MALAWI (FORMERLY NYASALAND)
Size : 118,485 sq km
Capital city : Lilongwe
Government : Democratic Republic, member of the
Commonwealth
Official Language : English. Indigenous langauges
vary from region to region.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Geography
Advertised as 'The warm heart of Africa', this land
locked country 825 kms long (515 miles) and 160kms (100
miles) wide certainly lives up to its reputation! Tucked
in between Mozambique to the east and south, Zambia in
the west and Tanzania in the north, Malawi is dominated
by the great Rift Valley which runs from the Red Sea to
tribuatries of the Zambesi river in the south with
subsidiary fractures occurring as far west as Botswana.
20% of the lands surface is covered by water,
predominantly by a fresh water inland 'sea', the 11th
biggest lake in the world and the 3rd largest in
Africa.Stretching a distance of of approx 560kms (365
miles) from north to South and 85 kms wide (52 miles)
from east to west, its drained by the mighty Shire river
which follows the course of the rift valley southwards
to link up with the Zambesi river.
In some places the top of the rift valley towers about
1500kms above the waters whilst major heights include
Sapitwa on Mt Mlanje 3030 meters high (10,000 feet) in
the southeast of the country and the Nyika plateau in
the north.
Climate : There are three seasons in Malawi :
-
Nov -
April : the hottest and wettest months of the year.
-
May - Aug
: dry with balmy days.
-
Sept -
Oct : very hot and dry.
Average
rainfall is about 1000mm (35 inches) per annun
Vegetation
Over half of the countries surface area is covered by
Brachystegia woodland but because of the burgeoning
population has been degraded in many areas opening up
areas to erosion so common in Africa. Taller trees often
having a closed canopy are found on the heights,
including the famed Mlanje mountain cedars whilst in the
lowlands of the Shire river, acacia and scrub lands
dominate.
Conservation
Because of the high numbers of people living in the
country, national parks and conservation areas are
limited. Liwonde reserve, the best of these, will be
found on the upper shores of the Shire river well
stocked with elephant, hippopotami, crocodiles, water
buck, leguvaans (water monitors) with a chance of seeing
lions (last seen a few years ago which had wandered in
from neighbouring Mozambique) the elusive leopard,
civets, genets and mongooses. For the orthonologist, its
a birders delight with Pels Fishing Owl eagerly sought
after. Plains game too are in abundance whilst the boat
trip up river from the Liwonde Barrage to the park is
not to be missed.
Bush luxury and camping are either options one can
choose from when in the park..
In the north of the country, the Nyika plateau offers
stunning view of the lake far below in the east and can
be explored on foot (one option being to the source of
the Luangwa river in neighbouring Zambia) or on
horseback. Warthog, leopard - reputedly in numbers,
reedbuck, bush buck, side striped jackal, eland,
buffalo, Burchells zebra (and much more)predominate the
heights which are drained by crystal clear streams into
the valleys below. Very good, reasonably priced
accommodation from camping to upmarket lodges are
available. Access by road is difficult and more reliance
is being made of charter aircraft in and out of the
park.
Other conservation areas include Vwaza Marsh with game
viewing on your doorstep,Kasungu National park on the
Zambian border where game viewing is seasonal, and Lake
Malawi national park where game is preyed upon by local
population living on the borders of this rarely
patrolled park. Other parks in the south are not worth a
visit at this time although rumours have reached this
desk that conservation efforts have been regenerated to
a degree in some of these areas.
Conservation areas
Some tranquil and almost pristine areas do exist in the
remoter corners of he country and are affordable to the
budget conscious market. This would attract the
traveller keen on studying insects, butterflies and bird
watchers. Animals whose habitat may be located in these
areas include red, grey and blue duiker, bushpig,
monkeys, chicama baboons. leopard and other small
nocturnal animals.
Fish
The major source of protein Chambo(bream) comes from
lake Malawi which is sadly nearing exhausting its stock,
particuarly in the south. However kampango(cat fish) is
relatively abundant as is the mpasa (lake salmon) which
exits in the north of the lake.
But what attracts scuba divers and snorkellers are the
abundance of brightly coloured, fresh water cichlids
whose known variety number anything between 500 - 1000
(possibly) species.They are divided into four main
groups :
-
utaka : a
plakton eating type
-
ncheni :
a pike like looking swimmer
-
mbuna :
the brightly coloured algae eating fish
-
chisawasawa : A bottom feeder
Usipa, a
small sardine like fish similar to the kapenta in lake
Kariba form the bulk of the Malawians diet and will be
found in every market throughout the land.
For the sportsman, fly and lure fishing in the lake and
elsewhere on ultra light tackle fill many hours of
enjoyment. Trout fishing can be enjoyed on the Zomba and
Nyika plateaux.
Birds
Malawi is a paradise for birdwatchers. Over 600 species
have been recorded in the country. The best time for
viewing are the summer months. Areas which produce the
most variety include :
Routings
to Malawi
When including Malawi on your tour itinerary, the
traveller must first access time available before making
a decision on where he/she wants to go. You have two
choices ; air and by road.
By air
For time
conscious travellers, the best way of accessing the
country is by air. From Europe, Malawi is served by
British Airways, KLM and Air France. Within Africa, the
most reliable airline is South African airways which
operates out of Johannesburg and is ably backed up by
the country's carrier ; Air Malawi. Kenyan airways,
Zambian airways and Air Zimbabwe all service the
country. From whatever destination however, one can link
to these airlines to get a flight in and out of the
country. Air Malawi has internal connections to the
major centres and intermittent connections to the north
and the lake shore. On leaving Malawi by air, there is
an obligatory airport tax each traveller must pay prior
to departure
By road
-
From
South Africa : Through Beit Bridge on the Zimbabwean
border, through Harare, to the Nyamapanda border
with Mozambique. On through to Tete and the
'corridor' and Blantyre
-
drive to
the Dedza border post north of Tete and cross.
-
If
wishing to avoid Harare, turn at Msvingo and head
for Mutare crossing into Mozambique at Mahanpanda
and head north for Tete.
-
Enter
Mozambique at Goba border post in Swaziland, drive
up to the Beira corridor, to Dondo, Caia and over
into the south of the country through Nsjane border
post.
-
From
Zambia : along the great eastern highway and
entering at Chipata/Mchinji border post .
-
From
Tanzania Via Mbeya through the Songwe border post in
the north to Karonga
-
From
Mozambique (Nsanje route already described) through
Mlanje in the east or Lichinga/Mangochi at the
southern end of lake Malawi.
Visas for
South African passport holders through countries in
transit and on entering Malawi are not necessary.
However UK passport holders need visas for Mozambique,
Zimbabwe and Zambia which can be purchased at the
border.
Note: For the more intrepid traveller there are other
routings one can choose
from.........................................
