Malawi Travel Guide

Malawi — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Southeast Africa.
Language: English and Chichewa are both official. Chichewa is widely spoken but the language of the business community is English.
Area: 118,484 sq km (45,747 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 2.
Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. The standard plug is square three-pin.
Population: 13.6 million (CIA estimate 2007).
Population Density: 114.8 per sq km.
Capital City: Lilongwe. Population: 597,619 including suburbs (2003).
Government: Republic since 1966. Gained independence from the UK in 1964.
Head of State: President Bingu Wa Mutharika since 2004.
Religion: 80% are Christian, 13% Muslim. A recorded 4.3% of the remaining 7% have no religion (1998 census).

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +265.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements currently exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in urban areas.

Internet

Services are available in business centers in hotels, and there are a few Internet cafes.

Media

Radio is the chief source of information and state-run MBC is the main national broadcaster. Television was introduced in 1999. Privately owned publications present a range of opinions, although the government has used libel and other laws to put pressure on newspaper journalists.

Post

Letters take about seven to 10 days to reach Europe by airmail.Generally Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1300-1700. Post offices in some of the larger towns may be open Sun 0900-1000, but only to sell stamps or to accept telegrams.

Press

• There are two main daily English-language newspapers, The Daily Times and The Nation.
• The Malawi News is published weekly.
• Boma Lathu is a monthly, Chichewa-language publication.

Radio

• Malawi Broadcasting Corporation operates national networks Radio One and Radio Two.
• Capital Radio is privately owned.
• Radio Maria is a Catholic station.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Jan Chilembwe Day
3 Mar Martyrs’ Day
22 Apr - 25 Apr Easter
1 May Labor Day
14 Jun Freedom Day
6 Jul Republic Day
30 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
10 Oct Mothers’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Jan Chilembwe Day
3 Mar Martyrs’ Day
6 Apr - 9 Apr Easter
1 May Labor Day
14 Jun Freedom Day
6 Jul Republic Day
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
8 Oct Mothers’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding day will be a holiday; if on a Sunday, the next day will be a holiday. Ad hoc public holidays or extensions may also be declared, sometimes at short notice.