Welcome to Malawi - The warm heart of Africa........
Malawi is landlocked & located in southeastern Africa. Bordered in the North and East by Tanzania, on the east, south and southwest by Mozambique and to the west by Zambia & lying within the Great African Rift Valley system.
Referred to often as the Calender Lake or Lake Nyasa - Lake Malawi is the county’s centerpiece - a body of water some 365 miles long and 52m wide, about 1,500 ft above sea level and taking up most of the country - Like an inland sea, it has endless palm fringed beaches & is enclosed by sheer mountains, making it undeniably the focal point for Malawi’s tourists. To the north there are rugged highlands with rolling hills in the Nyika and Vwanza plateaux, whilst in the South, traversing the escarpment that forms part of the Great African Rift Valley, lie the lowlands of the Shire Valley.
Much of the land surface is plateau between 900 to 1,220 m (3,000 to 4,000 ft) above sea level. Elevations rise of over 2,440 m (8,000 ft) in the Nyika Plateau in the north and in the regions of Mt. Mulanje 3,050 m (10,000 ft) and Mt. Zomba 2,135 m (7,000 ft). The Cooler Shire highlands in the south are lower with elevations from 610 m (2,000 ft) to 900 m (3,000 ft).
Getting to us here in the Warm heart of Africa is all dependent on the amount of time on your hands and funds available - traditionally international flights will arrive in the capital in Lilongwe (central) but flights via J’brg in South Africa will arrive in Blantyre (south) - overland travel can be organised via South Africa either by an organised tour of several countries following a tried and tested path through the likes of Mozambique & Zimbabwe, or Botswana & Zambia (more so this way these days).
Travel advice for Malawi......
VISAS & IMMIGRATION
• A valid passport, with at least six months to expiry date from intended exit date, is required to enter Malawi. If your passport is likely to expire you should get a new one before arriving.
• Visas are not obtainable at points of entry must be organised prior to travelling through the nearest Malawian Embassy or High Commission.
• Visa are required by all but the following passport holders: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Malawi has diplomatic representation in Belgium (Brussels), Canada (Ontario) France (Paris) Germany (Bonn), Japan (Tokyo), Kenya (Nairobi), Mozambique (Maputo), Namibia (Windhoek) South Africa (Pretoria), UK (London), USA (Washington), Zambia (Lusaka) and Zimbabwe (Harare). Malawian Tourist & Embassy offices around the world - this link will give you the info on where to find closest embassy to you should you need more advice on Visa’s and travel requirements - as will this one.
• Visitors passes are required by all foreign passport holders and these can be obtained, free of charge, at the point of entry.
• Visitor’s passes are valid for 1 month and can easily be extended, up to a maximum of 90 days, at any of the immigration offices which can be found in most major towns.
• It is best to ensure that you have an outward bound ticket or can show sufficient funds to support your stay in the country.
Sky links Travel Bureau
Based here in Malawi they are an authority on travel and the many ways you can find your way here - where ever you are in the world - They can further assist with bookings & transport on arrival.
Names and numbers you can contact are as follows:
Farriya Hassen +265 (0)8290985
Komal Rajani +265 (0)8844061
James Chikaonda +265 (0)8864973
Opodo travel
A flight comparison site for 9 leading airlines - very easy to use and gives you information required in a quick, easy, uncomplicated fashion.
Kayak - Flight comparison
Another site that sifts and sorts the masses of options out there and presents in a manner that allows you to see the wood from the trees.
Airlines that regularly travel direct to Malawi
Find Ethiopian Arilines flights to Malawi
Find KLM flights to Malawi
Find Kenya Airways flights to Malawi
Find South African Airways flights to Malawi
Find Air Malawi Flights (internal & international)
Overland Options: Johannesburg – Blantyre
Enquire as you go, but Vaal Africa generally provide a good quality reliable services with air-con, comfortable seating & reasonable rates - Blantyre to J’brg can generally take 24 hours to complete - but it is a much cheaper option than flying if you are on a budget with a day to spare.
We called Vaal Africa so this information is up to date and should be correct! (01/04/08!) - prices around $75-$80 one way
Contact Booking Numbers:
In Malawi - +265 (0)1821265 / +265 (0)9217194
In S.A - +27 (0)114037402 / +27 (0)829016032
The bus departs Joburg (cnr Smit and Melle St, Braamfontein, Close to Park Station) at 9am on Thursdays.
The Bus departs Blantyre (Glynn Jones road, Caltex filling station) at 9am Sundays.
.Malawi Links
Please find below links to all our friends in the Cape so that if you can’t find your home at Gecko, you will be able to catch your z’s somewhere else and still come see us for a drink or ten.
