Capital: Lilongwe | Language: English, Chichewa | Currency: Kwacha | Religion: Christian, Muslim | Population: 18 million

We went to Malawi by accident, basically – it was an unexpected detour, on our way from Tanzania to Mozambique. Thanks to some issues at the Mozambique border, we back-tracked around Lake Nyasa and ended up in Nkhata Bay on Christmas. It worked out well: the lake is a beautiful retreat and, we arrived just in time for a turkey dinner.

Train from Cuamba to Nampula Mozambique
Travel guides

How to cross the border from Malawi to Mozambique

A guide to crossing the border from Malawi to northern Mozambique. How to get to the Chiponde/Mandimba border crossing and then to Cuamba. Plus, catching the train from Cuamba to Nampula.

Lake Malawi
Travel guides

From Tanzania to Malawi: how to get around Lake Malawi by road

Stranded in southern Tanzania and starting to wonder if we should apply for permanent residency, Oyv looked at the map again and said ‘Fine. We’ll just go around Lake Nyasa. Lake Malawi. Whatever.’ And why not?…it’s only one of Africa’s Great Lakes, after all. Here’s how we did it.

dhow Cabaceira Ilha de Mocambique
Stories

Fears, phobias and Mozambique, finally

We faced a couple of hiccups on our way into Mozambique overland: heavy rainstorms that washed out roads, plus armed conflict just over the border. But we made it, finally, and after some rough travel, life slowed down to a relaxing pace.

Lake Malawi Myoka Village lodge
Local transport

Mafia Island and a detour around Lake Malawi: Christmas as usual

Oyv and I met up in Dar es Salaam, ready for some sun and snorkelling on Mafia Island. Really, we were on our way to Mozambique, but unforeseen issues at the border caused us to double-back and detour – right around one of Africa’s Great Lakes and into Malawi.

Lake Malawi
Travel guides

From Tanzania to Malawi: how to get around Lake Malawi by road

Stranded in southern Tanzania and starting to wonder if we should apply for permanent residency, Oyv looked at the map again and said ‘Fine. We’ll just go around Lake Nyasa. Lake Malawi. Whatever.’ And why not?…it’s only one of Africa’s Great Lakes, after all. Here’s how we did it.

Read More »
dhow Cabaceira Ilha de Mocambique
Stories

Fears, phobias and Mozambique, finally

We faced a couple of hiccups on our way into Mozambique overland: heavy rainstorms that washed out roads, plus armed conflict just over the border. But we made it, finally, and after some rough travel, life slowed down to a relaxing pace.

Read More »