Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Legal Matters
Marijuana or cannabis is also known locally as 'Malawi gold', or
chamba
. Being caught
buying, selling, or in possession of it, can incur anything from a high fine (several thou-
sand dollars), to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Beware too that some dealers
are police informers. These days most hostels and campsites will not allow you to smoke
openly.
Maps
Useful maps, available in local bookshops, include the government-produced
Malawi
(1:1,000,000), showing shaded relief features and most roads, and the
Malawi Road &
Tourist Map
(same scale), showing all main roads, some minor roads and national parks
(but no relief) plus street maps of the main towns.
For more detail, government survey maps (1:50,000 and 1:250,000) of Malawi and
some of its cities are available from the Department of Surveys Map Sales Offices in
Blantyre and Lilongwe. Regional and city maps cost MK650; survey maps covering the
whole of Malawi cost MK3500.
Money
Malawi's unit of currency is the Malawi kwacha (MK). This is divided into 100 tambala
(t).
Bank notes include MK200, MK100, MK50, MK20, MK10 and MK5. Coins are MK1,
50t, 20t, 10t, 5t and 1t, although the small tambala coins are virtually worthless.
At big hotels and other places that actually quote in US dollars you can pay in hard cur-
rency or kwacha at the prevailing exchange rate. At present there is limited foreign ex-
change in the country.
ATMS
Standard and National Banks are the best bet for foreigners wishing to withdraw cash, and
accept Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro cards at their ATMs. ATMs are found in
most cities and towns including Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, Karonga, Liwonde, Salima,
Mangochi, Kasungu and Zomba, as well as a couple in Nkhata Bay and Monkey Bay.