Jambo Africa
Booking office based in Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre where advice & itineraries can be planned and booked in detail along with payment made via intl bank transfers or credit cards. The delightful Annie will be able to assist with all types of inquiries and take care of all other aspects of your trip such as car hire, drivers, transfers, flight advice & general logistics. She can be reached via the following contact details:
Tel: +265 (0) 1823709 / 835356
Fax: +265 (0) 1823709
Mobile: +265 (0) 8902421
Kayak Africa
Kayak Africa operates a top class exclusive operation giving guests a unique & memorable experience on the two private islands off the cape lakeshore on Domwe (self catered) & Mumbo (all inclusive).
Danforth Yachts
High class accommodation, beautiful boat trips & damn fine food at the far end of the lakeshore.
Gaia House
Chilled out flower power serenity can be found at this delightful hammock laden & tall tree shaded corner of the cape - Liinu & Kelly have rooms for hire & a very good restaurant as well - very close to Gecko just a minutes walk up the beach.
Chembe Eagles Nest
En-suite Accommodation, bar & restaurant that is located at the end of the bay it has an idyllic setting with less hustle and bustle from the village. The Catamaran, Mama Africa, is available for hire & can be organised from Gecko via ourselves as well. For Bookings please contact Kevin on +265 5475688.
Fat Monkeys
Long term resident in the Cape - plenty of rooms as well as a bar & restaurant.
The Billy Riordan Clinic
Based here in the village and supported via overseas charity work & expat volunteers based here over 3 to 6 month periods, the clinic is available to the 15000 people of Chembe village and has made a huge difference to the way of life here in Cape Maclear - you can read more about the story how it came to be at the following link: Billy Riordan Clinic and all donations sent via the relevant link are gratefully received and go to a worthy cause.
Elsewhere in Malawi....
There are plenty of places to choose from elsewhere on your travels in Malawi - a beautiful varied country that you should explore to its fullest - here’s a few of the deatils of other recommended stops to check out on your travels:
Blantyre - Jambo House you can book via Jambo Africa while Pedros is a decent stop over based in Sunnyside. Further afield there is Fishermans rest which can take group bookings.
Zomba - Visiting Ronald at the Zomba Forest Lodge is definitely our best recommendation - fantastic setting hidden away on the top of the plateau and Ronald is an excellent guide to the area should you wish to do a bit of hiking around to check out the likes of chingwi’s hole and the breathtaking views of Zomba.
Liwonde - Mvuu Camp or Chinguni Hills for a few nights to see the wild side of Malawi’s wide open plains and expansive lake waters would be our bet.
Mangochi/Monkey Bay area - Nachengwa Lodge is a fantastic spot to stop off en-route to the Cape - run by Ryan & Dani, you can contact them on +2659274696 or +2658747620 with a view to booking either non-ensuite A-frames for 3159kw pp per night with b.fast or En-suite rooms for 5600kw pp per night with b.fast.
www.normancarrcottage.com is another highly recommended place along this lakeshore - with all inclusive prices for beautifully designed lakeside rooms & contactable via & +2659207506 or +2658355357.
Senga Bay - We always call in to say hey to Sam of Cool Runnings +265 (0)9915173 & email: on our way to where ever - lakeside on the beach with double rooms, dorms, camping and the caravan of love all available for resting your head - while the food is excellent and the bar is well stocked and character filled. Speedboat transfers to us here in the Cape can be organised from here for $190 taking a max total of 7 people.
Lilongwe - Seeing Tom & Janey at Mabuya Camp or if booked then try Kiboko Town hotel or would be our suggestions for ports of call - along with evening meals at Don Brioni’s and drinks at Alexanders or Harrys!!
Nkata Bay - Mayoka Village on +265 (0)9268595 or Butterfly Lodge are both perfectly placed, rich in life and definitely enticing enough to make you extend your stay long after you’d planned to leave.
CLIMATE
The variable altitude of Malawi provides wide differences in climate. The lowest point is where the Shire Valley approaches its confluence with the Zambezi River, at about 100 ft above sea level. The vast water surface of Lake Malawi also profoundly affects the climate. The margins of the lake have long hot seasons and high humidity, with mean annual temperatures of 24°C (75°F). The temperature generally decreases and the rainfall increases with altitude. Malawi is noted for its rapid transitions from low to high rainfall. Trade winds and cool maritime air bring clouds and drizzly rain to the mountains in the east which rise to over 1,830 m (6,000 ft). The tea belt profits from both winter and summer rains, and the high plateau area offers opportunities for afforestation because of heavy rainfall. Winters are cool, with occasional spells of cold weather.
