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The roads in Malawi was recently poorly developed. But the main roads in the central and south region of Malawi have been better lately with foreign aid and earmarked transfers. Many of the roads are with bitumen. And apparently better than the roads in Zambia.
Bus to Malawi:From Tanzania: Minibuses run all the way between Dar es Salaam and Lilongwe with stops in the Songwe border crossing, Kyela, Mzuzu and Karonga.From Zambia: There are both direct buses and minibuses between Lusaka and Lilongwe with stops in Chipata and the Mchinji border.From Mozambique: From Quelimane and Nampula you can get minibuses to the Milange-Mulanje border. From there you can reach Blantyre.From Cuamba on the Mandimba-Chiponde border. From there you can reach Mangochi and Namwera. From Cuamba you go south to Entre Lagos-Nayuchi border to Liwonde. From Caia you can a take minibus to Vila Nova da Fronteira border to Nsanje and Blantyre.From Tete to the Zóbuè-Mwanza border to Blantyre.
Bicycle taxis are available in many places in Malawi. I saw them in Lilongwe, and on the countryside on the road from Lilongwe to Cape Maclear in Lake Malawi. The bicycles has a passenger pillow on the baggage rack. It's a original and funny sight.
If anyone is looking for Car hire you can contact this company in lilongwe they are at the airport as wellBlue Arrow Car Rentals Ltd.Post.net x100,Crossroads LilongweMalawi Contact Person : Tonny Bunns,Contact Telephone No.: 00265 8826 224 00265 5658 195bluearrow2009@btinternet.comSituated in Teptec Building, Capital City, Lilongwe, Malawi
Flying is the easiest way, with good connections to most of the large cities in Africa and then on to the rest of the world.There are good bus services between the large cities, but locally the minibuses are great and they will more or less go anywhere. There is also a boat service which runs up and down the lake, stopping at most major places along the way.
The main roads are in a relatively good shape.While driving i was asked by a local guy if i had a PHD. Returning the question why he asked, he said: it seems so, by the way you drive. You must have been to Africa before !!! He got me confused now.Yes he says, in order to avoid the pot holes in the tarmac, you have to drive from one side of the street to the other. Make sudden stops, reverse the car ens.So, he says, you have developped these skills, to drive in Malawi.So we honour you with a PHD: Pot Hole Dodger.!!!!
Compared to other countries in Southern Africa, except for the RSA, busses are in quite a good shape. To my surprise, vehicules are checked every year, in order to be allowed in traffiic. We did not discover what this check up really was.Busses are very crowded, hot and sticky.A mixture of smells catches you when going on the bus. But you get used to it after a while.
I believe that public transportation was mostly available in the major cities (not so much in the rural areas, but still available), but I am not sure about their reliability. And, if you venture on your own and decide to rent a vehicle (not sure of the costs) to travel in, make sure you drive on the correct side of the street! For Americans and others used to driving on the RIGHT side of the road, get used to driving on the LEFT side! Africa is under the British rule, so the driving applies too - hence, the opposite driving side of the road in America!
MV Ilala Weekly Voyage ScheduleNorth Bound VoyagePort / Day / Arrival / DepartureMonkey Bay Friday 10.00Chipoka Friday 13.00 15.00Nkhota Kota Saturday 00.30 03.00Metangula Saturday 06.00 08.00Cobue Saturday 12.00 13.00Likoma Saturday 13.30 16.00Chiszumulu Saturday 19.30 22.00 Nkhata Bay Sunday 04.00 07.30Usisya Sunday 09.30 11.30Ruarwe Sunday 12.30 13.30Chilumba Sunday 19.00South Bound VoyagePort / Day / Arrival / DepartureChilumba Monday 01.00Nkhata Bay Monday 13.00 19.00Likoma Tuesday 03.30 06.30Chipoka Wednesday 04.00 06.00Monkey Bay Wednesday 12.00FaresEmbarkation Port: Monkey BayOwner´sCabin 1st Class (cabin) 1st Cl (Deck)Chipoka 36 $ 26 $ 10 $Metangula 95 $ 61 $ 33 $Cobue 98 $ 65 $ 46 $Likoma Island 106 $ 76 $ 51 $Nkhata Bay 168 $ 121 $ 71 $Fares are given in US $ per person (06/2004) and include English breakfast and late afternoon snacks for Cabin Classes and Continental...
The locals mainly make use of their bicycle to get to places and to carry wood, sweet potatoes and whatever they need. It is amazing how much they can carry on their bicycle and still keep their balance! For tourists it is best to hire a car though (or take your own car with).
Madidi Lodge Lilongwe
6 Reviews and 16 Opinions I had a wonderful stay at Madidi Lodge in April 2011. The manager/owners are very friendly and...
Protea Hotel Ryalls Blantyre
22 Opinions
Sunbird Livingstonia Beach Salima
1 Review and 20 Opinions We stopped here for lunch on a trip through the area. It was a beautiful setting on a patio...
Reviews and photos of Malawi attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Malawi sightseeing.
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Q: My boyfriend and I want to go away for around 6-8 weeks June/July/August - we want to stay fairly active (originally intending to...
A: In a word - no. Lovely place, but it doesn't offer the range of activities that many of the neighbouring countries do. You could keep yourself occupied, but is it worth...
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