Are you thinking of going on a Malawi holiday? If so, read our tips, which will give you all the best advice to discover Malawi.
We will keep this as short and simple as possible!
1 – Do I Need a Malawi Visa?
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa but what lacks in finances is made up by the Malawian people who were some of the most chilled people we ever came across on our Africa Adventure.
Visa Guide
As of 7 February 2024, Malawi has removed the requirement for visas to enter the country for nationalities of 79 countries.
If you are not from one of the above 79 countries. For those that do require a visa, Malawi has an e-visa system for online applications and prefers all travelers to obtain their visas in advance.
A letter of invitation is required for your Malawi E-visa application. We obtained ours from the accommodation we had booked with. Simply include this letter with your application form.
The Malawi visa will cost you 50 USD and is valid for only 30 days. There are also options for a 6-month and 12-month multiple-entry visa. To apply for a Malawi E-visa use the official link – www.evisa.gov.mw.
For all other questions related to Malawi travel visit the official Malawi Tourism website.
We did a land border crossing, and had our E-visas prepared. All you will have to do is print off the E-visa and present it with your passport.
We did have an official who was hinting at a bribe/tip but we just played stupid and pretended he was very funny!!
2 – What are the Best Attractions in Malawi?
It is Malawi’s remarkable variety of experiences that is its greatest asset. Whilst Lake Malawi is the main attraction, this little country offers plenty more to see and do.
Are you ready to discover Malawi?!
It is the mixture of beautiful Landscapes, fascinating Wildlife, the alluring Lake Malawi, and rich culture that combine to make this small country such a wonderful place to visit.
Best Things to do in Malawi: Lake Malawi
Malawi, even though completely landlocked, is not denied its “inland sea”. This vast body of freshwater fringed by beaches of golden sand offers not only a stunning landscape but it provides water sports opportunities and boat trips for those looking for something beyond sun, sand, and swimming.
*Some of the most beautiful sunrises we witnessed in Africa were from Lake Malawi so it might just be worth your while setting that alarm!
Best Things to do in Malawi: Wildlife
Did you know that Malawi has no less than nine national parks and wildlife reserves? Although it may not have as many large mammals as some of its better-known neighbors, it makes up for this in other ways.
Malawi provides intensive and exclusive wildlife viewing in truly unspoiled wilderness. An authentic African experience not to be missed.
If you fancy sitting back, allowing your full energy to soak in everything Malawi, then why not consider a Malawi wildlife safari tour?
Over 5 days you will visit the Nkhota-Kota game reserve, and Kasungu National Park, as well as a tour of Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, all with the knowledge and expertise of a local guide.
Best Things to do in Malawi: Culture
If you have had your fill of soaking in the beautiful landscape why not try something a little bit different? Immerse yourself in the wonderful chaos and bustling life in the city of Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital.
The Malawian people are, without doubt, its greatest asset: friendly and welcoming. You will always be met with a genuine warm smile in Malawi.
- Experience Lilongwe city with this day tour in a unique way with a local guide.
3 – What is the Best Time to Visit Malawi?
In short, any month is the best time to visit Malawi!
Malawi is a year-round destination with parks and reserves staying open in all seasons. Rainfall is extremely rare in the dry season and even in the so-called wet season. As is typical of the tropics, at no time does the climate seriously impact the traveler.
For most people, the dry (winter) season is most attractive (i.e. April/May to October/November).
The chance of rain is slim, daytime temperatures are generally pleasant (in the 20s Celsius) and the low vegetation and limited availability of water mean that game viewing is at its best.
However, some of the best birdwatching can be had from November to April.
4 – What is The Currency in Malawi?
In Malawi, the name of the local currency is the Malawian Kwacha.
At the time of writing 100 Kwacha was around the 0.54 cent mark. Take note that not all hotels or shops will accept cards, cash is king.
5 – How Much Should I Budget for Malawi?
This is an extremely personal question to answer and has so many factors to consider but let’s give it a go!
First, questions to consider:
Are you a backpacker and long-time traveler who counts your pennies and chooses local food/transport to manage your budget?
Are you on a splash-out holiday where you do not want to think about budgeting and just want to have an awesome time staying in resorts and drinking cocktails?
Luckily, Malawi has something to offer for all budgets.
5.1 – Malawi Budget: Accommodation
During our stay in Malawi, we opted for some of the most budget-friendly accommodations available in Africa. We are talking 5 Euro per night!
Surprisingly, while paying more for supposedly better lodging, we found ourselves with less value for our money.
For instance, despite shelling out 28 Euros per night for a place right on Lake Malawi, we ended up with walls made of literally egg boxes!
This was the first country (apart from Sudan) where we did not use booking.com to find accommodation as we felt it was more expensive. Instead, we opted to find accommodation using Google Maps and contacting the property directly.
