Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CREDIT CARDS & TRAVELLERS CHEQUES
You can use Visa cards at some but not all of the large hotels and top-end restaurants (be
warned that this may add a 5% to 10% surcharge to your bill). It seems even harder to use
a MasterCard.
You can change travellers cheques at most major banks and bureaux de change, al-
though you will need to show them the original purchase receipt. You can sometimes use
travellers cheques to pay at large hotels and lodges.
TIPPING
Tipping is not generally expected in Malawi, as many restaurants and services will add on
a service charge to your bill.
Photography & Video
The usual sensitivity rules apply for photographing people; don't push cameras into
people's faces and ask beforehand if they mind having their photo taken. In rural areas
you will often find children keen to get in front of the lens and see themselves displayed
on your LCD screen.
Post
Some letters get from Lilongwe to London in three days, others take three weeks, while in
rural areas, the post can be very slow. Post offices in Blantyre and Lilongwe have
poste
restante
services.
To African destinations, letters less than 10g and postcards cost MK80. To Europe, In-
dia, Pakistan and the Middle East it's MK150 and to the Americas, Japan or Australasia
postage is MK200. It's quicker (and probably more reliable) to use the EMS Speedpost
service at post offices. Letters up to 500g cost MK750 to Europe and MK1000 to Aus-
tralia and the USA.
Airmail parcels now cost about MK2000 plus MK500 per kilo to send items outside
Africa. Surface mail is cheaper.
Public Holidays
When one of these dates falls on a weekend, normally the following Monday is a public
holiday. Islamic holidays are also observed throughout Malawi by the Muslim population.
New Year's Day
1 January
