Malawi is the warm heart of Africa, where visitors are welcomed with open arms and made to feel at home. This is one of Africa’s smallest and most beautiful countries, often overlooked due to its size, which makes it a destination for insiders. For a variety of experiences in a relatively small area, Malawi has few rivals.

• Its warm and friendly people

• Untouched beauty and stunning scenery

• Distinctive wood carvings made by the local people

• Excellent snorkelling and diving in Africa’s third-largest lake. Lake Malawi has one of the highest diversities of fresh water fish in the world.

• Good game viewing and excellent bird watching in its 9 national parks

• 400 species of orchid and other wild flowers

• the unspoiled paradise of Mount Mulanje, a granite inselberg in the south which towers up to 3000m, offers fine hiking and trekking

• a lot of weirdos movin in an out

Malawi is a landlocked country situated on the eastern side of southern Africa and surrounded by Mozambique in the east and south, Zambia in the west and Tanzania in the north. Lake Malawi covers one fifth of the coutry’s area. The terrain is in the form of a narrow elongated plateau with rolling hills and some mountains.

Fishing plays a major role in the local economy and visitors will see the day’s catch on drying racks in the many fishing villages along the lakeshore. The gourmet favourite remains the bream-like chambo, which is absolutely delicious and too good to be missed.

The birdlife along the shores of the lake and river and on the flood plains is nothing short of astounding and Malawi’s only population of Lilian’s lovebird occurs here. Pel’s fishing owls, palmnut vultures and African fish eagles are also to be seen here and there are good herds of elephant, hippo, sable and kudu.

Malawi is always beautiful. The cooler months (May to July) are more comfortable for travellers from the northern hemisphere, but the lush green summer (November to April) is also a good time to visit. May and June combine the best of both seasons – cooler, still green with great visibility. Game viewing is best in the hottest times of the dry season (September to October), when the animals are forced to rely on the few water sources, but the countryside is more attractive in the wetter, greener months. Bird watchers enjoy their best sightings in October and November.

Malaria is prevalent in some parts of Malawi. It is strongly advised that you speak to a physician before you leave home to ensure you are on an anti malarial course of tablets, prior to entering Malawi.

check out: http://www.tripprep.com and http://www.who.int/countries/mwi/en/

Currency
The currency in Malawi is the Malawi Kwacha (MWK), which is made up of 100 Tambala. Foreign exchange can be converted at various banks and there are several reputable bureaux de change in Blantyre and Lilongwe. Note that credit cards are accepted at some of the properties in the cities and around the Lake. However, the use of both foreign currency and credit cards can be difficult outside major centres.

Passports and Visas
Certain nationals require visas and as this is never a constant, we would strongly recommend that you check with the nearest Malawi High Commission for the latest requirements. All passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months.

Getting There
To enter Malawi at the international airports in Bantyre or Lilongwe, you can fly via Johannesburg with South African Airways or Air Malawi. Ethiopian and Kenyan Airways enter Malawi via Addis Ababa and Nairobi. Please view our international flights folder for more details or contact your travel agent.

Travel Insurance
All visitors are responsible for their own international travel and medical insurance. It is recommended to obtain the necessary travel insurance prior to departure.

Departure Tax
USD30 International Departure Tax is payable upon departure from the Country. There is a charge for domestic departures of MK200 per person. Please note that these departure taxes may change without notice.

What to Pack
Beach resorts are very informal, however Malawians are conservative and visitors should respect local customs and traditions when visiting villages and markets. Light clothing is essential as being in the tropics the weather can become very warm. Long sleeved shirts and light trousers help to keep the mosquitoes at bay in the evenings. Take warmer clothes for cool weather and late nights, especially when visiting between May and August. Mosquito repellent is essential.

Reservations:                  e-mail: sales@nyassa.mw

             Tel: +265 1 761.443     Fax: +265 1 762.371

Operations: +265 999 788 777 / +265 884 169 488

Pilot (Flight Operations)               + 265 999 788.728

Address:                  PO Box 1527, Lilongwe / Malawi

                            Plot 47/5/348, Mbabvi Rd, Lilongwe