presidents, cabinet. Legislative--unicameral National Assembly (193 members). Although the Malawian constitution provides for a Senate, in practice the legislative branch's upper house does not exist. Judicial--High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, subordinate Magistrate Courts.
  • Administrative subdivisions: 28 districts.
  • Political parties: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, ruling party) United Democratic Front (UDF), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), New Republican Party (NRP), National Democratic Alliance (NDA), People's Progressive Movement (PPM), People's Transformation Party (PETRA), and Congress for National Unity (CONU). MCP and UDF are the two main opposition parties in parliament.
  • Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age.
  • Central government budget (2008/2009): $1.6 billion (MK 227.2 billion).

• Economy
  • GDP (2008 est.): $3.8 billion.
  • Annual real GDP growth rate (2008 est.): 7.1%.
  • Per capita GNI (2008 est.): Approx. $289.
  • Avg. inflation rate (2008): 8.7%.
  • Natural resources: Limestone, uranium, coal, bauxite, phosphates, graphite, granite, black granite, vermilite, aquamarine, tourmaline, rubies, sapphires, rare earths.
  • Agriculture (approx. 34.7% of GDP): Products--tobacco, sugar, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, coffee, rice, groundnuts. Arable land--34%, of which 86% is cultivated.
  • Industry (19.4% of GDP): Types--tea, tobacco, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods.
  • Trade (2005 est.): Exports--$578 million: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products. Partners--U.S., U.K., South Africa, Germany, Japan. Imports--$1.066 billion: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment. Partners--South Africa, Zimbabwe, Japan, U.S., U.K., Germany.

The People

Malawi derives its name from the Maravi, a Bantu people who came from the southern Congo about 600 years ago. On reaching the area north of Lake Malawi, the Maravi divided. One branch, the ancestors of the present-day Chewas, moved south to the west bank of the lake. The other, the ancestors of the Nyanjas, moved down the east bank to the southern part of the country.

By AD 1500, the two divisions of the tribe had established a kingdom stretching from north of the present-day city of Nkhotakota to the Zambezi River in the south, and from Lake Malawi in the east, to the Luangwa River in Zambia in the west. Migrations and tribal conflicts precluded the formation of a cohesive Malawian society until the turn of the 20th century. In more recent years, ethnic and tribal distinctions have diminished. Regional distinctions and rivalries, however, persist. Despite some clear differences, no significant friction currently exists between tribal groups, and the concept of a Malawian nationality has begun to take hold. Predominately a rural people, Malawians are generally conservative and traditionally nonviolent. The Chewas constitute 90% of the population of the central region; the Nyanja tribe predominates in the south and the Tumbuka in the north. In addition, significant numbers of the Tongas live in the north; Ngonis--an offshoot of the Zulus who came from South Africa in the early 1800s--live in the lower northern and lower central regions; and the Yao, who are mostly Muslim, live along the southeastern border with Mozambique.

History

Malawi was relatively peaceful until the 1820s when Arab slave traders arrived and forced many Malawi residents into slavery. It wasn’t until 1859 that Europeans took much interest in Malawi. Missionary Dr. David Livingstone visited and described the beauty of Lake Malawi, generating interest in the area. The country was colonized in 1883 by Great Britain and gained independence in 1964, when the name was changed from Nyasaland to Malawi, meaning “reflected light of bright haze.”

Malawi was ruled by Dr. Hastings Banda for three decades. He was known for strange policies, such as banning women from wearing short skirts and men from having long hair. Banda was voted out of office in 1993 and died in 1997 at age 99.

Economy

Malawi is a poor country with an economy that has been often mismanaged. The economy is based in agriculture, with a largely rural population Most people live on subsistence farming and fishing. Drought and poor harvest have also struck the country forcing Malawi to ask for assistance from other African countries.

Planning your visit

• Passport/Visa Requirements: Canadian and the U.S. need passports to enter Malawi.
• Time Zone: 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT)
• Voltage Requirements: 220 and 240 volts
• Telephone Codes: 265, country code

Climate

Malawi weather varies from the highlands to lower areas. Winter is from May to July and is dry and cool at night. Rainy season is from November to March or April and it rains more on higher plateaus. Take a sweater or jacket with you regardless of when you visit. Malawi's climate is generally subtropical. A rainy season runs from November through April. There is little to no rainfall throughout most of the country from May to October. It is hot and humid from October to April along the lake and in the Lower Shire Valley. Lilongwe is also hot and humid during these months, albeit far less than in the south. The rest of the country is warm during those months. From June through August, the lake areas and far south are comfortably warm, but the rest of Malawi can be chilly at night, with temperatures ranging from 5-14C (41-57F).

Money

Currency: Kwacha. Credit cards are only accepted at upscale hotels. Banks are not accustomed to cashing traveler’s checks and do note exchange large bills. Banking Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-1 pm Taxes: some tax applies and is included in store and hotel prices. Tipping: 10% for good service

Safety

Malawi can be a dangerous place to drive because of potholes, animals and cyclists and other people driving at night without lights. Fatal accidents are frequent among public minibuses and pick-up trucks. Terrorist attacks have occurred in Malawi and tend to take place on Kenyatta Drive in Lilongwe. Be careful when in this area, specifically around the bus station. Otherwise, take standard safety precautions such as being aware of your surroundings.

Other tips:

• It is illegal to purchase uncut precious stones.
• Be aware that hippos in Lake Malawi are aggressive and kill several people each year.
• Be aware that you can catch bilharzia (from parasitic worms) swimming in the lake. If you spend much time swimming, check with your doctor upon returning home.
• Malaria is a risk - speak with your physician about precautions.
• Malawi is one of the best bargains in Southern Africa and largely unspoiled - a terrific place to purchase native handicrafts.