Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• British nationals should avoid rallies, demonstrations and public gatherings and remain vigilant.
  
  
• Most visits to Malawi are trouble-free. 10 British nationals required consular assistance in Malawi in the period 01 April 2009 – 31 March 2010. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance. See the General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Safety and Security - Crime
Most visits to Malawi are trouble-free, but you should be alert to muggers and bag-snatchers. Avoid walking around quiet areas, especially after dark.

Lock car doors and keep windows closed, especially when stopping your vehicle. Armed carjacking is a risk, especially for drivers of four-by-four vehicles. Do not offer lifts to strangers and be alert to obstructions in the road.

Exercise caution with over-friendly people who approach you offering to act as guides or selling goods. Do not accept food or drink from strangers as people have been robbed after eating drugged food.

The majority of thefts from visitors take place around the main bus stations in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Thefts are also common at the main ports for the Ilala ferry.

House burglaries, including by armed gangs, are common. There has been an increase in break-ins in the city of Blantyre and Limbe, including violent assaults on residents. It is important to regularly review your security systems and be alert to anything unusual. Security precautions at home are as important as on the streets. Seek security advice from the Mulanje Mountain Club if you intend to climb Mulanje Mountain.

Safeguard valuables and cash. Deposit them in hotel safes, where practical. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, in a separate place to the documents themselves.

Lost or stolen passports are sometimes handed to the police within a few days. Report the loss to the nearest police station as soon as possible, and remain in touch with that station in case of recovery. The High Commission is not always informed when a passport is found.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel 
Driving in Malawi can be hazardous. Always wear a seatbelt and avoid travel after dark. Potholes, animals, abandoned vehicles and cyclists can often cause serious accidents, as do vehicles travelling at night without lights.

Malawi has a very high rate of fatalities on the road. Travel between towns by public minibus or pick-up truck is not recommended; vehicles are often in poor condition and overloaded. Fatal accidents are frequent and emergency services are basic. Larger coach services do run between the major towns and are more reliable.

The Malawi Police Service has introduced breathalyser tests, and regularly stops vehicles for speeding. Speed cameras are also operated on the main roads. Drivers caught drink driving or speeding can have their licences and/or vehicles confiscated on the spot, for return only after appearance before a magistrate. Convicted drivers face a fine and/or imprisonment. The blood alcohol limit is 0.08g per 100ml of blood, the same as in the UK.

Fuel (petrol & diesel) shortages occur in Malawi from time to time and when they do, there are often long queues at fuel stations. Travellers to Malawi should be aware that in-country travel plans when hiring vehicles may be affected during times of shortages.

When driving in Malawi – a valid driving license should be carried at all times, as you may be required to produce it at police check points. Drivers are encouraged to slow down in all built-up areas. Traffic police often place speed cameras in some built up areas where there are no signs showing the speed limit. For such traffic offences, the police impose on the spot fines.

UK driving licences are acceptable in Malawi for up to 90 days; international driving licences for up to a year. See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
As Air Malawi planes do not fly into the UK the UK Civil Aviation Authority has not assessed Malawi’s Department for Civil Aviation for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or European Union aviation safety standards. British Government employees are advised, where possible, to avoid Air Malawi and use other airlines/modes of transport; bear this in mind when making travel plans.

For more general information see our Airline Security page.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Malawi Country Profile
British nationals should avoid rallies, demonstrations and public gatherings and remain vigilant. If you are in an area where you believe your safety is threatened, leave the area immediately. We advise that you actively monitor media coverage of local events and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

The British High Commissioner was expelled from Malawi in April 2011. While the UK continues to be concerned about trends in governance, including freedom of expression and minority rights, the UK and Malawi maintain formal diplomatic relations. The British High Commission remains open and continues to provide normal consular services to British nationals.

Frequent shortages of foreign exchange are becoming commonplace in Malawi.

Drug taking and smuggling are offences. This includes the purchase and use of cannabis. Punishment can be severe.

Buying uncut precious stones is illegal.

Outside the main tourist areas, women should cover legs and shoulders so as not to offend local sensitivities.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Malawi.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals do not require a visa in advance for tourist visits. Visitors are usually granted 30-day tourist visa at no charge on arrival; these can be renewed up to a maximum of 90 days at the cost of 5,000 Malawi Kwacha. It is recommended that you carry a photocopy of your passport and visa with you at all times.

The Malawi High Commission can also advise on other types of entry requirement, and the procedure for longer stays.

You are not allowed to work as a volunteer, even unpaid, on a tourist visa. For details on entry requirements as a volunteer, contact the Malawi High Commission in London for advice.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Malawi. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
For information on Malawi's immigration requirements please contact the Malawi High Commission in London.

Healthcare standards, particularly in the rural areas of Malawi, are generally poor.

Malaria and rabies are common to Malawi. Bilharzia can be contracted in many lake shore areas and rivers. Kasungu National Park is home to tsetse flies carrying sleeping sickness. Outbreaks of gastric intestinal infections and cholera are also common, especially during the rainy season (December to March).

Tap water may not be safe to drink, especially in rural areas. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Malawi you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 800,000 adults aged 15 or over in Malawi were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 11.0% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Malawi and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. For more general health information see our Travel Health page.

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes
Since late November 2009, there has been a series of earthquakes in northern Malawi around Karonga. Some of these have been quite severe, registering up to 6.2 on the Richter scale, and have caused some deaths and damage to buildings.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling; this should include cover for medical evacuation. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas, then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registration
You should register with the British High Commission Consular Section in Lilongwe on line at UK in Malawi if you intend to stay in Malawi for more than a few days. If you have any queries you can email LilongweConsular/Passport@fco.gov.uk.

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
Credit cards are not widely accepted in Malawi. Travellers’ cheques or cash are advised as means of exchange. Money can be changed at the airport, banks or commercial bureaux de change. Holders of the main UK credit cards are able to withdraw funds from ATMs but there are few machines, even in tourist locations. Visitors are advised to declare foreign currency on entry and departure from Malawi. Searches for foreign currency take place on exiting the country. People leaving the country are only allowed to take out a maximum of 3000 Malawi Kwacha in cash.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
10 British nationals required consular assistance in Malawi in the period 01 April 2009 - 31 March 2010 for the following types of incident: two deaths; five hospitalisations; and one arrest. During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (16 cases).