Malawi operates two international airports with scheduled commercial service. Kamuzu International Airport sits fourteen kilometers north of Lilongwe. Chileka International Airport lies sixteen kilometers north of Blantyre. Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, and Malawian Airlines maintain routes from these airports to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and regional destinations. Overland entry points include borders with Tanzania at Songwe, Zambia at Mchinji and Mwami, and Mozambique at Dedza, Muloza, and Chiponde. The M1 highway runs 797 kilometers from Karonga in the north through Lilongwe and Blantyre to Nsanje in the south, forming the primary road corridor. Public minibuses operate between major towns with variable departure frequencies. Private coach services including AXA Bus and Shire Bus Lines follow fixed schedules on trunk routes.
The kwacha (MWK) divides into one hundred tambala. Banks in Lilongwe and Blantyre include National Bank of Malawi, Standard Bank, and FDH Bank. ATM networks cover district capitals but rural coverage remains limited outside these centers. Foreign exchange bureaus operate in Lilongwe and Blantyre with rates often exceeding bank rates by two to five percent. Most establishments accept cash only. Credit cards function at major hotels in Lilongwe, Blantyre, and lakeside resorts at Cape Maclear and Nkopola. The Reserve Bank of Malawi maintains the official exchange rate, which has experienced significant devaluation periods including a forty-nine percent drop in May 2012. Import restrictions on certain goods create parallel market rates that can differ from official rates.
Mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TNM provide coverage across urban centers and along the M1 corridor. Network availability decreases substantially on Nyika Plateau, Mulanje Massif, and remote lakeshore sections between Nkhata Bay and Karonga. Internet speeds in Lilongwe and Blantyre typically range from two to ten megabits per second on fixed connections. Mobile data services function through 3G and limited 4G infrastructure concentrated in major cities. Power supply operates on 230 volts at fifty hertz using British-style three-pin plugs. The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi generates power primarily from hydroelectric stations on the Shire River. Load shedding occurs regularly during low water periods on Lake Malawi, particularly between September and December. Backup generators operate at most tourist facilities and mid-range hotels.
Healthcare infrastructure concentrates in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre serves as the primary referral hospital for southern Malawi. Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe serves the central and northern regions. Private clinics including Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre and Area 25 Health Centre in Lilongwe provide services above public hospital standards. Medical evacuation services operate through MARS Air Rescue based in South Africa. Malaria transmission occurs throughout the country year-round with higher rates during the rainy season from November to April. Chloroquine resistance exists in Malawi. Water-borne diseases including cholera and typhoid occur during rainy seasons in areas with inadequate sanitation. Blood supply screening at public hospitals meets variable standards.
Visa requirements depend on nationality and reciprocal agreements. Citizens of most Commonwealth countries, South Africa, and several European nations receive visa-free entry for periods ranging from thirty to ninety days. The Malawi Department of Immigration website states current requirements by nationality. Single-entry visas cost seventy-five US dollars at ports of entry as of rates published in 2023. Multiple-entry visas cost one hundred fifty US dollars. Visa extensions process through immigration offices in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for travelers arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk as defined by WHO regulations.
Accommodation categories span from five-dollar dormitories to two-hundred-dollar lodges. Budget guesthouses in district towns typically charge eight to fifteen dollars per night. Mid-range hotels in Lilongwe and Blantyre range from forty to eighty dollars. Lakeside resorts at Cape Maclear, Nkopola, and Nkhata Bay charge thirty to one hundred twenty dollars depending on season and room category. Lodge accommodations near Liwonde National Park and Nyika National Park range from ninety to three hundred dollars per night including meals. Budget travelers commonly spend twenty to thirty dollars daily covering accommodation, local transport, and meals. Mid-range daily costs typically reach sixty to one hundred dollars.