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