Malawi is a southeastern African country with a population of around 18 million people and a Gross Domestic Product of about $5442 billion in 2016. It is landlocked between Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania. The official language of Malawi is Chichewa. Malawi has a sub tropical climate. The wet season is typically from November to April and the cool-dry season is from May to August. During this period temperatures range between 17 and 27 Celsius. The hot-dry seasons occur between September and October, when temperatures range between 25 and 37 Celsius.
Malawi is serviced by two international airports, namely: Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and Chileka International Airport in Blantyre. Tarmac roads connect the airports and key borders to all major cities and towns in Malawi. It's capital city is Lilongwe. Here are some of the things you need to know about Malawi before you visit:
1. Visa: Do you need one?
According to the Passport Index you do not require a visa to enter Malawi if you're a South African citizen. You are however required to carry your passport.
2. Health care: What vaccines do you need?
A vaccination certificate is required for yellow fever, but only you are arriving from any country where the disease is endemic. Check on anti-malarial medication well in advance of travel to Malawi. For up to date advice it is recommended to consult a Doctor well in advance of travel to Malawi.
3. Things to do in Malawi as a tourist?
-You can go Bird Watching and see the over 650 recorded bird species in Malawi from the 9000 that is found on the continent. You can also visit the Liwonde National Park that is one of the more popular parks in the country. There's also Lake Malawi to explore, which is the third largest lake on the continent, ninth in the world. There are also cultural museums that can teach you more about the country and her people.
4. Places to stay while exploring the country
The country has a number of top accommodation options for tourists looking to stay in the country. A simple Google search will show all the available options.
5. Currency
The currency in Malawi is the Kwacha, divided in 100 tambala. Currency notes are in K1000, K500, K200, K100, K50, K20. One Malawian Kwacha is equal to 0.019 South African Rand.
Foreign currency and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at banks, some tourist hotels and lodges and bureaux de changes.
Major credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants.
For more informtion on the country visit the Malwaian Consulate here.