Malawi travel details
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Malawi has a population of 17M with main currency as Malawian Kwacha. The languages spoken are English. Malawi travel safety advice is Exercise a high degree of caution. Automatic teller machines are rare in Malawi. Internet speed in Malawi is on average 1.7 Mbps.In Malawi you drive on the left side.
Malawi travel advice
⬤ Exercise a high degree of caution
You don't need to apply for a visa if you're visiting Malawi for tourism purposes for up to 90 days (see 'Travel' for details).
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in Malawi due to the threat of violent crime.
Issue Date : 26 Mar 2024
Malawi weather
Malawi essential details
Plugs
Malawi uses 230V, 50Hz with socket and plug Type G.
Languages
The languages that are typically spoken are English
Money in Malawi
Currencies
Malawi uses the Malawian kwacha (symbol: MK), code MWK.Banknotes come in denominations of 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 kwachas. Kwacha is subdivided into 100 tambalas. Coins come in denominations of 10, 5 and 1 kwachas and 50, 20, 10, 2 and 1 tambalas.
ATM
Automatic teller machines are rare in Malawi. Your best bet is to look for them in large cities and community places.You do not need a chip & PIN card to use an ATM — your standard magnetic card will work fine.
Internet in Malawi
Internet
Internet speed in Malawi is on average 1.7 Mbps. WiFi coverage in Malawi is very low. It's quite hard to find one.
Phones
You can buy a SIM card for about 6,834.62 MWK, which includes 1 GB of data plan. You can choose from 2 telecoms: Airtel or TNM. Malawi uses GSM mobile networks GSM 900 and GSM 1800. If you don't want to buy SIM card in Malawi upon arrival, make sure to check the roaming charges with your telecom provider before your departure so there are no surprises when you return home.
Calling
To call Malawi, dial +, then 265 (the country code for Malawi), then the area code (without the initial 0) and the local number. For local calls within Malawi, start with the area code (with the initial 0). In the case above area code is 1 .
Malawi travel details
Driving in Malawi
Road rules
In Malawi you drive on the left side. Most cars have manual transmission (stick). Unless otherwise posted, the speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows: 100 km/h (62 mph) on motorways, 100 km/h (62 mph) on expressways, 50-60 km/h (31-37 mph) in all built-up areas and 80-100 km/h (49-62 mph) on undivided highways.
Emergecy
Universal
112
Police
112
Ambulance
112
Fire department
112
Malawi map
Malawi visa advice
If you're considering exploring Malawi beyond the usual transit spots, our comprehensive guide on Malawi transit visa offers deeper insights and broader options for travelers of different nationalities. For those transiting through other countries en route to Malawi, understanding Malawi Transit Visa requirements is crucial to ensure a smooth journey.