Malawi: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Malawi feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 47 written places.
The warm heart of Africa earns the nickname - greetings are unhurried and smiles are the default.
✓ Considered polite
- Greet before any request - a right-hand handshake, often with the left hand touching your wrist in respect
- Learn Moni (hello) and Zikomo (thank you) in Chichewa - both are met with delight
- Dress modestly outside beach lodges - covered knees matter, especially in Muslim lakeshore towns
- Ask before photographing people - a greeting and a request come first
✗ Better avoided
- Skip the how-are-yous - business before greetings reads as rude
- Give or receive anything with the left hand
- Show affection publicly - couples keep it low-key here
- Joke about or criticise religion - faith is central to daily life
Worth knowing
- Cash kwacha covers most of life - cards work in city hotels but markets and transport are notes-only
- A 10% tip is usual for good service in lodges and restaurants
- Sunday is church day - expect closed shops, long services and full choirs
- Power cuts are part of the rhythm - lodges run generators, but a torch earns its place in your bag
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.