Malawi Travel Tips

Malawi’s commitment to reducing poverty was reflected in the bold decision to introduce Free Primary Education (FPE) and the renewed attention paid to Girls’ Education. This was in conformity with international trends that recognize that educating girls is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to reduce poverty and to spur growth.

Gender inequalities, HIV/AIDS, and harmful cultural practices also contribute to the poor state of development, while natural disasters, such as droughts and floods exacerbate the situation.  Malawi is one of the twenty-five pilot countries selected for the implementation of the strategy to Accelerate Girls’ Education.

Variations in altitude in Malawi lead to wide differences in climate. The vast water surface of Lake Niassa has a cooling effect, but because of the low elevation, the margins of the lake have long hot seasons and high humidity, with a mean annual temperature of 24°C (75°F). Precipitation is heaviest along the northern coast of Lake Malawi, where the average is more than 163 cm (64 in) per year; about 70% of the country averages about 75–100 cm (30–40 in) annually. In general, the seasons may be divided into the cool (May to mid-August); the hot (mid-August to November); the rainy (November to April), with rains continuing longer in the northern and eastern mountains; and the post-rainy (April to May), with temperatures falling in May. Lilongwe, in central Malawi, at an elevation of 1,041 m (3,415 ft), has a moderately warm climate with adequate rainfall. The average daily minimum and maximum temperatures in November, the hottest month, are 17°C (63°F) and 29°C (84°F), respectively; those in July, the coolest month, are 7°C (45°F) and 23°C (73°F).

Malawi is among the world's least developed countries, with most of the population involved in subsistence agriculture. The principal crops are corn, cotton, millet, rice, peanuts, cassava, and potatoes. Tobacco, tea, sugarcane, and tung oil are produced on large estates. With the aid of foreign investment, Malawi has instituted a variety of agricultural development programs. Large numbers of poultry, goats, cattle, and pigs are raised.

There are small fishing and forest products industries. Deforestation has become a problem as the growing population uses more wood (the major energy source) and woodland is cleared for farms. Practically no minerals are extracted, but there are unexploited deposits of bauxite, uranium, and coal. Malawi's few manufactures are limited to basic goods, such as processed food and beverages, lumber, textiles, construction materials, and small consumer goods.

Leading imports are foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured consumer goods, and transport equipment; the principal exports are tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, and forest products. The chief trade partners are South Africa, Germany, the United States, and Japan. Most of the country's foreign trade is conducted via Salima, a port on Lake Nyasa, which is connected by rail with the seaport of Nacala in Mozambique. Malawi is a member of the Southern African Development Community.