MALAWI
is one of Southern Africa’s least visited countries. Despite its diminutive size, Malawi is vast in its offering to travellers; from the towering highlands of the Great Rift Valley to the sparkling waters of Africa’s third largest lake and rolling swathes of tea plantations. Above all, Malawi is earning its right as a worthwhile safari destination. This is largely thanks to major wildlife conservation efforts in recent years as both
ecently recognised by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Travel in 2022, Malawi is emerging from the woodwork as a destination of choice in Africa. Traditionally dwarfed by neighbouring Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and Botswana, the dynamic is now shifting towards this small landlocked country. One taste of Malawi’s delights, and you’ll find it hard to believe that this
Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Matt Cole-Wilkin
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MALAWI
From bush to beach, overlooked Malawi offers a diverse and unforgettable taste of the wonders of Africa
and a boat safari voyage along the Shire River promises glimpses of hippos and elephants dousing themselves in the cool waters. Aside from its sheer natural splendour, this is a land famous for the welcoming and hospitable nature of its people. A haven for diversity ideal for any intrepid traveller, mass tourism is yet to get fully underway in Malawi, so there really is no time like the present.
government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) seek to revitalise the country’s national parks, as seen with the lion reintroduction programme underway at the Majete Wildlife Reserve. Off land, the ‘Lake of Stars’ covers one fifth of the country and is a magnet for water sports lovers look ing for a beach-style escape lounging on its sandy shores. Head to another famous waterway in the country’s south,
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The Mulanje Massif, also known as Mount Mulanje, is a large inselberg in southern Malawi. At 3,002 metres, Sapitwa Peak is the highest point both on the massif and in Malawi. It lies 65 kilometres east of Blantyre, rising sharply from the surrounding plains of Phalombe and the Mulanje district
Outlook Travel (OT): Can you talk me through the origins of Malawi Tourism and its initial vision?
Sosten Yobe Lingwalanya, Deputy Director of Tourism & Marketing (SYL): The tourism industry in Malawi has significantly grown since the mid-1970s, and the Ma lawian government is attempting to expand it further. The tourism industry was, however, significantly affected in the 1980s by an economic recession in South Africa where most Malawian tourists were coming from. Our vision is
MALAWI TOURISM INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Sosten LingwalanyaYobe
• Add 10,000 tourism-benefitted direct and indirect jobs.
SYL: We conduct various marketing campaigns based on our major tourism products, all of which are affordable for medium spend tourists. These include wildlife, water, landscape, and cultural experiences.
A TRUSTED VOICE to guide anyone interested in visiting Malawi, we speak with Malawi Tourism as the country expands its efforts in the sustainable travel market and seeks to grow its tourist product offering to encour age visitors to stay longer. Deputy Director of Tourism and Marketing, Sosten Yobe Lingwalanya, tells us more.
• Double the total aggregate number of visitors coming from key markets in Europe, North America, South Africa and Asia (including China and India).
OT: What are your organisation’s current goals?
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• Increase the contribution of tourism to GDP.
SYL: Our goals are as follows:
to make Malawi a sustainable tourism destination that professionally manages and actively conserves its natural and cultural heritage through vibrant collaborations with communities, businesses, and government.
OT: How do you market Malawi as both a business and leisure travel destination?
• Increase average annual occupancy rates of licensed accommodations by 10 percent to 63 percent.
• Increase the average length of stay from current 7.6 nights by one day through the introduction of more tourist activities.
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OT: What trends are currently reshaping tourism in Malawi and how are you utilising them?
Religious tourism is another big trend here that has been picking up recently, as a number of international delegates primarily from African countries come to Malawi to congregate with fellow faithfuls.
OT: How is environmental sustainability transforming Malawi’s tourism industry?
SYL: Conservation efforts to sustain our environment are having a significant impact on the transformation of our tourism industry. A great example includes the work being done by African Parks to conserve our National Parks. Many of these, including Liwonde, Nkhotakota and Kasun gu National Parks were under encroachment and suffered from high levels of poaching. Thanks to these conservation efforts, tourists can now ably visit these areas and witness the many different species of wildlife that were previously
TOURISM
SYL: We have noticed a rise in domestic tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of international borders. The Department of Tourism has even developed a domestic tourism strategy to fully utilise this growing trend, launching several campaigns including radio pro grammes to encourage people to travel internally.
“OUR VISION IS TO MAKE MALAWI A SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION THAT PROFESSIONALLY MANAGES AND ACTIVELY CONSERVES ITS NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE” + 1 775 (0) 984 22 22 72
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diminished. In the same vein, due to such efforts Malawi was voted by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 10 countries to visit in 2022.
OT: Are you optimistic about the future of the tourism industry in Malawi?
