Travel Summary
- Driving can be hazardous. Drive carefully, avoid travel after dark and in public minibuses. Always wear seat belts. Lock your doors and keep windows closed.
- It is recommended that you a carry a photocopy of your passport and visa with you at all times.
- Most visits to Malawi are trouble-free. 14 British nationals required consular assistance in Malawi in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident: deaths (4 cases); hospitalisations (5 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (1 case). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (30 cases).
- There has been a series of earthquakes in northern Malawi since the end of November 2009. There are no reports of British Nationals being involved.
- There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance. See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice .
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.Crime
Most visits to Malawi are trouble-free, but you should be alert to muggers and bag-snatchers. Avoid walking around quiet areas, especially after dark. You should lock car doors and keep windows closed, especially when stopping your vehicle. Armed car jacking is a risk, especially for drivers of four-by-four vehicles. Do not offer lifts to strangers and be alert to obstructions in the road. Exercise caution with over-friendly people who approach you offering to act as guides or selling goods. Do not accept food or drink from strangers as people have been robbed after eating drugged food. The majority of thefts from visitors take place around the main bus stations in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Thefts are also common at the main ports for the Ilala ferry.House burglaries, including by armed gangs, are common. Be alert to anything unusual and keep on good terms with any staff who have access to the premises. Security precautions at home are as important as on the streets. We advise you to seek security advice from the Mulanje Mountain Club if you intend to climb Mulanje Mountain.
Safeguard valuables and cash. Deposit them in hotel safes, where practical. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, in a separate place to the documents themselves. Lost or stolen passports are sometimes handed to the police within a few days. You should report the loss to the nearest police station as soon as possible, and remain in touch with that station in case of recovery. The High Commission is not always informed when a passport is found. For more general information see our Victims of Crime Abroad page
Political Situation
Malawi Country Profile The 2009 Presidential and Parliamentary elections were conducted in a peaceful environment despite high political tension beforehand. You should avoid demonstrations, rallies and large public gatherings as a precaution.
Local Travel
Road Travel
Malawi has experienced a shortage of fuel for several months, which impacted on business and tourist travel, though the situation has now normalised.Driving in Malawi can be hazardous. Drive carefully, always wear a seatbelt and avoid travel after dark. Potholes, animals, abandoned vehicles and cyclists can often cause serious accidents, as do vehicles travelling at night without lights.
You should be aware that Malawi has a very high rate of fatalities on the road in proportion to the number of vehicles. Travel between towns by public minibus or pick-up truck is not recommended; vehicles are often in poor condition and overloaded. Fatal accidents are frequent and emergency services are basic. Larger coach services do run between the major towns and are more reliable.
The Malawi Police Service has introduced breathalyser tests, and regularly stops vehicles for speeding. Speed cameras are also operated on the main roads. Drivers caught drink driving or speeding can have their licences and/or vehicles confiscated on the spot, for return only after appearance before a magistrate. Convicted drivers face a fine and/or imprisonment. The blood alcohol limit is 0.08g per 100ml of blood, the same as in the UK.
UK driving licences are acceptable in Malawi for up to 90 days; international driving licences for up to a year. For more general information see our Driving Abroad page
Air Travel
As Air Malawi planes do not fly into the UK the UK Civil Aviation Authority has not assessed Malawi’s Department for Civil Aviation for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or European Union aviation safety standards. British Government employees are advised, where possible, to avoid Air Malawi and use other airlines/modes of transport. You should bear this in mind when making travel plans.For more general information see our Airline Security page.
Local laws and customs
Drug taking and smuggling are offences. This includes the purchase and use of cannabis. Punishment can be severe.
Buying uncut precious stones is illegal.
Outside the main tourist areas, women should cover legs and shoulders so as not to offend local sensitivities.
Homosexuality acts are illegal in Malawi. For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.
Entry requirements
Visas
British nationals do not require a visa in advance for tourist visits. Visitors are usually granted 30-day tourist visa at no charge on arrival; these can be renewed up to a maximum of 90 days at the cost of 5,000 Malawi Kwacha. It is recommended that you carry a photocopy of your passport and visa with you at all times.The Malawi High Commission can also advise on other types of entry requirement, and the procedure for longer stays.
You are not allowed to work as a volunteer, even unpaid, on a tourist visa. For details on entry requirements as a volunteer, contact the Malawi High Commission in London for advice.
Passport validity
Passports should be valid for at least 6 months from the proposed date of entry.Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country and/or before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on Malawi's immigration requirements please contact the Malawi High Commission in London.Health
Healthcare standards, particularly in the rural areas of Malawi, are generally poor. Malaria and rabies are common to Malawi. Bilharzia can be contracted in many lake shore areas and rivers. Kasungu National Park is home to tsetse flies carrying sleeping sickness. Outbreaks of gastric intestinal infections and cholera are also common, especially during the rainy season (December to March). Tap water may not be safe to drink, especially in rural areas. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Malawi you should seek immediate medical attention. In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 840,000 adults aged 15 or over in Malawi were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 11.9% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page. You should seek medical advice before travelling to Malawi and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. For more general health information see our Travel Health.
Natural disasters
Earthquakes
Since late November 2009, there has been a series of earthquakes in northern Malawi around Karonga. Some of these have been quite severe, registering up to 6.2 on the Richter scale, and have caused some deaths and damage to buildings. There are no reports of British Nationals being involved.General
Insurance
Since late November 2009, there have been a series of earthquakes in northern Malawi around Karonga. Some of these have been quite severe, registering up to 6.2 on the Richter scale, which have caused some deaths and damage to buildings. There are no reports of British Nationals being involved.
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, covering medical evacuation. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more information see our Travel Insurance page.
If things do go wrong when you are overseas, this isour When Things Go Wrong page.
Registration
You should register with the British High Commission Consular Section in Lilongwe on line at UK in Malawi if you intend to stay in Malawi for more than a few days. If you have any queries you can email LilongweConsular/Passport@fco.gov.uk.
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with can be found Here.
