Malawi — Shopping
Shopping
Malawi produces a variety of colorful arts and crafts. Items are invariably handmade and there is no factory production of curios. Purchases include woodcarvings, wood and cane furniture, soapstone carvings, decorated wooden articles, colorful textiles, pottery, beadwork, cane and raffia items. The standard of woodcarving is one of the highest in Africa. The Mua Mission, south of Salima, where carvers are trained, has an excellent shop. Traditional musical instruments are also sold throughout Malawi.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1700. Markets and roadside stalls trade every day.
Currency
Kwacha (MWK; symbol Mk) = 100 tambala. Notes are in denominations of Mk500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Mk1 and 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 tambala.
Currency Exchange
US Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros or South African Rand are readily exchanged but lesser-known currencies may prove difficult to exchange.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs
Acceptance of credit and debit cards is very limited, although in Lilongwe and Blantyre and in main hotels, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa can be used.
Travelers Checks
Traveller's checks can be exchanged in banks, hotels and other institutions. In remote areas, the Treasury Office of Local District Commissioner’s offices will cash traveler's checks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling or South African Rand.
Currency Restrictions
The import of local currency is unlimited. The export of local currency is limited to K3,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. The export of foreign currency must not exceed the amount imported and must be declared on departure.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1400.
Exchange Rate
| 1.00 GBP = 220.08 MWK |
| 1.00 USD = 137 MWK |
| 1.00 EUR = 193.4 MWK |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