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SYL: There is definitely optimism throughout the industry. Like many other destinations, Malawi is taking the nec essary steps to make sure that we recover well from the impacts of COVID-19. Necessary actions are being taken to make sure that despite the pandemic, international tourists continue to visit, and domestic travellers can move about the country with ease. We are working to increase awareness about our destination and coming up with new products that will entice future tourists. This will include various marketing campaigns to increase domestic tour ism. But also, we intend to tap into more niche markets within sustainable travel, including birding, hiking, and many others.
www.visitmalawi.mwinfo@visitmalawi.mw 6 | Outlook Travel issue 09 MALAWI TRAVEL GUIDE
– SOSTEN YOBE LINGWALANYA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TOURISM AND MARKETING, MALAWI TOURISM Malawi Department of Tourism Tel:
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Bingu International Conference Centre
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Washing clothes near Kamuzu dam in Lilongwe
Bird’s eye view of Lilongwe
After a hike up Nhkhoma Mountain, survey the city from this summit and you will see the distinct separation of the Old Town in the south, and the New Town to the north, so named
PHOTO BY NESNAD - OWN WORK, CC BY 3.0
Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary
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after Lilongwe took over from Zomba as the official capital of Malawi in 1975. Separating these two downtown areas is a forest of green, spread across the very heart of the city’s cen tre. One of Lilongwe’s most worth while attractions, here you will find Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary. The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre is an animal rehabilitation centre dedicated to helping injured and rescued animals before they are eventually returned to the wild. Visitors can even volunteer and learn about caring techniques
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for the resident fauna, including crocodiles, monkeys and lions.
LILONGWE IN FOCUS
THE CAPITAL AND mostpopulous city in Malawi takes its name from the river that carves its route through Lilongwe. Lilongwe is typically overlooked as nothing more than a stopover for most visitors to the country, however at least two nights here will expose you to a sprawling and vibrant city.
Elsewhere, souvenir hunters will enjoy the city’s eclectic markets such as the Kanelolo Curios Market, which makes for a great way to spend an afternoon. Lilongwe also hosts a reputed selection of eateries and res taurants for dining out in the evening, most of which can be found in the Old Town. Be sure to spend some time in this underrated capital before venturing out to the wilderness of Lake Malawi and beyond.
Crafts market in Lilongwe
Malawi Hastings Kamuzu Banda in Lilongwe
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King’s African Rifles War Memorial, Downtown Lilongwe
Southern Malawi hosts the fertile region of Thyolo, an area dominated by verdant swathes of tea planta tions. A walker’s paradise, many plantations and hiking trails are to be found along the foothills of Malawi’s highest peak – Mount Mulanje. Take a stroll through some of the country’s oldest plantations, like the Satemwa Tea Estate, and savour a taste of local produce from Africa’s second-largest tea producer.
LAKE MALAWI
LIWONDE NATIONAL PARK
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THYOLO
Malawi is still developing its repu tation as a safari destination, so a visit to Liwonde offers a chance to observe big game away from the masses. Keep your eyes peeled for hippos, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and if you’re lucky, perhaps a leop ard. Take a game drive, a bush walk, or an increasingly popular boat safari along the Shire River for an authentic wildlife experience.
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Covering a fifth of the country, this vast body of water is the closest thing that landlocked Malawi has to a beach destination. Known as ‘the Lake of Stars’, thanks to the breathtaking reflection of the night sky on its waters, this freshwater national park is home to authentic wooden lodges nestled along its shores, offering diving, snorkelling, and sailing.
LILONGWEMALAWI GETTING
AS A LANDLOCKED country, travel throughout Malawi is mostly by road, with the exception of boats traversing the breadth of Lake Malawi. A trip on the traditional MV Ilala ferry is a recommended way to explore its scenic shores, with boats leaving once every week. Boat transfers here will also escort you to resorts on the lake’s islands, such as Likoma. Many will choose to take a light charter aircraft straight to the lake after arriving in the country. If doing so, it is worth bearing in mind that luggage restrictions on such flights are capped at a strict 12 kg per person.
PHOTO BY SEAN
With relatively short journey times between places of
Most tourists will arrive at the country’s two main airports in either Blantyre or Lilongwe, with the country’s primary airport, Kamuzu International (LLW) located 24 kilometres from the capital. For travelling through Lilongwe itself, this is typically done by taxi. Internal flights link most of the country’s main towns, alongside a bus service that connects most major centres. THERE AND AROUND
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interest, and roads that are generally in good condition, Malawi is recommended as a self-drive destination – just keep an eye out for people, animals, and the occasional pothole! If visiting a National Park, it is recommended to either hire a driver, or rent an appropriate 4x4 vehicle.
www.outlooktravelmag.com Malawi Department of Tourism, Off Convention Drive, Private Bag 326, Lilongwe 3, MALAWI Tel: + 265 1 775 499 / +265 (0) 984 22 22 72 www.visitmalawi.mwinfo@visitmalawi.mw