Malawi

Malawi
Malawi🇲🇼

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Traveling to Malawi? Land Connected.

Malawi is the Warm Heart of Africa — a long lake, mountain plateaus and some of the friendliest people on the continent — and the distances between its highlights are best covered with data in hand. Install your CGOO eSIM before you fly and you have maps, mobile money and lodge bookings working from the moment you land at Lilongwe.

Choose the Plan That Fits Your Trip

  • Fixed data or unlimited: pick from the plan grid above by trip length and data use — fixed-data plans for maps, messaging and light browsing, unlimited plans for heavy use and hotspotting.
  • Instant delivery: your QR code and installation link are emailed within minutes of checkout. Install before your flight; validity starts on the day you activate.
  • Coverage note: coverage is strongest in Lilongwe, Blantyre and the lakeshore towns and thins fast on rural roads — download offline maps before you leave the city.

Travel Highlights

  • Lake Malawi: clear-water beaches at Cape Maclear and Senga Bay, with kayaking, snorkelling and lake sunsets.
  • Liwonde National Park: elephants, hippos and birdlife along the Shire River, best by boat safari.
  • Nyika Plateau: rolling high grassland, zebras and mountain biking in the far north.
  • Mount Mulanje: granite peaks and tea estates in the south, with guided multi-day hikes.
  • Likoma Island: a remote island in the lake with a grand cathedral and quiet beaches, reached by boat or small plane.

Getting Around

  • Local ride-hailing apps: the local apps Ulendo and Taxido book rides in Lilongwe and Blantyre — coverage is city-based, so outside the two cities use hotel-called or rank taxis.
  • Airport to the city: from Kamuzu International Airport, use the official taxi rank outside arrivals and agree the fare before loading bags; the airport shuttle minibus to Old Town runs only until early evening.
  • City transport: shared minibuses and shared taxis (matolas) fill the gaps in Lilongwe and Blantyre for a fraction of a private cab fare.
  • Between cities: long-distance coaches run the Lilongwe–Blantyre corridor on the main highway; arrive early, as seats fill fast.

Safety and Practical Tips

Malawi is generally calm for visitors, but keep valuables out of sight in busy markets and bus stations, avoid walking alone after dark in the cities, and be wary of unofficial 'helpers' at the airport steering you to unmarked cars.

Minibus travel is cheap but crowded and slow, and roads are dark outside the cities at night — for evening travel, use a pre-booked car or a hotel taxi rather than a minibus.

Entry and Visa

Entry rules depend on your passport. Most visitors now need an eVisa arranged online in advance — do not rely on the pre-2026 visa-free rules — and carry a passport valid for at least six months and a return or onward ticket.

Weather and Climate

  • Dry season (May to October): the best time to travel — cool, dry days, best for safaris and the lake.
  • Wet season (November to April): hot with afternoon downpours; some dirt roads become impassable.
  • Lilongwe: mild highland temperatures year-round, roughly 15–25°C, cooler at night in the dry season.
  • Lake Malawi: warm year-round, roughly 25–30°C on the lakeshore, with the lake itself warm enough to swim in all year.

Money and Payments

  • Currency: the Malawian kwacha (MWK) — cash is still the default for markets, minibuses and smaller lodges.
  • Mobile money: Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba are widely used for everyday payments, including some taxi and lodge bills.
  • Cards: accepted at larger hotels and lodges, but many places ask for hard-currency card or cash payment separately — carry both.
  • Wise: works wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted — it does not replace the cash and mobile money you will need day to day.