Most hotels had WhatsApp numbers we could message so it was pretty easy and worked out cheaper.
However, if you are on vacation, then of course investing more in accommodations can significantly enhance the value and quality of your stay. There are a lot of great accommodation deals available, but starting around the 40 to 50 Euro mark.
5.2 – Malawi Budget: Food
Local eateries and street food are plentiful and cheap. We purchased many meals in local restaurants between 2-5 euros per person.
Of course, if you are eating in resorts and/or more tourist/western-style restaurants expect to pay more for your meal.
Unlike other countries we visited before Malawi, supermarkets and delis are actually more expensive than street food/local restaurants which we were very shocked by!
5.3 – Malawi Budget: Alcohol
Alcohol is cheap and can be easily purchased in Malawi. A bottle of beer costs less than 2 euros.
Beer is extremely popular in Malawi and Carlsberg has completely taken over the market. Did you know that Malawi even has its own Carlsberg brewery?!
6 – Transport – How to Get Around Malawi?
There are 3 ways of getting around Malawi. Firstly, a private driver/tour guide, the next option is to self-drive.
With relatively short distances between places of interest, reasonable road surfaces, and little traffic, Malawi is a good country for self-drive. Most of the main roads are tarred but narrow, with reasonably maintained surfaces.
Lastly, use local transport. Obviously, the first two will cost the most but are the easiest options and this is the best advice if you are on a Malawi holiday.
In Africa, the pace is very slow and we found Malawi public transport to be the slowest! If you take a local bus then this bus will only depart once it is full.
This can take 5 minutes to 2 hours! But the good news is that it will be a fraction of the cost. For long-term travelers, backpackers, and cheapskates on a Malawi Holiday, this is the best choice.
7 – What Socket Type to Use in Malawi?
For Malawi, the plug type is plug type G. This is the same one used in Ireland and the UK.
In case you don’t know what that is, it’s the plug with three rectangular pins in a triangle shape.
It is not uncommon for Malawi to experience power cuts. Often these are only short-lived, but sometimes it can take up to a few hours for electricity to be restored.
*Be prepared with a battery pack and torch.
8 – Is Malawi Safe?
In answering the common question “Is Malawi safe?”, Malawi is relatively safe to visit, though violent crime is not exactly unheard of.
Muggings and robberies happen in larger cities, usually in Lilongwe, and in areas frequented by tourists. Be smart and avoid walking alone at night altogether.
We felt safe in Malawi and had zero negative encounters, but as always, use your own intuition in regards to your own safety as with anywhere in the world.
9 – Learn Basic Words
Malawi is a multilingual country. Although English is the official language, Chichewa is the national language.
In our experience in Malawi, not many people spoke English so it is useful to know some basic words/phrases before your trip.
Welcome – Takulandirani
Hello, how are you? – Muli bwanji?
I’m fine and you? – Ndili bwino, kaya inu?
I’m fine – Ndili bwino
How are you? (informal) – Boh boh? – Response: Boh
Thank you – Zikomo
My friend – Achimwene
Please – Chonde
Water – Madzi
10 – What SIM Card to Get in Malawi?
You can purchase a sim card in the many stalls along the roads in Malawi for as cheap as 1.50 euros for a sim plus 3GB data.
*Just remember to have your passport with you when purchasing a sim.
Another option to consider, although more expensive but less hassle-free is to buy an e-sim. After purchase, you’ll receive a QR code that you can scan on your compatible device to install the e-SIM wherever and whenever you need it, no more physical SIM or searching through networks!
11 – What Packing Essentials Do I Need For Malawi?
This is the same list we recommend for the majority of African travels (and travel in general).
- Head torch – for electricity outages.
- Battery pack – for those long bus journeys as well as electricity outages.
- Download apps such as Google Translate, Google Maps, and Booking.com.
- Utilize budget apps such as TravelSpend to keep track of your spending.
You can find the full list of our travel tips here.
12 – Is Malawi Worth Visiting?
In our humble opinion, if you are doing a Cairo to Cape Town trip, or are visiting neighboring Zambia then absolutely Malawi is worth visiting.
If you are coming overland from Tanzania make sure to check out the post below:
However, for a direct holiday then our answer is no.
As mentioned earlier, it is more expensive than other African countries such as Kenya, Zanzibar, and Uganda and when talking about safaris it has a lesser number of larger mammals.
Read all about the Absolute Best Africa Safari here.
Regarding accommodation and transport, compared with most African countries expect to shell out more money while getting less value in return.
That was our experience during our overland 9 month African adventure anyway – still haven’t quite recovered from having to pay 60 Euro EACH for a bus from Lilongwe to Lusaka!
Go Discover Malawi!
We would love to hear how other people got on in Malawi and what your experience was.
If you have already been or plan on visiting please leave a comment below or contact us on our socials.
Slán go fóil
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