Malawi
Africa · Lilongwe · MW
Malawi is the warm heart of Africa, the long, narrow country of the southern African interior that lies along the western shore of the enormous lake of the same name, the third-largest body of fresh water on the continent. The country, which keeps the landscape of the great Rift Valley with the lake at its floor, the high plateaus and the mountains of the east and the west, is famous for the extraordinary beauty of its great lake with its golden sands and its crystalline diving, and for the gentle, famously friendly people of the land. The capital of the Lilongwe and the commercial city of the Blantyre anchor the modern nation, while the wild parks of the country, the great park of the Liwonde with its elephants and the high sanctuary of the Nyika with its antelope and its orchids, protect the wildlife of the region. Green, welcoming and devoted to its great lake, Malawi is the serene heart of the southern African world.
Overview
Malawi is a country in Africa. Its capital is Lilongwe and the international dialling code is +265. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English and Chichewa. Local currency is the Malawian Kwacha (MWK). We also list 1 city in Malawi: Lilongwe.
The Lake of the Malawi and the Shores of the Golden Sand
The great lake of the Malawi, the enormous mirror of the fresh water that fills the valley of the rift between the mountains of the country, is the centre and the soul of the republic, the vast inland sea that gives the country its identity and its name. The shoreline of the lake, with its beaches of the golden sand, its jacaranda villages and its clear warm waters, has made the country a beloved retreat of the travellers of the region, and the diving and the snorkelling of the lake, home of the dazzling colorful cichlid fish, are among the great freshwater experiences of the world. The islands and the bays of the lakeshore, from the famous beach of the Cape Maclear to the sailing of the Nankoma, complete the picture of the tropical inland sea of the warm heart of the country.
The Capital of the Lilongwe and the Markets of the Nation
The capital of the Lilongwe, the planned garden city of the centre of the country that the government moved the seat of power to in the seventies, is the modern political heart of the nation, a green, relaxed city of the broad avenues, the ministries and the diplomatic quarter. The old town of the capital, the lively commercial core of the market stalls, the shops and the bus station of the country, holds the everyday energy of the city, and the great market of the capital with its fruits, its vegetables, its textiles and the huge central bale of the second-hand clothing trade is the vivid centre of the commerce of the town. The cultural village and the museums of the capital, the wildlife reserve of the city and the gardens of the Lilongwe complete the picture of the easy continuing capital of the country of the lake.
The Massif of the Mulanje and the Tea of the Highlands
The massif of the Mulanje, the great granite plateau that rises with the sheer green walls of its remote peaks from the plains of the south-east of the country, is the adventure mountain of the republic, an enormous island of the forest and the bare rocks on the horizon of the tea country. The plateau, cut by the deep river valleys and crowned by the highest peak of the country, offers the hiking and the rock climbing of the region, with the huts and the waterfalls strung along the classic traverses. The tea estates of the surrounding highlands, the far-flung green carpets of the plantations, produce the celebrated teas of the region, and the guided visits of the factories, together with the mountain sunrise, complete the gentle highland world of the nation.
The Sanctuary of the Nyika and the Wild Plateau of the North
The plateau of the Nyika, the great grassy dome of the north of the country that rises to the border with the neighbouring state, forms the high sanctuary of the same name, the largest protected area of the country and the extraordinary wilderness of the rolling montane grassland. The plateau, above the midpoint of the altitude with its frosty nights, its forests of the river valleys and its endless waving grass, offers the classic game viewing of the country's northern wilds, with its roan antelopes, its eland herds, its zebras and the remarkable profusion of the orchids of the rainy season. The hiking and the horseback safaris of the sanctuary, with their wild dog sightings and their viewpoints over the borders of the region, give the visitor the unique, high, cool and rarely crowded experience of the wild interior of the north of the republic.
The Parks of the Rivers and the Hippos of the Shire
The river of the Shire, the great outlet of the lake that flows from the southern shore of the country through the lower valley toward the rivers of the Zambezi, runs the dramatic wildlife corridor of the nation, between the parks of the Liwonde and the reserves of the southern lowlands. The national park of the Liwonde, the flagship of the game viewing of the country that spreads along the lagoons and the palm groves of the great river, protects the elephants, the buffaloes, the sable antelope and the abundant hippos and crocodiles of the water. The boat cruises of the river, threading the channels past the hippo schools and the enormous bird colonies, the walking safaris of the riparian forest and the night drives of the park complete the dense, wet, powerful safari climax of the southern heart of the warm country.
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- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Currency
- Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
- Languages
- English, Chichewa
- Calling code
- +265
- Internet TLD
- mw
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Malawi.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Malawi?
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Malawi?
You pay with Malawian Kwacha (MWK) in Malawi. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Malawi?
The languages we list for Malawi are English and Chichewa. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Malawi?
The dialling code for Malawi is +265 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Malawi do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Malawi: Lilongwe (capital).