Malawi2024-02-20T13:13:27+01:00

Malawi

Travel tips for Malawi

Top 5 Experiences

Malawi, also called the „warm heart of Africa“, fascinates with the following highlights:

Lake Malawi

The third largest lake in Africa enchants with clear water and pristine beaches. Active people can explore the diverse underwater world while snorkelling and diving, windsurfing and wakeboarding is also possible. Relaxation can be found on the dreamlike beaches or during a boat trip to the islands of Chizumulu and Likoma.

Liwonde National Park

Characterized by dry savannah as well as flood plains, baobabs, palms and mopane trees can be found here. By boat or vehicle a safari to the largest remaining elephant population in Malawi can be done. One can also get close to hippos, leopards, antelopes as well as a remarkable abundance of birds.

Mulanje Massif

Outdoor lovers are thrilled by the mountain landscape with its ruggedness, gigantic granite walls and impressive altitude of up to 3000 m. The massif developed already in the Cretaceous period, archaeological investigations found traces of human activities from the Stone Age.

Nyika National Park

The country’s largest national park stretches across the Nyika Plateau, which is predominantly covered by grassland. Due to the high altitude, an extraordinary biodiversity has developed here. Lions, leopards, zebras, kudus, antelopes, elephants and many more are at home here.

Hospitality

Malawi is considered one of the friendliest countries on earth. In everyday situations it is easy to get into conversation with the locals, joy and laughter are shared with everyone. Time for a village or market visit should therefore not be missed.

Tourist infrastructure

There are international connections to the capital Lilongwe and to Blantyre. Malawi has a relatively well-developed road network, although only a fraction of the roads, including the important north-south connection, is paved. Most of the time one drives on gravel roads.

Since tourism in the country is still developing the number of accommodations in Malawi is manageable. In the touristically developed regions (bigger cities, national parks, Lake Malawi) one can find accommodations in different categories.

Climate and travel season

Malawi has a subtropical climate, temperatures are warm all year round with up to 30 °C. Like many African countries, a distinction is made between a rainy and a dry season. The dry season extends from April to October and temperatures cool down to 25 °C for short periods. Between November and March one speaks of the rainy season, with most rainfall occurring in December and January. Temperatures vary depending on the altitude, generally it is a bit hotter and more humid in the lower areas.

The ideal time to travel are the weeks after the end of the rainy season, when all plants are in bloom and it is pleasantly warm.

Visa and entry

To enter Malawi, Germans, Austrians and Swiss need a passport and a visa. The passport must be valid for at least six months. The visa must be applied for online at www.evisa.gov.mw/. After a successful check, the applicant will receive an „Entry Permit“, a printed copy of which must be carried on entry.

Since the regulations can change at any time, all information are non-binding and without guarantee. Please observe the visa regulations and the current information of the Federal Foreign Office / Federal Ministry European and International Affairs / Federal Department of Foreign Affaires at all times.

Impressions from Malawi

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Our partners for Malawi

Visa, Entry, and Updates

Federal Foreign Office ➝

Federal Ministry European and
International Affairs ➝

Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs ➝

Information of the
Tourism Board ➝

Country information

Current accessibility

  • Information on entry:

    Entry to Malawi is possible for travelers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland after submitting a negative PCR test, which is not older than 72 hours and is available in English. The Malawian embassy in Berlin is currently not issuing visas. However, you can apply online for an electronic visa. Tourist visas on arrival (“visa on arrival”) can also be issued at the airports in Lilongwe and Blantyre for a fee of USD 50.00. Before leaving the country, travelers must be retested a maximum of 72 hours before departure.

  • Information on return:

    Since March 30, 2021, all travellers, no matter from which country they are coming and which means of transportation they use, must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection, which was completed at least 28 days ago and is maximum 6 months old, before entering the Federal Republic of Germany. The PCR test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. In addition, travellers must register their entry at the entry portal www.einreiseanmeldung.de➝ before arriving in Germany and carry proof of the corresponding registration with them. For stays in high risk areas classified by the RKI➝ there is a 10-day quarantine obligation. The quarantine can solely be prevented when a proof of complete vaccination or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection, which was completed at least 28 days ago and is maximum 6 months old, was submitted on the entry portal. After five days at the earliest, travellers who are not vaccinated or did not recover from a Covid-19 infection can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early. For stays in virus mutation areas a negative PCR-test, which must be performed at the earliest 72 hours before entering, needs to be shown before return and a fourteen-day quarantine must to be entered without possibility to shorten it.

