Experience the Beauty Of
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Experience the beauty of www.visitmalawi.mw Introduction ‘Takulandirani’ a warm welcome awaits alawi is not only The Warm number of newly built camps and sail and swim in its delightfully warm MHeart of Africa, but also the smart lodges will testify – and and crystal-clear waters. genuinely friendly, safe and in many overall animal and visitor numbers ways undiscovered heart of Africa – an are rising as a result of efforts by the Soaring exclusive destination that is just that Department of National Parks and little bit different from its better-known Wildlife and those working closely Away from the lake, visitors are neighbours. with the Department. attracted by walking and climbing, especially in the Mulanje Massif, with It’s a place where tourists seem to be But wildlife and birds are not the only its soaring peaks of up to 3,000 metres, travellers. Typically, they are visitors reasons to visit Malawi. where climbers will find excellent who already know Africa but now seek facilities including teams of willing a more varied and altogether broader Perhaps like no other country, Malawi porters. Visitors can also go horse experience. In fact, Malawi’s unique is dominated by a lake. In fact, Lake riding (even within Nyika National Park) selling point is the sheer variety of Malawi, the third-largest in Africa, and mountain biking. things to see and do in a comparatively covers an impressive 20 per cent of confined area. the country’s total surface area. It is The Shire Highlands area around thought to contain more species of fish Mulanje is the heart of Malawi’s famous Malawi has great and improving game – many of them endemic – than any tea-growing region. Both Mulanje and parks and reserves (there are nine, in other body of water on earth. Thyolo have tea plantations featuring fact) with a broad and growing range restored colonial estate houses where of species, great birdwatching, varied The main attractions of Lake Malawi guests are treated to old-style service climates and interesting topographies. are its discreet island hideaway and delicious home cooking. properties, its surprisingly smart Malawi’s parks and reserves are lakeside lodges and the great Then there is the cultural life, which growing in popularity – as the opportunities to dive, snorkel, kayak, has a higher profile in Malawi than in Karonga TAA NZANIA Rumphi ZAMBIA Mzuzu Nkhata Bay NORTHERNNORTH Mzimba L a ZAMBIA k e M a l a w i M O ZAMBIQUE Nkhotakota ‘Takulandirani’ a warm welcome awaits Kasungu MAMALAALAWALAAALAWWI Ntchisi C ENTRAA L Dowa Mchinji Salima many other African destinations. Most Lilongwe itineraries drawn up by tour operators will include some aspects of the local Dedza culture – the cuisine, the ceremonies Mangochi and the lifestyle – with opportunities Lake to interact with local people. Malombe Ntcheu In terms of getting around, the M O ZAMBIQ U E national road network has been Machinga greatly improved. Journey times e have been shortened between Lake Zomba Lake S h i r Chilwa Malawi and both Lilongwe and Mwanza Blantyre as well as to and from the SOUTHERNSSOUTOUT E main parks and reserves. This has Chiradzulu made itinerary planning more certain, Blantyre 3000m allowing tour operators to intensify Chikhwawa Mulanje trips in terms of what to see and do. S h i r Thyolo e National Parks and Wildlife Reserves Whether one is arriving as a tourist or travelling on business, Malawi is Commercial Airports a place that visitors always want to Aerodromes return to; and for those posted to Malawi from overseas, it is a place Chongoni Rock Paintings Nsanje they don’t ever seem to want to leave. Lake Malawi National Park (World Heritage Site) Malawi The Warm Heart of Africa www.visitmalawi.mw Getting there 10 REASONS TO VISIT From Europe and North Malawi using the most modern equipment and shortest routes from MALAWI America Europe. This is complemented by the • Pleasant climate Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa), easiest-ever access to both Blantyre KLM (via Nairobi with Kenya and Lilongwe from all Malawi’s neigh- • Peaceful and compact Airways), South African Airways (via bouring countries and South Africa Johannesburg) • Big on hospitality Visas • Lake Malawi Regional airlines flying All nationalities require visa to enter • Africa’s newest Big Five to and from Malawi Malawi, except for: destination Malawian Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Fast Jet, Kenya Airways, South African • Nationals from the Southern Africa • Authentic nature Airways. Development Community (SADC) experience countries, except for those countries that subject Malawians to a visa • Attractive outdoor Airports within SADC; sporting conditions Most international flights land at • Nationals from the Common Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, but • Rich cultural heritage Market for Eastern and Southern several flights, especially those from Africa (COMESA) countries, except • Local delicacies Johannesburg and Harare, land at the for those countries that subject business centre of Blantyre in the south. • Popular events Malawians to a visa within COMESA; There are