Africa
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History - Hotels
Visa Requirements - Holders of UK passports do not require a visa for entry into Malawi for stays of up to 30 days. Please make sure you have a full passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of your return to the UK and tha you have at least 2 blank pages in your passport. Please also be aware that you need to have at least two blank pages in your passport.
Non-British passport holders should check their visa requirements with their local Embassy or High Commission.
Health Requirements - A Yellow Fever Certificate is required only if you enter Malawi from or via an infected country. There are no other mandatory vaccinations required although Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Meningitis and Hepatitis A are usually recommended. Malaria does exist in various parts of Malawi and it is therefore essential that you seek qualified medical advice on its prevention.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 606 2782 for all professional medical advice.
Time - GMT + 2 hours (+ 1 hour during British Summer Time)
Money - The currency is the Malawi Kwacha. Travellers cheques and US Dollar and Sterling cash can be freely exchanged at most commercial banks. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted in many of the more sophisticated hotels and bush camps, however an alternative payment source such as cash or travellers cheques is sensible when in remote areas.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
Kenya Airways |
Heathrow/Lilongwe |
Daily |
Nairobi |
|
SAA |
Heathrow/Lilongwe |
Daily |
Johannesburg |
Climate - a rough guide
Malawi has two quite distinct dry and rainy seasons as described below:
WINTER (Dry Season) The dry winter months generally last from May until October and are characterised by warm, dry days with temperatures hovering around 80F, and cool nights with temperatures falling to a relatively cool 50F or so. The skies are usually beautifully clear and normally there is very little rain throughout this period. From May to July the landscape is green and lush, and conditions are cooler, it then becomes increasingly warm towards September as the landscape begins to dry out. As winter draws to a close in October, the temperature rises dramatically and the humidity increases as the November rains approach.
SUMMER (Wet Season) November heralds the start of the wet season with high temperatures and humidity that normally last until March. Daytime temperatures can rise to 90F in early summer although they tend to fall as the season progresses, and the nights remain at a balmy 65F or so throughout the season. The rains are generally heaviest from December to February and usually fall in short, heavy downpours before the sun reappears. It is possible to have days without any rain at all, although heavy rainfall can also render some areas inaccessible at times.
When to go - It is the dry winter months from May to October with clear skies and warm days that is generally the best time to visit. As the season progresses, the bush becomes thinner and drier and the game viewing becomes easier as the animals have to frequent the dwindling number of water sources. April is an unpredictable month which can enjoy wonderful dry weather with some intermittent rain storms.
The summer months from November to March see higher levels of rainfall and humidity than the winter months and many roads become impassable. However this is the best time of year for bird watching and it is a time when you can see the park at its greenest and most beautiful. The views in the highland areas, such as the Nyika Plateau, are at their sharpest during the wet season and in the first few months of the dry season.
|
Lilongwe |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
80/ |
80/ |
80/ |
80/ |
79/ |
75/ |
75/ |
77/ |
82/ |
86/ |
86/ |
80/ |
|
Rain (in) |
8.5 |
7.8 |
4.4 |
1.7 |
0.2 |
0.05 |
0.03 |
0.03 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
2.4 |
6.7 |
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) = Average Monthly Rainfall
