Malawi tours & holidays
Small in geography but large in appeal
Malawi is full of contrasts, the most obvious being that it's a nation of fishermen, despite being landlocked, owing to the clear waters of Lake Malawi. It contains everything from highlands and tropical forests to valleys and top-tier game viewing within its national parks.
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Explore tailor-made tripsMalawi at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Lilongwe
POPULATION
20 million
CURRENCY
Malawian kwacha (MK)
LANGUAGE
Chichewa, English
TIME ZONE
Central Africa Time (GMT+2)
CALLING CODE
+265
ELECTRICITY
Type G (Irish/British 3-pin)
Learn more about Malawi
Best time to visit Malawi
The best time to visit Malawi is during the dry season from late April to October or November. For wildlife viewing, late in the dry season is best as this is when animals converge at water holes, although the afternoons can be long and hot.
The scenery is at its best from May to July when the weather is also less oppressive, although nights can be chilly and local wildlife harder to spot.
The wet season runs from December to March and while the weather can be quite unpredictable, the vegetation will be at its lushest.
Geography and environment
With the third-largest lake in Africa running almost the entire length of its eastern flank, visitors to Malawi often make a beeline to the shores of Lake Malawi and choose to explore no further. And, with calm and cool water that's ideal for all forms of water-based fun, it's easy to see why. But venture a little further afield and you'll discover much natural diversity and changing terrain of forests and game parks, mountains and a fertile plateau.
Malawi travel FAQs
Some foreign nationals – including those from Australia, Ireland, Belgium, the UK and the USA – will be required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to Malawi. Certain nationalities may be able to obtain a visa on arrival. Please check with your nearest Malawi Embassy for more information.
Tipping is generally left up to the discretion of the customer, however if the service in a cafe or restaurant is good, feel free to leave spare change or round up the bill. Many service workers in Malawi receive low wages, so tipping waiters, porters and drivers is considered generous.
Travellers will be able to access the internet at cyber cafes or hotels in Malawi's large cities and towns frequented by tourists. Expect little to no internet access in remote and rural areas.
Mobile phone coverage is generally available in Malawi's large cities and tourist towns. Rural and remote areas may have less network coverage. Remember to activate global roaming with your service provider before leaving home.
Mozambique has a mix of squat toilets and flushable toilets. As a developing nation, expect to adjust to different levels of sanitation. Always carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitiser as these are rarely provided.
- Cup of coffee in a cafe = 210 MWK
- Beer in a bar or restaurant = 140 MWK
- Basic, takeaway lunch = 350 MWK
- Dinner in an inexpensive restaurant = From 420 MWK
Tap water isn't considered safe for tourists to drink. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Ask your leader and accommodation provider for local advice on where drinking water can be accessed. Also, avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit before eating.
Credit cards are used in Malawi's major cities but on a limited basis. Large hotels, restaurants and tourist service providers usually accept credit cards, but expect smaller operators and shops to accept cash only.
ATMs are quite limited, but can be found in Malawi's major cities and areas frequented by tourists. If travelling through rural and remote areas, be aware that there will be limited or no access to ATMs.
Yes, all Intrepid trips support The Intrepid Foundation. In this country, we partner with World Bicycle Relief and Eden: People + Planet. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar matching all traveller donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.
Find out more or make a donation
Eden: People + Planet
Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries, including Kenya and Nepal.
- 1 Jan New Year's Day
- 2 Jan New Year's Day Holiday
- 15 Jan John Chilembwe Day
- John Chilembwe Day Holiday*
- 3 Mar Martyrs' Day
- Good Friday*
- Easter Saturday*
- Easter Monday*
- 1 May Labour Day
- 14 May President Kamuzu Banda's Birthday
- Eid al-Fitr / End of Ramadan*
- Eid al-Fitr / End of Ramadan*
- 6 Jul Independence Day
- Mother's Day*
- 25 Dec Christmas Day
- 26 Dec Boxing Day
*Please note these dates may vary. For a current list of public holidays in Malawi go to World Travel Guide's website.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their adventure. Your leader will record your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of healthcare around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
Learn more about travel insurance
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Travelling from Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State