Visit to a travel clinic. When traveling in Malawi, visitors face risk of a variety of diseases, most notably malaria and typhoid. Both diseases can be prevented, but require advance vaccinations for typhoid and a prescription for a preventative for malaria. Your visit to the travel clinic should be at least six weeks before your planned trip, but you can plan ahead as early as six months. Visit the CDC Web page Malawi for details on typhoid, malaria and other diseases that may pose a threat during your visit (see Resources).
Obtain or update your passport. To enter and exit the country, you must have a valid passport from your home country. Be sure the visa will be valid for the entire time period you plan to be gone. Visitor visas for up to 30 days can be obtained at the point of entry. Once in Malawi, you can extend the your visa for two three-day extensions for MK 5,000 each (approximately $35). Visitors must also pay a tax of $30 when leaving the country. This fee is only accepted in U.S. dollars.
Plan your flight details. The most expensive part of your trip will be the flight to Malawi. There are two main airports in the country: Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and Chileka International Airport in Blantyre. Both receive flights only from within Africa, so you will need to travel to a larger African city such as Johannesburg or Nairobi and then fly into Malawi. Flights can be as much as $1,500 or more from the United States, so plan early and consider working with a travel agent or a consolidator flight for the best deal.
Decide on your itinerary. Malawi is nicknamed the "warm heart of Africa" because of its friendly environment to tourists. The country is relatively safe and fairly inexpensive compared to other African countries. Consider a visit to Liwonde National Park or Lake Malawi for affordable, both authentic African experiences.
