| Malawi is the 'warm heart of Africa', Malawi is a | | | | biological wonders and Africa's third-largest lake, |
| stable, safe African country known for its people | | | | Lake Malawi forms an inland sea with a rich |
| with their welcoming smiles and friendly nature. | | | | marine life surrounded by palm-fringed beaches |
| The centre-piece of its tourism, though, is the | | | | and lively villages; sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving |
| enchanting Lake Malawi, Livingstone's 'Lake of | | | | and game fishing for Tiger Fish and Lake Salmon |
| Stars'. Boasting a rich diversity of wildlife, fish and | | | | can be done here; Lake Malawi Marine Park in the |
| bird life as well as flora, the country is ideal for | | | | south has been declared a Unesco World Heritage |
| nature lovers with its Lake Malawi Marine Park | | | | Site and protects a unique diversity of tropical fish |
| having been declared a Unesco World Heritage | | | | (more than 400 species have been identified, |
| Site.Varied treasures including many unique species | | | | most of which are unique to these waters), a |
| await bird watchers, anglers, outdoor and water | | | | renowned colony of otters and a rich |
| sport enthusiasts and game viewers. Other ways | | | | birdlife.Kasungu National Park:Miombo woodland |
| to enjoy the country include sampling the local | | | | interspersed with sandy plains and wide rivers; |
| 'chambo' fish or a Malawi Gin and Tonic and buying | | | | ideal for game viewing and bird watching especially |
| souvenirs made by highly skilled craftsmen, such | | | | at Lifupa Dam; of particular interest is Kasungu's |
| as chief's chairs, floor mats, wooden masks, | | | | famous elephants; Stone and Iron Age sites and |
| traditional cane items, baskets, carvings and raffia | | | | rock paintings can be found.Zomba Plateau:Stands |
| beach hats.CAPITAL:LilongweCLIMATE:Tropical | | | | 900m above the city of Zomba covered in |
| with wet and dry seasons. Dry season (Apr-Nov) | | | | evergreen forest and verdant grassland; home to |
| is also a good time to visit. Warm months are | | | | Blue Monkeys, rare montane forest birds and |
| mid-Aug to Nov, with October the hottest. Rains | | | | epiphytic orchids; ideal for fishing in the Mulunguzi |
| (Nov-Apr) are intermittent. In winter (dry season) | | | | Dam and hiking; the viewing points of Queen's |
| there are high winds and some dust | | | | View and Emperor's View allows visitors to take |
| storms.CURRENCY:1 Malawi Kwacha = 100 | | | | in the invigorating air; of interest in Zomba city |
| Tambala. USD or Pounds Sterling traveller's | | | | are the traditional African market and botanical |
| cheques are recommended. Credit cards are not | | | | gardens.Nyika National Park:The Northern Highlands |
| commonly accepted, except in big hotels. Foreign | | | | form the greatest wilderness area in Malawi; the |
| exchange shortages can be a problem. The | | | | Nyika Plateau holds Africa's highest concentration |
| import of foreign currency is unlimited if declared. | | | | of roan antelope, great herds of eland and other |
| The export of foreign currency is allowed up to | | | | mountain game, which can be viewed from |
| the amount declared upon | | | | horseback; other activities include mountain biking, |
| arrival.ELECTRICITY:230 volts, 50Hz. Plugs are | | | | birding, trout fishing and hiking; alpine flowers, |
| 3-pin square.HEALTH:A yellow fever inoculation is | | | | orchids and proteas cover the high meadows; |
| an official requirement for travellers coming from | | | | nearby visit the Vwaza Marsh Game |
| an infected country or area. Visitors are advised | | | | Reserve.Liwonde National Park:Malawi's premier |
| to take pre-arrival precautions against malaria (risk | | | | game area and habitat of the Big Five, this |
| exists throughout the year in the whole country), | | | | riverine park on the bank of the Shire River |
| Hepatitis A, polio and typhoid. Other health | | | | features many hippo, elephant, crocodile, lion, |
| concerns are meningitis (depending on time of | | | | leopard and birds; a must-do is the leisurely boat |
| year and area visited); insect-borne diseases; | | | | safari upriver into Lake Malombe; the Park |
| cholera (officially considered infected); bilharzia | | | | contains the only population of Lilian's lovebird in |
| (some stretches of Lake Malawi: it is | | | | Malawi.Lengwe National Park:Home to the |
| recommended that you don't swim in stillwater | | | | attractive Nyala Antelope, buffalo, Livingstone's |
| pools or ponds in rivers below the plateaux or on | | | | Suni and birds like the Gorgeous Bush-strike, |
| the shores of Lake Malawi away from the sandy | | | | African Broadbill and Crested |
| beaches of lake-side tourist resorts, Lake Malawi | | | | Guineafowl.Lilongwe:Also known as the 'Garden |
| should not be used as a source of drinking water | | | | City' for its colourful flowering trees and wooded |
| unless water has been boiled or filtered first); | | | | slopes of indigenous trees; visit the Kitu Botanical |
| pollen (people with allergies or asthma may suffer | | | | Gardens; Chinese Pagoda and Water Gardens; |
| discomfort from pollen etc.); poor medical facilities; | | | | Capital Hill; National Library; Lilongwe Nature |
| unavailability of medicines; and HIV | | | | Sanctuary; New Market; Old Market; Old Town; |
| AIDS.LANGUAGE:Chichewa is the national language | | | | and Asian Quarter.Blantyre:Founded in 1876, this is |
| and widely spoken. English is the official | | | | the commercial capital of Malawi; surrounded by |
| language.PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:New Year's Day (1 | | | | hills and mountains; visit the nearby Michiru |
| Jan); John Chilibwe Day (15 Jan); Martyr's Day (3 | | | | Mountain Park; Thyolo tea district; Shire river and |
| Mar); Good Friday (9Apr); Easter Monday (12 | | | | game parks; Majete and Mwabyi Game Reserves |
| Apr); Labour Day (1 May); Freedom Day (14 Jun); | | | | and curio shops.Mount Mulanje:An isolated massif |
| Independance Day (16 Jul); Mother's Day (9 Oct); | | | | containing 20 granite peaks, the highest of which |
| Christmas Day (25 Dec); Boxing Day (26 | | | | soars to 3000m offers serious climbers several |
| Dec)SHOPPING:Wood and soapstone carvings; | | | | challenging routes; spectacular waterfalls, forests |
| wood and cane furniture; pottery; beadwork; | | | | and tea plantations decorate the area; of botanical |
| colourful fabrics; raffia items; instruments.SOCIAL | | | | interest is the Mulanje cedar, believed to be unique |
| CONVENTIONS:Over 99 percent of the population | | | | to this area.Viphya Plateau:A must-do for bird |
| is African, with the largest group being Chewa. | | | | watchers; the Luwawa Dam has established itself |
| The main religious beliefs are traditional. Suits or | | | | as an adventure centre, with canoeing, abseiling, |
| jacket and tie are suitable for business meetings. | | | | rock climbing and more available.Gerald Crawford |
| Although the dress code is now more relaxed | | | | was born in South Africa, studied electronics, |
| than used to be the case, visitors should take | | | | telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel |
| care not to offend local sensitivities.TIME | | | | concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South |
| DIFFERENCE:GMT +2TIPPING:Tipping is | | | | Africa. If you have any questions or comments |
| permitted.TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS | | | | please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: |
| DESCRIPTION:Lake Malawi:One of the world's | | | | southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co. |