Packing list for Malawi, travel insurance for Malawi, and taking your belongings

To take or not to take to Malawi, leave at home or arrange locally?

Sufficiently insured or not for your activities in Malawi?

Sufficiently insured or not for your trip to Malawi?

What to take with you to Malawi: short

Featured items:

• Documents: passport with a validity of at least 6 months.
• Money: bring enough Malawian kwacha. Sometimes you can pay by Credit card, but certainly not at markets or in remote areas.
• Care: sunscreen or sunscreen with a high factor.
• Outdoor and practical items: hat and sunglasses. Lightweight and breathable raincoat (more about rainwear and waterproof clothing). Backpack rain cover.
• Clothing: lightweight clothing for warm temperatures, moisture-wicking fabrics are best. Read more about clothing for when it is warm. Layers, including a sweater or fleece layer for the evenings, in winter and for higher altitudes. Neutral colored clothing if you are going on safari. Insect and mosquito repellent clothing.
• Shoes: hiking boots and possibly sandals/slippers. Medicines and travel kit: a small first aid kit with plasters, painkillers, hand sanitizer and ORS. Mosquito repellent (see also DEET mosquito repellent).
• Technique and equipment: world plug with type G (see also world plug or travel plug) and a headlamp or flashlight and power bank for when you go to remote areas.

What are some other options for packing as well?

• Reusable water bottle with filter. In remote areas it can be difficult to find filtered water.
• Flashlight for remote areas.
• Travel sickness tablets for bumpy rides.
• Binoculars for wildlife spotting (more about taking mini binoculars or monoculars)!
• Check in advance whether your accommodation has impregnated mosquito nets and if not, take a mosquito net with you.

What should you keep in mind when traveling to Malawi with your belongings?

• That the climate can vary considerably depending on where you go and when you visit the country.
• Where malaria hotspots are.
• The local dress code - modest, covered and colourful, especially in the predominantly Muslim villages.

Are there mosquitoes in Malawi?

• Mosquitoes are widespread in Malawi, especially in low-lying areas and near water sources.
• The risk of mosquito bites is highest during the rainy season, from November to April.
• Mosquitoes can transmit malaria, among other things. Malaria is endemic in more than 95% of the country and is a major cause of illness and death.

Are there sandflies in Malawi?

• Sand flies are not a known problem in Malawi. 

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in Malawi?

• Yes, mosquito repellents are available in Malawi, especially in larger cities such as Lilongwe, Blantyre, and tourist areas around Lake Malawi. Usually at chemists and drugstores, sometimes at the lodge itself.
• A popular natural brand is Virisafe.
• However: the range is often limited, and the prices can be relatively high for imported products.
• The local products are usually less effective in high-risk areas.
• Bring your own trusted mosquito repellent, especially if you prefer a certain percentage of DEET (such as 30% or 50%) or an alternative such as picaridin or icaridin.

Can you buy a joint or weed in Malawi, or take it with you to Malawi?

• Malawi is known for Malawi Gold, one of the most popular marijuana - chamba - varieties.
• Cannabis is also one of the country's three largest export products. In February 2020, Malawi legalized the cultivation and production of cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes.
• Recreational use is still illegal and penalties can be severe. So don't be tempted!
• Taking it with you to Malawi (or when you leave Malawi) - definitely also not allowed!