The following information is supplied in connection with visiting Malawi. (Nov'06) and see British Airways Update as at 13 February, 2007 highlighted below...

Getting to Malawi :

For information on bookings contact B/Air on +44 1 624 333 or on www.ba.com   Flights London Heathrow/Nairobi are easy to arrange with Kenya Airways covering sector Nairobi/Lilongwe and vice versa.

BRITISH AIRWAYS is generally recommended as there is less chance of baggage delays or loss. (A holiday can be marred by loss or delayed baggage as it HAS to be cleared personally by the traveler at the airport - in Malawi there is NO question of lost baggage following the visitor by "road delivery" to the visitors lodging or hotel) 

BRITISH AIRWAYS NEW LUGGAGE POLICY - 13 FEBRUARY 2007...  World Traveller passengers are entitled to 1 bag at 23 kgs.  (World Traveller Plus - 2 x 23 kg p/bag; FIRST AND CLUB WORLD 3 x 23 kg p/bag)   Passengers travelling to North America will be entitled to 2 pieces at 23kg.

T0 help those who require extra luggage BA has a fixed fee per bag and not kg as in the past.  Additional bags can be carried at GBP120 per bag for longhaul services and GBP60 per bag on Shorthaul (European) flights.   Passengers can prepay for excess baggage online through and save a further 20% on these excess luggage charges.

ONE additional free bag is permitted for sporting equipment (golf bags/bicycles/diving equipment etc.)

KENYA AIRWAYS in conjunction with KLM/Air France is another strong possibility for travelers coming from the European continent. (But see "Excess Baggage Allowances" below!)

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS (London LHR/Johannesburg) is another good routing - with SAA feeder services extending to Lilongwe and vice versa.  (no change of airline - one airline all the way)  (But see "Excess Baggage Allowances" below!)

Ethiopian Airways travel London LHR to Lilongwe but with a stop/change of planes at Addis.  They are attractively priced however and well worth following up...  Be prepared for the unavoidable Addis stopover/delay however.  We are advised that up to 40 kgs baggage allowance is allowed - please verify this attractive offer!

AMERICAN AIRLINES. For visitors ex North America however the use of the SAA routing Atlanta/Johannesburg/Lilongwe is strongly recommended. BIG savings on time - and much easier connections. SAA is, we understand affiliated with Delta Airlines.

Visitors collection at the airport can be made by prior arrangement. Telephones are as follows:-  +265 1 263 165   +265 1 263 407  +265 1 263 034 Cell +265 9 233 428 Cell +265 9 913 630.  

Money Exchange :

Dollars can be accepted by some establishments but it is best to have available the local currency – the Malawi Kwacha. In Lilongwe International Airport there is an agency of the National Bank of Malawi, able to change USD dollars, Euros, GB Pounds or Travellers Cheques quickly and efficiently on passengers’ arrival. 

This is strongly recommended! Subsequent changing monies at town or district banks within Malawi can be wearisome and time wasting. ATM's have been installed at major urban centres but not at lakeshore establishments!   Changing money using credit cards can be an all day exercise and even then do not count on this! 

Foreign funds cannot be changed at the Red Zebra Lodge – Salima Banks are another time-consuming alternative – please make life easy for yourself and use the airport bank money-changing facility on arrival!

Visas :

Intending visitors to Malawi should check with their travel agent for any visa requirements. These can be subject to change. Visitors to Malawi intending to enter Zambia should note that visas can be obtained at the Zambian border (USD25) but care should be taken to possess Malawi re-entry visas (if in fact a visa is needed for Malawi) All visitors wishing to enter Mozambique will require visas. These can be obtained in Malawi but it is a costly and time-consuming process. It is best to have these in the passport before arrival in Malawi by getting them from the Mozambique Embassy offices located in Europe or the USA. Visitors to Malawi intending to enter Tanzania should verify visa needs in good time prior to travel and make their arrangements as required.

Health Vaccinations :

It is useful and precautionary for visitors to have vaccinations up to date. If a trip to Zambia is planned Yellow Fever certificates will certainly be called for at the border. Malawi is not presently strict on sighting vaccination certificates when visitors enter at Lilongwe airport. Malaria Prophylactics: Malaria is present in Malawi and can be dangerous if neglected. Visitors should consult their medical practitioners before leaving their country of origin and arrange for malaria drugs to be taken prior to arrival and for at least two weeks upon return home.

Excess Baggage Entitlement - airline OK approved sports equipment (SCUBA gear) (November, 2006 information)

Certain airlines MAY give additional excess weight allowances over the standard European 20 kgs per passenger for approved & recognised sports items and equipment (e.g. SCUBA gear)   This MAY require prepayment on ticket purchase or outbound check-in.  Such prepayment MAY well resolve/cover excess baggage weight on the OUTWARDS journey from Europe to Malawi - but CLEAR AND PRECISE written details of any such prepayment made needs to be retained/carried by the passenger so that he/she may enjoy similar treatment on the return journey.   Instances have arisen where at LILONGWE check-in for RETURN flights to Europe, unpleasant disputes have materialised, based on allegedly inadequate documentary material supporting prepaid excess baggage entitlements.   (See British Airways highlighted (above) new luggage policy as from February, 13, 2007) 

The key to avoiding arguments and disputes on the RETURN journey check-in thus hinges on passengers carrying adequately explanatory written proof of prepayment - with details of purchased entitlements clearly spelt out.  Total reliance on airline computer-booked-recorded-additional excess baggage allowances is not a good plan or idea.  And it should be recalled that any sports gear additional baggage allowance is for - sports gear.  Passengers returning to Europe obviously way overweight carrying Malawi-made carvings, artefacts and souvenirs should not be surprised when their claim for "excess sports gear baggage prepaid at their home country" may be queried, argued and/or rejected at the Lilongwe check-in counter.

Please also check Ethiopian Airlines baggage entitlement.  We are advised that 40 kgs can be carried (February, 2007)  This is a major factor that might make a traveller opt for Ethiopian Airlines.

Film/Video/Batteries/Flash Cards/Memory chips etc. etc:

Bring out these - they are not available in Malawi - mains electrical power is 220 volts AC 50Hz. Most modern photo gear is multi-voltage but 110 volts AC can be supplied at Red Zebra Lodge if needed via small transformers.