Difference between revisions of "Malawi"

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|pop = 12,900,000
 
|pop = 12,900,000
 
|currency = Malawi-Kwacha
 
|currency = Malawi-Kwacha
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|hitch = <rating country='mw' />
 
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'''Malawi''' is a country in the southeast of [[Africa]]. It has borders with [[Tanzania]], [[Mozambique]] and [[Zambia]].
 
'''Malawi''' is a country in the southeast of [[Africa]]. It has borders with [[Tanzania]], [[Mozambique]] and [[Zambia]].
 
Malawi is one of the poorest countrys in the world, nearly 50% of the population have less than $1 per day.
 
Malawi is one of the poorest countrys in the world, nearly 50% of the population have less than $1 per day.

Revision as of 12:10, 6 September 2011

Flag of Malawi Malawi
Information
Language: Chichewa, English
Capital: Lilongwe
Population: 12,900,000
Currency: Malawi-Kwacha
Hitchability: <rating country='mw' />
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots
<map lat='-13' lng='34' zoom='6' view='0' float='right' height='350'/>


Malawi is a country in the southeast of Africa. It has borders with Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. Malawi is one of the poorest countrys in the world, nearly 50% of the population have less than $1 per day.

Hitchhiking

Expect, that the road conditions are far below standard except the main roads, which sometimes have pavement. People in Malawi often travel onboard of pickup trucks or lorrys, minibusses and busses. Most families do not own a vehicle. Busses and minibusses usually go heavily overloaded before they start. The condition of this vehicles is mostly pretty bad. Minibusses seems to be a quite unsecure traveloption because they tend to go fast on the bumpy roads.

Because of the bad condition of public transport, hitchhiking in private cars seems to be the most secure transport option. Arrange a ride via hitchhiking in the south of Malawi seems to be easy, in the north the distances between the citys are bigger and there is not so much traffic. Consider the common safety rules while hitchhiking.

Climate

There are four seasons in Malawi. A cool season between may and august, a hot season between august and november, a rainy season between november and april (with a humidity of almost 100%), and a post-rainseason between april and may. In the mountains in the north it is colder, the hottest region is the malawilake. In average the temperatures are between 19°C and 32°C in the rainy season and between 14°C and 24°C rest of the year.

Health

If you cross the border from the neighbour countrys an immunization against yellow fever can be wanted. Recommended are immunizations against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, poliomyelitis and hepatitis A. For a longer stay also hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid fever and neisseria meningitidis are recommended. Also think about cholera which occur under bad hygienic circumstances. Take care of your personal hygiene and food and water hygiene. During the whole year there is a high risk of malaria, you may think about a prophylaxis. In Malawi about 10-15% of the locals are infected by HIV (AIDS), so protect yourself. Meningitis seems to be a problem too, so think about an immunization and talk to your doctor in advance. Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is transmitted by the tsetse fly, think about protection against insects. Don't go swim in the malawi-lake you may be infected by schistosomiasis.

In every case consult a physician before your journey starts.

The medical supply is far below western standards, stay clean and healthy!

Weblinks

http://www.friendsofmalawi.org/