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Follow on Google News |  Volunteer Travel Guide Malawi - Volunteering Abroad Malawi www.abroaderview.orgPromoted as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’, Malawi is a long, thin country renowned for the unequaled friendliness of its people, unspoiled national parks and wildlife reserves, and the beaches and tropical fish life of Lake Malawi.
http://www.abroaderview.org/ Lake Malawi is an irresistible attraction for travelers, with its beaches, resorts, watersports and outstanding variety of fish life a magnet for divers and snorkelers. The lake is home to a bigger variety of fish species than any other freshwater lake on earth, most of them protected within the Lake Malawi National Park at its southern tip. Most visitors head for the small, restful village at Cape Maclear, which along with its offshore islands, is part of the park. Equally popular, Nkhata Bay to the north has bays, beaches and various water activities. Spread along the length of the lakeshore are numerous traditional fishing villages, and the fishermen in their dugout canoes form a quintessential postcard silhouette against the spectacular golden sunset. Malawi is also blessed with numerous game reserves and national parks that are uncrowded, well stocked with animals and a renowned variety of birdlife, and offer a unique wilderness experience. The northern Nyika Plateau, at around 7,500ft (2,300m), is one of the world’s highest game reserves and is a remote area located in the most unspoilt and least visited part of the country, with beautiful grasslands and waterfalls, the highest concentration of leopard in Central Africa, and famous for its abundant orchid species. To the south the best-known park is Liwonde National Park with thousands of hippos and crocodiles on the banks of the Shire River, as well as large numbers of elephants, zebra and antelope. The southern part of the country is the most developed and the most populated. Although Lilongwe is the capital, the region is home to Malawi’s largest city and main commercial center, Blantyre, which is a good base for visiting two of the area’s attractions – the vast massif of Mt Mulunje, offering some of the finest hiking trails in the country, and Zomba Plateau. Malawi has remained peaceful for over a century, unaffected by war and internal strife that has torn many other African countries apart, and although poor and densely populated, the country offers visitors a wealth of scenic highlights, culture and activities. http://www.abroaderview.org/ The Basics Time: Local time is GMT +2. Electricity: Electrical current is 220/240 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, rectangular blade plugs are standard. Language: English is the official language, but Chichewa is more commonly spoken. Health: Malaria is a risk throughout the year and is highest on the coast. Cases of dengue fever and chikungunya fever were reported in February 2006 and are transmitted by mosquitoes; precautionary measures against being bitten should be taken at all times. Customs: It is courteous to ask permission before taking photographs of people. Homosexuality is illegal. Women, in particular, should cover their legs and upper arms when traveling outside of the main tourist areas. Communications: The international dialing code for Malawi is +265. The outgoing code is 101 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 10127 for South Africa). There are no city/area codes required. The telephone system is not very reliable, but Internet, email and fax are available in most towns and tourist areas. The GSM 900 cell phone network gives coverage to most of the country and is compatible with most international operators. http://www.abroaderview.org/ Contacts Visa Agencies Travel Visa Pro, San Francisco, USA. 1-888-470-8472 or www.TravelVisaPro.com Tourism Malawi Ministry of Tourism Parks and Wildlife, Lilongwe: +265 (0) 177 5499 Malawi Embassies Malawi Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 797 1007. Malawi High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 8458 7714/ 8455 5624. Malawi High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 8931. Malawi High Commission, Tokyo, Japan (also responsible for Australia): +81(0)3 3449 3010. Malawi High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 0146. Foreign Embassies in Malawi United States Embassy, Lilongwe: +265 1 773 166. British High Commission, Lilongwe: +265 1 772 400. Canadian High Commission, Lusaka, Zambia (also responsible for Malawi): +260 (0)1 250 833. Australian Embassy, Harare, Zimbabwe (also responsible for Malawi): +263 (0)4 852 471. South African High Commission, Lilongwe: +265 1 773 722/597. Embassy of Ireland, Lilongwe: +265 1 706 405/408. Malawi Emergency Numbers Emergencies: Airports Lilongwe International Airport (LLW) Location: The airport is situated 12 miles (19km) from Lilongwe. Time: Local time is GMT +2. Contacts: Tel: +265 (0)176 0266. Facilities: Facilities include a bank and bureaux de change, post office, restaurant, bar and duty-free shopping. Departure Tax: US$30, payable in US Dollars. Blantyre-Chileka International Airport (BLZ) Location: The airport is situated nine miles (16km) from Blantyre. Time: Local time is GMT +2. Facilities: A restaurant and bar are situated in the terminal building. Departure Tax: US$30, payable in US Dollars. http://www.abroaderview.org/ Climate Winter is the best time to visit Malawi, coinciding with the dry season, and lasting from May to October. The dry season is also the best time for game viewing and hiking. June and July are the coolest months with average daytime temperatures of 70ºF (21ºC), and colder nights especially in the highlands. November to April is the hot, humid rainy season with more rain falling on the higher plateaus than around the lake, with temperatures reaching up to 90ºF (mid-30ºCs) Passport & Visa Visa Agencies: Avoid the stress and queues, get a visa agency to arrange your visa. Travel Visa Pro, San Francisco, USA. 1-888-470-8472 or www.TravelVisaPro.com Global Visas, London, UK. 0207 190 3903 or www.globalvisas.com Entry requirements for Americans: US passport holders require a passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK passport holders require a passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days, irrespective of endorsement in passport. Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian nationals require a passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. Entry requirements for Australians: Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans require a passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to 90 days. Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to 90 days. Passport/Visa Note: All visitors must have a return or onward tickets, all documents necessary for return or onward journeys and sufficient funds for their duration of stay. Extensions on visas are possible. Persons entering Malawi other than via a border immigration post must report to an Immigration Officer at any Immigration Office after arrival. Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travelers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate 1001 Dell Lane Suite B, Wyncote, PA 19095, USA Volunteer Abroad Project Tel: 1-215-780-1845 / Toll Free: 1-866-423-3258 / Fax: 1-215-887-0915 volunteers@abroaderview.org - www.abroaderview.org - info@abroaderview.org . # # # We offer international volunteer projects for the globally-minded individual searching for a unique travel experience. We are a 501 non-profit international volunteer organization offering short and long term volunteer programs in developing countries End
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