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

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!