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Malawi

The warm heart of Africa: safari, freshwater lake and plateaus.

Capital
Lilongwe
Currency
Malawian kwacha (MWK) — bring clean USD notes (newer than 2017)
Flight from Banjul
From Banjul (varies)
Time difference
GMT+2 (1h ahead of Cameroon)

Malawi is among the destinations a Gambian passport reaches without a visa. The warm heart of Africa: safari, freshwater lake and plateaus. Here: visa, real budget, best seasons and what to do — departing from The Gambia.

In pictures

Formalities

The visa, step by step

Visa-free
Allowed stay
short stay
Cost
Free
Processing
Immediate on arrival

How to apply

No visa for a short tourist stay: show a valid passport and a return ticket on arrival.

Required documents

  • Passport valid 6 months
  • Return ticket
  • Yellow fever certificate

Good to know

  • •Visa-free tourist stay; confirm the exact allowed duration before departure.
How much it costs

A one-week budget

Backpacker
168 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight
Comfort
570 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight

Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé

480 000 FCFA–870 000 FCFA

Flights from Banjul (ASKY, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc…), depending on the destination.

Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.

Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)

🏨60 000 FCFA
🍽️33 000 FCFA
🚕24 000 FCFA
🎟️51 000 FCFA
Hostel
4 800 FCFA–13 200 FCFA
Mid-range
27 000 FCFA–57 000 FCFA
Nice hotel
72 000 FCFA–180 000 FCFA
Tailored

Budget simulator

Comfort level
Estimated total budget
648 000 FCFA
Must-sees

What to do there

1

Lake Malawi & Cape Maclear

Freshwater diving and snorkelling among colourful cichlids, kayaking and sailing in the heart of the lake national park.

2

Liwonde National Park

The country's best safari on the Shire River: elephants, hippos, crocodiles and boat safaris.

3

Zomba Plateau

Forested table mountain with waterfalls and shaded trails, scenic drives and day hikes.

4

Mount Mulanje

The country's highest peak, a multi-day trekking paradise (best May-Oct).

5

Nyika Plateau

Vast highland grasslands with orchids, zebras and antelope; a landscape unlike anywhere else in the country.

6

Likoma Island

Remote lake island with sandy beaches and baobabs, home to a surprisingly huge St Peter's Cathedral.

Itinerary

One week, day by day

  1. D1

    Arrival in Lilongwe, city and craft market.

  2. D2

    Transfer to Liwonde National Park.

  3. D3

    Liwonde safari: Shire River boat and game drive.

  4. D4

    Scenic day on the Zomba Plateau.

  5. D5

    Drive to Cape Maclear (Lake Malawi).

  6. D6

    Lake Malawi: diving, snorkelling and kayaking.

  7. D7

    Lakeside relaxing and return to Lilongwe / departure.

✓

Travel checklist

A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.

Travel checklist — Malawi

Before you leave

What to pack

Visa sources: en.wikipedia.org

Indicative data (June 2026), reliability moyenne. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.

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