Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ripple Africa
( 0044 (0)1525 216346;
www.rippleafrica.org
)
Recruits volunteer
teachers, doctors, nurses and environmental workers for a number of projects based in
Nkhata Bay district.
Wildlife Action Group
(
www.wag-malawi.org
)
Uses volunteers to assist in the manage-
ment and maintenance of the Thuma Forest Reserve.
Women Travellers
Malawi is generally a safe destination for women travelling alone or with other women
and you can anticipate few problems. In fact, many women travellers report that, com-
pared to North Africa, South America and numerous Western countries, Malawi feels rel-
atively safe and unthreatening.
If you do receive hassle from men, firmly decline their advances and you'll usually be
left alone. If you want to go out at night apply the same common sense that you would at
home.
Malawian women dress conservatively, in traditional or Western clothes, so when a vis-
itor wears something significantly different from the norm, she will draw attention. In the
minds of some men, revealing too much flesh will be seen as provocative. Wearing short
shorts or a bikini might be acceptable on the beach in tourist areas but elsewhere it will
meet with disapproval.
Getting There & Away
The main way to get to Malawi is by land or air. Overland, travellers might enter the
country from Zambia, Mozambique or Tanzania. Boats also bring travellers over Lake
Malawi from Mozambique. There are no direct flights to Malawi from Europe or the Un-
ited States. The easiest way to reach the country by air is via Kenya, Ethiopia or South
Africa. Flights, tours and rail tickets can be booked online at
www.lonelyplanet.com/
Entering Malawi
Entering Malawi you must present a passport with at least six months of validity remain-
ing, and should be in possession of an onward or return ticket, though this is seldom
checked. Tourists are generally given a 30-day stay, extendable once you're in the country.
