Book cheap flights to Malawi

Malawi has a wet and dry season, with great, summery temperatures all year long. The best time to visit Malawi is between May and October, as this is during the dry season. This is a wonderful time to spot wildlife and perhaps have a few close encounters (with a guide, of course!). The temperatures are also ideal, as they are warm, but not overly hot, with averages ranging between 23°C and 27°C. For those looking for a bit of a tan, head to Lake Malawi with your umbrella and sunscreen. The wet season is between November and March. Hot temperatures aside, it also gets quite humid, increasing the chances of contracting malaria. Visitors are advised to carry a supply of insect repellent and to cover their arms and legs.

South African passport holders do not require a visa for Malawi. Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after the departure date of your trip and that you have 3 blank pages available for entry stamps.

For more information, contact the Embassy of Malawi in Pretoria.

Address: 770 Government Avenue, Arcadia, 0083 / P.O. Box 11172, Hatfield, 0028

Phone: ( 27) 012 430 9900 / ( 27) 012 342 0146 / 1759

Malawi is generally very safe, but if travelling to big cities such as Lilongwe and Blantyre, it would be best to practice some caution. Petty theft is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Out in the countryside and the national parks there is little to no crime and the only dangers to be aware of are the wildlife. That said, it is not advisable to walk around or drive at night, as you may encounter some wild animals of the barren roads. Also, the roads outside of the city may not be in the best condition.

It is always important to have your vaccines up to date when travelling abroad. When visiting Malawi there are no mandatory vaccines needed, but it would be a good idea to get a shot for the following: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, malaria and rabies.

Accommodation in Malawi ranges from simple guesthouses and backpacker lodges to charming boutique hotels and intimate wilderness camps — and as one of Africa’s most warmly welcoming and underrated destinations, Malawi offers South African travellers exceptional value, genuine hospitality and a refreshingly unhurried pace of life at every budget level.

In Lilongwe, the capital, accommodation is spread across two distinct areas — the Old Town, which has a more local, market-driven character, and Area 3 and the City Centre, where most of the mid-range hotels, guesthouses and international restaurants are concentrated. Well-regarded options include the Latitude 13° — Malawi’s most celebrated luxury boutique hotel, a beautifully designed property of thatched villas, infinity pools and curated gardens that has set a new benchmark for upscale hospitality in the country — and the comfortable Sunbird Capital Hotel for mid-range travellers. A good range of budget guesthouses and self-catering apartments are available throughout the city for those travelling on a tighter budget.

In Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial capital and largest city, the Ryalls Hotel is the city’s most established and well-regarded address — a colonial-era property that has hosted dignitaries and travellers since 1920 and remains the social heart of Blantyre’s business community. A range of comfortable mid-range hotels and guesthouses are available in the Mandala and Limbe areas, well-placed for exploring the city’s markets, the Museum of Malawi and the nearby Shire Highlands.

Along the shores of Lake Malawi — the country’s greatest natural treasure and one of the largest and most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world — accommodation ranges from budget beach camps and backpacker lodges to beautifully situated boutique lodges and private island retreats. The Cape Maclear peninsula at the southern end of Lake Malawi National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the most popular backpacker and budget destination on the lake, with a laid-back village atmosphere, excellent snorkelling on pristine freshwater coral reefs and a wonderful sense of being genuinely off the beaten track. Well-regarded budget options include Chembe Eagles Nest and Fat Monkeys.

Further north along the lake, Senga Bay near Salima offers a range of comfortable mid-range resorts popular with South African self-drive travellers — including the well-established Sunbird Livingstonia Beach Hotel, set in mature tropical gardens right on the lakeshore. The Nkhata Bay area on the northern lake shore is a favourite among backpackers and independent travellers for its dramatic scenery, friendly local community and excellent diving and snorkelling in the clear blue waters of the lake.

