Malawi, 3rd; The Bradt Travel Guide

by Philip Briggs

• ISBN13: 9781841620671
• ISBN10: 184162067X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Summary

An invaluable guide for all visitors to this most explorable, affordable, and tranquil of African countries whether discovering little-visited mountains, forests, and game reserves or relaxing by the main attraction, Lake Malawi. Wildlife and bird-species identification, conservation areas, game and forest reserves, hiking trails, and national parks up and down the lake are all covered in depth. In common with the rest of southern Africa, Malawi is suffering from the effects of drought. Tourists will see little of the much-publicized famine, but the warm welcome they receive is a reminder of how much the country needs its foreign visitors.

Author Biography

Philip Briggs, Bradt's Africa expert, is the author of five other Bradt guides, East & Southern Africa: The Backpacker's Manual, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda, and co-author of Bradt's Mozambique and Rwanda. He lives in Johannesburg. Mike Copeland, who has updated this new edition, is a freelance writer for travel and wine magazines, and has spent his life exploring Africa. He lives in the winelands of South Africa.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION	1	(98)
Background and History	3	(20)
Facts and figures	3	(1)
History	4	(19)
The Natural World	23	(14)
Geography	23	(1)
Climate	23	(1)
Vegetation	24	(1)
Conservation areas	25	(2)
Wildlife	27	(10)
Planning and Preparations	37	(22)
When to visit	37	(1)
Getting to Malawi	37	(9)
Red tape	46	(1)
Money matters	47	(2)
What to take	49	(6)
Planning an itinerary	55	(4)
Travelling in Malawi	59	(22)
Tourist information	59	(1)
Public holidays	59	(1)
Money	59	(2)
Getting around	61	(5)
Accommodation	66	(1)
Eating and drinking	67	(2)
Bargaining and overcharging	69	(1)
Hassles	70	(4)
Curios	74	(1)
Media and communications	75	(1)
Electricity	76	(1)
Communicating with Malawians	76	(5)
Health	81	(18)
Preparations	81	(6)
Major hazards	87	(1)
Common medical problems	87	(10)
Further reading	97	(2)
PART TWO THE GUIDE	99	(148)
Blantyre	101	(12)
Orientation	101	(1)
Climate	102	(1)
Getting there and away	102	(1)
Where to stay	103	(2)
Where to eat	105	(1)
Tourist information	106	(3)
Things to do	109	(4)
The Shire Valley	113	(8)
Climate	114	(1)
Getting around	114	(1)
Chikwawa	114	(1)
Majete Wildlife Reserve	114	(1)
Lengwe National Park	115	(1)
Nchalo	116	(1)
Bangula	116	(1)
Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve	117	(1)
Elephant Marsh	117	(2)
Backroads north of Elephant Marsh	119	(2)
Thyolo and Mulanje	121	(10)
Climate	121	(1)
Getting around	121	(1)
Thyolo	122	(1)
Thyolo Forest Reserve	122	(1)
Mulanje	123	(2)
Mulanje Massif	125	(5)
Phalombe and Migowi	130	(1)
Zomba and Surrounds	131	(18)
Climate	131	(1)
Getting around	131	(1)
Zomba	131	(4)
Zomba Plateau	135	(4)
Lake Chilwa	139	(2)
Liwonde	141	(2)
Liwonde National Park	143	(6)
The Lakeshore from Mangochi to Cape Maclear	149	(12)
Climate	149	(1)
Getting around	149	(1)
Mangochi	150	(2)
From Mangochi to Monkey Bay	152	(2)
Monkey Bay	154	(1)
Cape Maclear	154	(7)
Dedza and Surrounds	161	(8)
Climate	161	(1)
Getting around	161	(1)
Dedza	162	(2)
Chongoni Forest Reserve	164	(2)
Mua-Livulezi Forest Reserve	166	(1)
Nkhoma Mountain	167	(2)
Lilongwe	169	(14)
Climate	170	(1)
Orientation	170	(1)
Getting there and away	170	(1)
Getting around	171	(1)
Where to stay	171	(3)
Where to eat	174	(1)
Tourist information	175	(4)
Things to do	179	(1)
Short trips from Lilongwe	179	(4)
The Lakeshore around Salima	183	(6)
Climate	183	(1)
Getting around	183	(1)
Where to stay	184	(2)
Where to eat	186	(1)
Things to do	186	(3)
Ntchisi and Surrounds	189	(6)
Climate	189	(1)
Getting around	189	(2)
Ntchisi Forest Reserve	191	(1)
Ntchisi	192	(1)
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve	192	(3)
The MI between Lilongwe and Mzuzu	195	(8)
Climate	195	(1)
Getting around	195	(1)
Kasungu	195	(1)
Kasungu National Park	196	(2)
Mzimba	198	(1)
Forestry resthouses around Mzimba	199	(4)
The Lakeshore from Nkhotakota to Nkhata Bay	203	(10)
Climate	203	(1)
Getting around	203	(1)
Nkhotakota	203	(3)
The Lakeshore between Nkhotakota and Chintheche	206	(1)
Chintheche	207	(3)
Nkhata Bay	210	(3)
The Lake Ferry and the Islands	213	(8)
The Lake ferry	213	(2)
Likoma Island	215	(4)
Chizumulu Island	219	(2)
Mzuzu, Nyika and Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve	221	(16)
Climate	221	(1)
Getting around	221	(2)
Mzuzu	223	(3)
Rumphi	226	(1)
Nyika National Park	227	(7)
Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve	234	(3)
Livingstonia and the Northern Lakeshore	237	(10)
Climate	237	(1)
Getting around	237	(1)
Between Rumphi and Chitimba	237	(2)
The lakeshore around Chitimba	239	(2)
Livingstonia (Khondowe)	241	(2)
Chilumba	243	(1)
Karonga	243	(4)
Appendix 1 Language	247	(3)
Appendix 2 Further Reading	250	(3)
Index	253

Excerpts

'The Land of the Lake', 'The Warm Heart of Africa', 'Africa for Beginners'¿Malawi certainly attracts its share of snappy phrases, and these three sum up much of what makes this small African country so well liked by all who visit it. Few countries are so dominated by a single geographical features as the Land of the Lake. Lake Malawi follows the dramatic contours of the Great Rift Valley for a distance of 585km; it is up to 100km wide in parts, and it covers more than 15% of Malawi's surface area. Enclosed by sheer mountains and edged by seemingly endless palm-fringed sandy beaches, Lake Malawi is the most beautiful of Africa's great lakes, and the indisputable focal point of Malawi's tourist industry.
There is much truth in the phrase 'The Warm Heart of Africa'. Not only do the climate and lush vegetation of the lakeshore conform effortlessly to every stereotype image of tropical Africa, but the people of Malawi exude a warmth and friendliness that make most visitors feel instantly at home. Malawi may well be the most laid-back nation on earth.
And 'Africa for Beginners'? Well, certainly, Malawi would lie near the top of any list of African countries I'd recommend to a nervous novice traveller.

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Excerpted from Malawi: The Bradt Travel Guide by Philip Briggs, Mike Copeland
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.