The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and it borders Mozambique on the east, south and west.

The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size is over 118,000 km² with an estimated population of more than 13,900,000. Its capital is Lilongwe, the biggest city is Blantyre.

The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. Climate & when to go The best time to visit Malawi is during the dry season from May to mid-November. From May to July the landscape is attractive and vegetation green and lush, and temperatures cooler. The months of October and November, at the end of the dry season, are the best time for wildlife viewing; however, the temperatures can be uncomfortably hot. Money

The unit of currency is the kwacha (MK), which is made up of 100 tambala. The best foreign currencies to carry with you are US dollars, British pounds and South African rands. You’ll find a few ATMs at banks in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Karonga, Liwonde, Mzuzu, Salima and Zomba. Very few places outside main cities will accept credit cards. Most banks and bureaux de change won’t charge you a commission for changing cash, but there’s usually a 1% commission for changing travellers cheques.

Dangers & annoyances unfortunately, reports of travellers being robbed in Lilongwe and Blantyre have increased. However, incidents are still rare compared with other countries, and violence is not the norm. There have also been robberies at popular lakeshore areas such as Cape Maclear and Nkhata Bay, but here violence is very rare. Potential dangers while at Lake Malawi include encountering a hippo or crocodile, but for travellers the chances of being attacked are extremely remote.

Popular tourist beaches are generally safe, although, just to be absolutely sure, you should seek local advice before diving in. Wildlife Malawi’s wide range of vegetation and animal habitats in a relatively small area make the country ideal for those with any interest in natural history.

Many visitors come to Malawi specifically to observe or search for the country’s animal and plant species. Malawi also stands at a ‘biological crossroads’ between Southern, Central and East Africa, with species occurring from all these regions.