    All travellers older than 12 years, must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection before entering Austria. The PCR-test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. Since January 15, 2021, travellers must register their entry here ➝ („Pre-Travel-Clearance“) before arrival. With the above mentioned certifications a quarantine can be fully prevented when entering from a country classified as safe. The certifications can be handed in 24 hours later if no hotel stay is planned. For vaccinated people arriving from countries not classified as safe or from virus mutations areas the quarantine does not apply neither. Non-vaccinated people however need to present a negative Covid-test or a proof of recovery as well as enter a 10-day quarantine. After five days at the earliest, travellers can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early.

    All air as well as transit passengers who are not fully vaccinated or did not surpass a Covid-19 infection within the past 6 months must register their entry on www.swissplf.admin.ch before or during arrival in Switzerland and need to carry the generated QR-code with them. Air passengers older than 16 years must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection before entering. The PCR-test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. Air as well as transit passengers who are not fully vaccinated or did not surpass a Covid-19 infection as well need to enter a 10-day quarantine and present a PCR-test. In addition, they need to inform their corresponding cantonal authority latest within two days after arrival. After seven days at the earliest, travellers can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early. The obligation to test or enter quarantine does not apply to fully vaccinated people who can present a certificate such as the EU Digital Certificate or a Swiss Covid certificate.

Für Einreisende in die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, die sich in den letzten 10 Tagen vor Einreise in einem Risikogebiet aufgehalten haben, besteht seit dem 08. November 2020 die Pflicht, sich unverzüglich in eine zehntägige Quarantäne zu begeben. Darüber hinaus müssen Reisende vor ihrer Ankunft in Deutschland ihre Einreise unter https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de ➝ anmelden und den Nachweis über die entsprechende Anmeldung mit sich führen. Nach frühestens fünf Tagen können sich die Reiserückkehrer Covid-19 Test unterziehen. Mit einem anschließenden Negativergebnis kann die Quarantänepflicht frühzeitig beendet werden.

ACHTUNG: Wer sich in den letzten 10 Tagen vor Einreise in Deutschland in einem Hochinzidenz-Gebiet oder einem Virusvarianten-Gebiet aufgehalten hat, muss bereits bei Einreise einen ärztlichen Nachweis oder ein negatives Testergebnis bei sich tragen und diesen bei Aufforderung der zuständigen Behörden vorlegen können. Der Test darf nicht älter als 48 Stunden vor Einreise sein. Darüber hinaus ist das negative Testergebnis auch vor Antritt der Rückreise dem entsprechenden Beförderer vorzulegen. Sollte es den Einreisenden aus etwaigen Gründen in einem Hochinzidenzgebiet oder einem Virusvarianten-Gebiet nicht möglich sein, sich vor Abreise testen zu lassen, können die entsprechenden Beförderer vor Abreise einen Schnelltest durchführen und bei Negativergebnis die Beförderung vornehmen. Der Beförderer darf den Test maximal 12 Stunden vor Abreise durchführen. Dieser Test muss den Anforderungen des RKI entsprechen: https://www.rki.de/tests ➝

Covid-19

Corona precautionary measures

  • Restrictions in the country:

    The Malawian government has significantly relaxed a number of restrictions. The usual precautionary measures (hand disinfection, distance, masks) and a fine for non-compliance remain unchanged.

  • Mouth and nose protection:

    Wearing mouth and nose protection is mandatory throughout the country. Frequent hand washing and disinfection is advised.

  • Hygiene measures in the country:

    In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Malawian government has published a catalogue of measures (PDF) to contain the Covid-19 virus. This corresponds to the currently valid hygiene measures.

Status: 05.10.2021

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