In general, the seasons may be divided into the cool (May to mid-August); the hot (mid August to November); the rainy (November to April), with rains continuing longer in the northern and eastern mountains, and the post-rainy (April-May), with temperatures falling in May. Zomba has extreme temperatures of 35°C and 7°C (95°F and 45°F) and considerable rainfall. Lilongwe, in central Malawi, at an elevation of 1,036 (3,400 ft) has a moderately warm climate with adequate rainfall and extreme temperatures of 36°C and -3.4°C (97°F and 26°F). The ultra-violet rays are very strong in Malawi and burn times very short - great care should be taken.
More information can be found at the following link - Weather in Malawi
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
The Busiest times at the lake are always when the crowds pour out the cities and head for Lake Malawi’s cool clear waters - We always make sure there’s a good time waiting for them - dates to look out for are as follows:
January 1st - New Years Day
January 16th - John Chilembwe Day
March 3rd - Martyrs Day
March/April - Good Friday & Easter Monday
May 1st - Labour Day
14 June - Freedom Day
July 6th - Republic Day
2nd Monday in October - Mothers Day
2nd Monday in December - National Tree Planting Day (not sure about this one!!!!)
December 25th - Christmas Day
December 26th - Boxing Day
Ilala Ferry - Bookings, prices, schedule
The MV Ilala is a venerable old 620 ton tramp steamer that has tirelessly worked it’s way up and down the lake shore for more than half a century. Currently the vessel begins its voyage on a Friday morning from Monkey Bay in the far south and zigzags its way north, stopping at both Malawian and Mozambican ports and anchorages. Although tourists do use the ship, the majority of passengers in steerage are villagers moving and trading round the lake. For Tourists the journey is usually made back & between Monkey Bay & Nkata Bay with a stop at Likoma island - there is a top deck with bar and restaurant and cabins available as well.
It is possible to book tickets in advance via ourselves - just email and we will contact the lake services and establish ticket availability etc on your behalf - we will endeavour to give you exact costings & time-frames of arrival and departure for the period you are booking for (as with everything in Africa - timetables are flexible) & also arrange transport to and from the Ferry if you wish as well - the general weekly schedule is as follows:
• Friday - Ilala will leave around 10-11am depending on African time keeping & general levels of commotion on the day. As a rule the boat usually tries to leave 2 or 3 hours after arrival at all ports.
• Saturday - Ilala will dock at Likoma Island around 6-7pm - if heading this way you should contact Lauren running Mango Drift on +265 (0)9746122
• Sunday - Around 4 or 5am you will arrive in Nkata Bay - here we recommend getting in touch with Mayoka Village on +265 (0)9268595
• Sunday - Evening time you should arrive in Chilumba
• Monday - Around 2-3am the boat will sail back on the trail to Monkey bay from whence it came - docking in Nkata Bay in the afternoon.
• Tuesday - Around 4 or 5am the boat will dock at Likoma
• Wednesday late /early Thursday - The Ilala will arrive back at port in Monkey Bay for unloading, servicing, crew changes & general maintenance ready to start again on the Friday Morning.
Tourists & travellers tend to use the first class top deck for travel - booking either just being out under the stars on the deck all night or in one of the 7 cabins. General indicative price levels for each destination are as follows: (as of July 2008 & subject to change due to overheads such as fuel price rises etc & variance of cross rates).
Northbound – Owners Cabin – Std Cabin – 1st class Deck only
Mky Bay - Likoma — 24630kw ($170) — 17690kw ($122) — 9610kw ($66)
Mky bay - Nkata Bay — 27600kw ($190) — 19800kw ($136) — 11510kw ($80)
Mky Bay - Chilumba — 39450kw ($272) — 28240kw ($195) — 16110kw ($111)
• The “Owners Cabin” of which there is only one available - has air-con, fridge, 2 x single beds & en-suite - situated on the top deck.
• There are 4 x double single bed cabins & 2 x single bed cabins - situated on the top deck.
• “1st Class top deck only” means no bed for the night - but you can pitch a tent if you have one at no extra cost & you can hire a mattress for around 200kw as well.
There is a boat service available from the dock of the Ilala in Monkey Bay around to Cape Maclear for the cost of around 20000kw / $140-$145 total & can take up to 10 people at a time - so the 10 split the cost between them - The Ilala staff or/and ourselves can arrange this for you. With the time and hassles of getting from Monkey Bay to the Cape via road if you have enough people in your party to make the costs justifiable then it is very much worth doing. They can also collect from Cape Maclear as well. Cars can be transported on the ferry as well - pls contact MLS directly for quotes and list of ports where this is possible (cost is around 30000kw from Monkey Bay to Nkata Bay for one vehicle, last we checked in Feb 2008).