internal flights throughout • Diplomats accredited to Malawi; the country. With the growth of tourism there, Likoma Island now has its own • All diplomatic and service/official bituminised runway and serviced airport. passport holders coming for official business; Malawian Airlines • Other ordinary passport holders coming on official government business. Malawi’s national carrier is Malawian Airlines. Since 2014 and the transfor- mation of national air services through privatisation, it has been managed by Ethiopian Airlines. These two airlines offer the widest selection of departure points for Customs and immigration Officials try to make your arrival and departure as trouble-free as possible and baggage handling is efficient. Our brand essence The usual personal allowances are granted. Travelling overland, Malawi has become a very popular staging post Malawi tourism’s brand essence rests for trans-Africa travellers and it is a on three major competitive very good country in which to begin an attributes namely: African trip. Many tour operators offer • Rich in contrast - diverse lake experience, variety of packages into and out of Malawi and landscapes, habitats, climates and cultural assets there are regular coach services from Johannesburg and Harare. • Compact in size - short distances between attractions, comparatively little crowded When to visit • Big in hospitality - Peaceful environment, neighbourly Malawi is always beautiful. The cooler social interaction, tolerant and authentic relationship with months (May to August/September) are visitors and other cultures. more comfortable for travellers from the northern hemisphere, but the lush, The Malawi tourism logo depicts the country’s core tourist green summer (November to April) products which are as follows: is also a good time to visit. May and June combine the best of both seasons • Red – represents the warmth and friendliness of the – cooler, still green with great visibility – people of Malawi and are especially good for photography. Country dirt roads are sometimes • Gold within the heart – represents the richness of Malawi’s impassable to normal vehicles during numerous natural resources heavy rains. Game viewing is best in the • Blue – represents the lakes and rivers of Malawi, with hottest times of the dry season when the striped blue depicting enchanting waves of the fresh the animals are forced to visit water waters of Lake Malawi sources, but the countryside is more attractive in the wetter, greener months. • Green – represents the country’s nature and wildlife. Birdwatchers enjoy their best sightings in October and November. Malawi The Warm Heart of Africa www.visitmalawi.mw Wilderness and wildlife Experience our wildlife THINGS TO DO or the first time in many years, great conservation success stories, a FMalawi now offers Big Five game public-private partnership between • Game drives viewing in some of Africa’s best government and African Parks in managed and least crowded national Liwonde National Park, Majete and • Hiking parks and reserves. Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserves has • Birdwatching seen a lot of investment in conser- Malawi’s Department of National vation and enforcement into these • Walking safari Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) is protected areas. These initiatives have • Biking safaris responsible for 12 protected areas transformed some of Malawi’s wildlife comprising five national parks, four reserves from neglected, rarely visited • Botanical safaris wildlife reserves and three sanctuaries. reserves containing a few animals to Thanks to some innovative ideas thrilling Big Five destinations. As a • Canoeing in relation to game management, result, animals and species numbers • Sport fishing Malawi has transformed its wildlife are on the increase. This upbeat and wilderness areas. In one of the assessment contrasts sharply with • Star gazing the situation of a few years ago when • Riverboat safari poaching and issues of land use were a major problem. • White water rafting Much remains to be done, but Malawi • Community and village is moving in the right direction as it tours seeks to restore its national parks and reserves to their former glory, both naturally and with the help of restocking and careful translocation. Experience our wildlife Lake Malawi National Park is Malawi’s smallest and is also a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is the first established freshwater, underwater national park in Africa. The diversity of the lake’s native fish species is unparalleled in the More rangers have been engaged; Accessibility to our world, with 400 documented species highway links are being improved, as national parks of cichlids of which all but five are well as the tracks inside the parks and endemic. The park has its centre on the reserves. Moreover, the signposting Most of our national parks are accessible Nankumba Peninsula, but contains a is much better now. New camps and throughout the year and have airstrips total of 13 islands. lodges, often with local community for chartered flights. However, the use involvement, are appearing in greater of 4x4 vehicles is highly recommended, numbers, too.