For a truly special Lake Malawi experience, Mumbo Island and Domwe Island — both managed by Kayak Africa within Lake Malawi National Park — offer extraordinary barefoot-luxury tented camps accessible only by kayak or boat, surrounded by pristine freshwater reefs and extraordinary birdlife. These are among the most unique and memorable accommodation experiences in all of Southern Africa.

Near Mount Mulanje, a handful of comfortable guesthouses and the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust’s network of rustic mountain huts provide ideal bases for exploring the massif’s dramatic hiking trails, waterfalls and tea estates. The Kara O’Mula Country Lodge at the foot of the mountain is a popular and well-regarded option for those wanting comfortable accommodation with easy access to the trailheads.

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Getting around Malawi is a genuinely rewarding experience — the country is compact by African standards, English is widely spoken, and the warmth and helpfulness of the Malawian people makes navigating even the more remote areas feel manageable and enjoyable. That said, road conditions outside the main highways, limited public transport and the distances involved between key attractions mean that planning your transport carefully will make a significant difference to your trip.

Flying is the quickest way to reach Malawi from South Africa, with Airlink and Kenya Airways operating connections from Johannesburg to Lilongwe (LLW) and Blantyre (BLZ). Airlink also operates a direct Johannesburg to Blantyre route, which is particularly convenient for South African travellers heading straight to the southern lake shore or Mount Mulanje without routing through the capital. Domestic flights within Malawi are limited — Malawian Airlines operates some inter-city routes, but schedules and availability can be inconsistent, and most travellers choose to get around by road.

In Lilongwe, taxis are the most practical way to get around the city — particularly between the Old Town and the City Centre, which are several kilometres apart and not particularly walkable. Agree on a fare before departing as meters are not commonly used. Minibus taxis (matolas) are the most affordable public transport option and run frequently between major suburbs and the city centre, though they can be extremely crowded. Ride-hailing apps have limited coverage in Lilongwe — your hotel or guesthouse will usually be the most reliable source of trusted taxi contacts.

The M1 highway is Malawi’s main north-south arterial road, running from the Mozambique border in the south through Blantyre, Lilongwe and north to Mzuzu and the Tanzanian border. It is tarred for most of its length and generally in reasonable condition, making it the backbone of self-drive travel in Malawi. However, potholes, speed bumps (often unmarked), pedestrians, cyclists and livestock on the road require constant vigilance — particularly after the rainy season when road surfaces deteriorate significantly. Do not drive at night — unlit roads, wandering livestock and the absence of road markings make night driving genuinely hazardous throughout Malawi.

For South African travellers, a self-drive in a reliable 4×4 is the most flexible and rewarding way to explore Malawi — particularly for reaching Lake Malawi’s more remote beaches, the Majete Wildlife Reserve, Mount Mulanje and the Nyika Plateau in the north. While a 4×4 is not strictly necessary for the main M1 highway and the sealed roads to major towns, the access roads to many of the best lake beaches, national parks and mountain trailheads are unpaved and can be deeply rutted or sandy — especially during and after the wet season. A high-clearance vehicle with good ground clearance is strongly recommended for any off-main-road exploration.

The Ilala Ferry — a venerable passenger and cargo vessel that has plied Lake Malawi’s waters for decades — offers a wonderfully atmospheric and affordable way to travel up and down the lake, calling at ports including Monkey Bay, Chipoka, Nkhata Bay and Likoma Island. It is not the fastest or most reliable form of transport (schedules can be subject to change), but as a travel experience it is uniquely Malawian and thoroughly memorable. Kayak Africa also operates kayak and boat transfers between Cape Maclear and the island camps within Lake Malawi National Park.

Between Malawi and neighbouring countries, the most common crossings for South African travellers are the Mwanza border with Mozambique in the south (en route from Blantyre), the Dedza border with Mozambique further north, and the Songwe River bridge crossing into Tanzania in the far north. Road conditions on the Mozambican side of the Mwanza crossing improve considerably once on the EN1 — making a combined Malawi and Mozambique self-drive itinerary a popular and very rewarding option for South African road-trippers.

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