This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate (earthquakes). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

Although the current situation is stable, political tensions between the government and opposition have increased the risk of civil unrest. You should avoid demonstrations and large public gatherings throughout Malawi as they may become violent. Monitor the local media for updates on the current situation.

Crime

We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Malawi because of the risk of criminal activity. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

Petty crime, including robbery, pickpocketing and bag snatching is prevalent in Malawi, including on public transport. House burglaries are also common.

Carjackings, particularly of four wheel drive vehicles, occur frequently in urban areas. Carjackers are also active between the borders of Malawi and Zimbabwe along the Tete Corridor in Mozambique. You should not resist if your vehicle is attacked.

In the capital, Lilongwe, the majority of attacks take place on Kenyatta Drive and around the bus station. Tourists are particular targets when walking from the Old Town (shops and craft stalls) to the nearby new Capital City (nature sanctuary and embassies). You should avoid walking at night, particularly in urban areas.

Be wary of food and drink spiking. Never leave food or drink unattended.

Criminals have also been known to pose as tour guides in the major cities.

Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

Local Travel

Driving in Malawi is dangerous due to poor road conditions, poorly maintained vehicles and inadequate street lighting. Additional safety risks include: pedestrians and animals that stray onto roads, vehicles travelling at night without lights and vehicles abandoned on roads. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

Hiking on Mount Mulanje requires a local registered guide as paths are not marked.

Police roadblocks are located throughout the country and you may be required to show personal identity and vehicle registration and ownership papers.

Public transportation is limited and unreliable, particularly in rural areas.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

The rainy season is November to April when flooding may occur on minor roads, making them impassable.

Malawi is subject to earthquakes. Information on natural disasters, including earthquakes, can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service.

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and US dollars.

Credit cards and travellers’ cheques are not widely accepted in Malawi and there are very few ATM machines, even in tourist locations. The US dollar is the most widely accepted currency for exchange. You should check with your accommodation provider or tour operator on the best methods of payment before your arrival.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Malawi, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

It is illegal to purchase or export uncut precious stones, or to import ivory or pornographic material.

Penalties for drug offences, including those involving cannabis, are severe and include lengthy imprisonment in local jails.

Homosexuality is illegal and the local community is generally intolerant of same sex relationships.

It is illegal to photograph government buildings, airports, churches or synagogues, bridges and military installations.

We recommend you carry your passport and visa or immigration permit at all times. Police and immigration officials can request to see your passport and immigration stamp/visa at any time. Failure to produce these documents may result in detention. Failure to adhere to immigration requirements could result in arrest, imprisonment and/or deportation.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Local customs

There are strict standards of dress and behaviour in Malawi and you should take care not to offend.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Malawi for the most up to date information.

A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into Malawi for travellers arriving from a yellow fever affected country. The World Health Organization (WHO) can provide a list of yellow fever affected countries.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Health Issues

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Public medical facilities in Malawi are limited. There are a number of private clinics in Lilongwe and Blantyre where the facilities and care are similar to Australian standards. In the event of serious illness or injury, medical evacuation to a country with the appropriate facilities would be necessary. Medical evacuation costs could be considerable.

Malaria occurs widely and throughout the year in Malawi and other insect-borne diseases (including filariasis, plague and African sleeping sickness) are also common. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria and take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times.

Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, tuberculosis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. It is recommended that all drinking water be boiled or that you drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

Outbreaks of cholera are common in Malawi during the rainy season, November to April. We advise you to drink water only from safe sources and maintain strict hygiene standards if travelling to Malawi. Further advice on cholera can be found on the WHO website.

The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Malawi is high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

Where to Get Help

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Malawi. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian Embassy which is in Zimbabwe:

Australian Embassy
1 Green Close
Borrowdale
Harare, Zimbabwe
Telephone (263 4) 852 471
Facsimile (263 4) 870 566
Website: www.zimbabwe.embassy.gov.au
Email: zimbabwe.embassy@dfat.gov.au

If you are travelling to Malawi, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

If you are planning to stay in Malawi for more than six months, you should consider registering with the British High Commission in Lilongwe. Contact details are:

British High Commission
PO Box 30042
Lilongwe 3
Telephone (265) (1) 772 400
Facsimile (265) (1) 772 657
e-mail: bhclilongwe@fco.gov.uk

In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the Australian Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.