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Malawi
The Southern African nation of Malawi is landlocked, sharing borders with Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania.
Affectionately known as “the warm heart of Africa” you can expect a very warm welcome and fantastic hospitality from the locals.
The rejuvenation of the National Parks makes it one of the world’s best safari destinations.
Fun facts about Malawi
- Malawi tea is known across the globe. Many of the most well known tea brands use Malawi tea leaves
- It has a subtropical climate: the rainy season is December to May and the dry season is May to December
- Malawi means 'fire flames' due to the reflection of the sun on the waters of the vast Lake Malawi
- About 85% of the population live in rural areas and the economy is fuelled by agriculture
- Exports include tea, cotton, sugar, coffee, peanuts and wooden products
- Clear skies and a lack of city lights means that Malawi offers exceptional stargazing opportunities
Throughout your Explore Malawi trip, you will be fully catered for with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between.
Relatively free from outside influences, Malawi cuisine remains fairly rustic and traditional. Dishes centre around starchy carbohydrates with side dishes of vegetables and meat - mainly chicken and goat.
Here's an example of a typical day's menu:
Breakfast: Usually breakfast porridge (nsima or sometimes made with rice), served with milk and sugar (sometimes cinnamon is added).
Lunch: Nsima, with meat/chicken or fish, beans and vegetables, and fresh fruit.
Dinner: Usually a selection of nsima or rice, with meat/chicken or vegetable tasty stews, fresh fish and beans.
Here are a few of the most popular dishes.
- Nsima - traditional thick carb stable made from maize flour
- Ndivo - sauce or stew made from vegetable leaves or meat that is added to nsima
- Utipa - small fish like whitebait or sardines
- Nkhwaniwotendera - pumpkin leaves in peanut powder stew
- Nthochi - bread made from mashed banana
- Mbatata - biscuits made with sweet potato and cinnamon
- Mandasi - local deep fried donut
Check out the World Travel Guide website for more dishes.
- Despite being a small country, the Malawi culture is rich and diverse and the people are known for their friendliness and warmth
- The Malawian population comprises many different ethnic groups including Chewa, Nyanja, Yao, Tumuka, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde
- The Chichewa (Chewa) people form the largest part of the population and are largely settled in the central and southern parts of Malawi
- The Chewa Tribe is an African culture that has existed since the beginning of the first millennium, A.D.
- Malawians typically live with their extended families in huts that are grouped together in villages
- People still practise traditional beliefs through rituals, festivals and dances
- Marriages are often arranged, particularly in rural areas with dowries presented to the husband by the bride's parents. Dowries are usually in the form of livestock such as cattle, goats or chickens
- Verbal greetings are accommpanied by a handshake with the right hand - the left hand gripping the right forearm to show friendliness
- Stopping to talk on the street is customary!
- Eating is usually without utensils but only with the right hand as the left hand is considered dirty
Language
Chichewa is a Bantu language spoken in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The language is known as Chewa (chicheŵa) in Malawi.
If you make the effort to learn some of the local language before you travel - it'll help you communicate with the locals when you get there.
Here are a few useful words and phrases to get you started.
| English | Chewa |
|---|---|
| Hello | Moni |
| See you later | Tionana |
| See you tomorrow | Tionana mawa |
| Yes | Ee, Eya or Inde |
| No | Iyayi or Ayi |
| Thank you | Zikomo or Zikomo kwambiri |
| Excuse me | Pepani |
| My name is | Dzina langa ndi |
| Do you speak English? | Mumalankhula chizungu? or Mumalankhula chingelesi? |
Useful Resources
If you're keen to learn more about Malawi before you go, there's plenty of information to be found online, in travel magazines and in guide books. Here are a few recommendations;