Malawi
About
| Malawi offers visitors unique scenery, rare wildlife and stunning valleys. Evergreen forests and waterfalls can be viewed from the heights of the plateaux. The national parks are attractive places for wildlife and game viewing in the most unspoilt of settings. Go wildlife and game viewing in the national parks, without the tarred roads filled with convoys of 4-wheel drive vehicles. Top parks and reserves include Nyika, Vwasa Marsh, Liwonde and Lengwe. Visit the world's first freshwater national park and its renowned settings and attractions. Lake Malawi National Park, close to Monkey Bay, lies towards the southern extremity of the lake. Snorkelling or scuba-diving reveals tropical fish and further inland klipspringer, bushbuck and vervet monkeys can be seen. The resorts on the lake offer boating, swimming, waterskiing, pedaloes and sunbathing on their lovely beaches. Hike the Nyika Plateau, a popular attraction for trekking and walking. There is excellent walking on the Zomba and Viphya Plateaux and climbing on Mount Mulanje, which, at 3,000m, is the highest mountain in central Africa. Dedza, Michiru, Ndirande and Chiradzulu also offer challenging slopes. |
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| Capital: | Lilongwe (LLW) |
| Currency: | Kwacha (MWK) |
| Language: | English |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 265 |
| Time Zones: | UTC/GMT +2 hours (Same as South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Left. South African drivers' licences are recognised in SADC countries (Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). It is recommended that a letter of verification be obtained from the South African Department of Transport. |
| Best Time to go: | May to November |
| Best for: | National Parks, Lake Malawi |
| Plugs: | 230 volts AC, 50Hz. The standard plug is square three-pin. |
| Drinking Water: | All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Milk is unpasteurised. |
| Health: | Medical facilities are very limited. It is advisable to carry basic medical supplies. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended and it should include emergency air evacuation coverage. |
| Customs: | Dress should be modest. Swimwear should be reserved for the beach. |
| Local Offences / Laws: | Homosexuality is illegal. |
| Travel Tips / Warnings: | Credit cards are not widely accepted and ATMs are scarce. |
| Duty Free: | The following goods may be imported into Malawi by passengers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 225g of tobacco in any form. • 1L of spirits and 1L of beer and 1L of wine. |
| Prohibited Imports: | Prohibited or restricted imports include arms and ammunition, flick knives, game traps, pharmaceutical products, gold, sugar, wild animals and their products, and some foods (eg bananas, potatoes and uncooked meat). |
Issuing Authorities
Malawi High Commission, Pretoria
770 Government Avenue, Arcadia 0083
Tel: 012 430 9900/ 012 342 0146 / 1749
E-mail: info@malawihighcommission.co.za
Web: www.malawihighcommission.co.za
Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 09:00-12:00, 13:30-16:30
Fri: 09:00-13:00
NOTE: No visa processing takes place at the High Commission.
Malawi Consulate-General, Johannesburg
4 Dodge Road, Woodmead, 2157, Sandton
Tel: 011 234 3938 / 011 803 4919
E-mail: info@malawiconsulate.co.za
Website: www.malawiconsulate.co.za
Hours:
Mon/Tue/Thur 09:00-13:00
Fri: 09:00-12:00
Closed Wednesdays
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1, 15; Mar 3, 31; Apr 18-19, 21; May 1, 14; Jul 6-7; Oct 15; Dec 25-26
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1, 15; Mar 3, 20; Apr 3-4, 6; May 1, 14; Jul 6; Oct 15; Dec 25-26, 28
Visa Requirements
Visas are not required by SA passport holders.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- Passengers must be in possession of a valid passport (valid minimum 6 months after departure) with a minimum of 2 blank pages.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa applications can be made online at evisa.gov.mw.
Payments are made online via debit/credit card.
NOTE: The E-Visa must be printed and presented on arrival
SA Representative
SA High Commission
Area 40, Plot 19, Convention Drive, Lilongwe
Tel: +26 5 177 3722
E-mail: sahclilongwe@dirco.gov.za
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover) |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio |
| Malaria Risk. Anti-malaria tablets are strongly recommended and are to be taken 3 days before departure to Malawi. |
