Getting There!

BY AIR

Air Malawi, South African Airways and Air Zimbabwe all schedule regular flights to Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. Connecting flights are run by Air Malawi to Makakola on the southern lake shore at regular intervals. Starlake Cruises will meet you at Makakola airport and provides transfers to and from their base free of charge.

BY ROAD

Malawi is easily accessible by road from South Africa, via Zimbabwe and Mocambique. This entails a two day drive from Johannesburg (a distance of about 2000 kms) with a night stop over in Harare. Starlake cruises will provide you with detailed route instructions, including a schematic map to get you through Harare on the road to Malawi.

South African driving licences and international driving permits are recognised in all the countries involved in the trip.

Third party cover for each country is required - obtainable at the border posts.

"Multiple Entry" visas are required for Mocambique, obtainable from the Mocambique consul offices. Two passport style photographs are required and the issue time is approx. ten days. Applications may be obtained from any South African travel agent.

The roads for the most part are in good condition, tarmacadamised for the entire distance, although some short sections in both Mocambique and Malawi could be potholed dependant on that seasons rains and the availability of budget for repairs.

There is an alternative route through Zambia,  which is approx. 700 kms longer, and not recommended as latest reports are that the Zambian section of road from Lusaka to Lilongwe is in very poor condition.

Petrol and diesel is easily available in all the countries concerned, although a calculator is a must in parts of Zimbabwe and in Malawi as pump registers will often be found to be not working.

The trip by road, although lengthy is definitely a must for those with wanderlust or time on their hands. The countryside is varied and beautiful and gives the traveller an excellent feel for the "breath of Africa". A short stop over in Harare for sight seeing is well worth it - Harare is one of the more attractive (and cleaner) cities in Africa!

Car Hire companies in South Africa will not generally provide vehicles for hire for trips outside South Africa.

BANKING

Malawi has a fairly sophisticated banking system but its banking network is not extensive. Credit cards are generally not accepted and the lack of accessability to banking branches means that cash needs be carried. Use money belts and small denominations.  USD, SAR,   are acceptable currencies (notes only) but, because of the high exchange rates and low costs relative to the rest of the world, small denominations should only be carried. Avoid USD100 bills - Africa is paranoid about them in view of the high volumes of counterfeits in circulation. Travellers cheques may be carried and will be accepted in most hotels and resorts but rarely anywhere else.