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The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that first inhabited the area.
Near the end of the 19th century European exploration of Africa increased, and the British established the protectorate of Nyasaland in 1891.
On July 6, 1964, Nyasaland became independent from British colonial rule and quickly renamed itself Malawi.
For almost 30 years, President Hastings Kamuzu Banda ruled firmly, suppressing opposition to his party and ensuring that he had no personal opposition.
On the very positive side, while Banda was president this poor, landlocked country achieved progress in both agriculture and industrial development.
After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution which came into effect the following year.
President Bingu Mutharika was elected in May 2004 to oversee one of the world’s least developed and most densely populated countries.
His job is daunting as Malawi has a low life expectancy and a high infant morality rate. There is also a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
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- Official Name Republic of Malawi
- Population 10,548,250
- Capital City Lilongwe (pop. 866,272)
- Currency Malawain Kwacha
- Currency Converter
- Languages English (official), Chechewa (official),
Chitumbuka (in the north), others
- Religions Protestant, Catholic, traditional beliefs
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- Land Area 118,480 sq km (45,745 sq miles)
- Highest Point Sapitwa Peak, 3,003 m (9,852 ft)
- Lowest Point junction of the Shire River and the border of Mozambique, 37 m (121 ft)
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Malawi is positioned in southeastern Africa, occupying a thin strip of land between Zambia and Mozambique. In the north it also shares a border with Tanzania.
The Great Rift Valley traverses the country from north to south. In this deep trough lies Lake Malawi, the third-largest lake in Africa.
The Shire River flows from the south end of that lake and joins the Zambezi River 400 km (249 mi) farther south in Mozambique.
In the west the land forms high plateaus, generally between 900 and 1,200 m (2,953 and 3,937 ft) above sea level. In the north, the Nyika Uplands rise as high as 2,600 m (8,530 ft).
To the east of the Shire River the land rises to an elevation of 1,600 m (5,249 ft), and eventually to the country's highest point, Sapitwa Peak at 3,003 m (9,852 ft) near the Mozambique border.
In the extreme south, the elevation is just slightly above sea level. It is there that Malawi's lowest point sits at the junction of the Shire River and the border of Mozambique, 37 m (121 ft)
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- Latitude/Longitude 13º 30' S, 34º 00' E
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Malawi presents a true African experience in terms of scenery and wildlife. In fact, for such a narrow slice of land, it offers a wide variety of attractions. In addition, Malawi contains a variety of large mammals, including the so called "Big Five," - buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.
Lake Malawi National Park contains the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world. In addition, wildlife is common across the park.
Nyika National Park is great for mountain biking and trekking. Large herds of antelope are common in the park that also contains one of the highest densities of leopard in Central Africa.
Liwonde National Park has some of the most scenic game viewing in Malawi and reputedly the best bird watching in Southern Africa. It's also a popular destination for enjoying a photo safari.
Travel Recommendations Before finalizing and/or making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate and research all of the important details regarding applicable health, passport and visa requirements.
If you require additional assistance, the experienced professionals at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!
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Malawi's weather varies from hot in the low-lying areas and coolers in the upper highlands.
The Winter months (May to July) generally feature dry and chilly nights, particularly in the highlands. The country's rainy season runs from November to March, with almost no rainfall during the balance of the year.
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Children in rural Malawi...
The shore of Lake Malawi...
Great scenery for the walk home...
Lake Malawi from space... |
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