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Info on Malawi

Malawi – The Warm Heart of Africa

Malawi is a landlocked country located in southeastern Africa and is bordered by Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.  It is one of the top ten poorest countries in the world.  Malawi declared its independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.  Tobacco, tea, and sugar are its most important crops.

Malawi’s capital is Lilongwe, and Blantyre is its largest city.

The size of the country is 118,000 square kilometers. The area is a bit smaller than England. Lake Malawi (560km / 350ml long), occupies much of the country’s eastern border. The eastern part of the country lies in the north-south Rift Valley, dropping in height from 500m (1600ft) above sea level at the lake to 40m (120ft) in the far south. The west has mountain ranges and high plateau areas reaching altitudes of over 1500m (5000 ft).

Malawi Profile
Official Languages: English, Chichewa
President: Peter Mutharika
Population: 19 Million
Currency: Kwacha
Life expectancy: 64 years

Malawi is a sub-tropical country and has a single rainy season, which runs from November to late April and a dry season from May to October/November.

Alongside the lake and in the south of the country, maximum temperatures can reach 30+°C and humidity is high. In the higher areas maximum temperatures are a more comfortable 25°C and it can even be chilly at night.

The most common vegetation is brachystegia woodland, which is technically deciduous but loses it leaves only briefly in September/ October. In some areas there are also the “upside-down” baobab trees and various types of palms. Around 400 orchid species have been identified in Malawi.

For a detailed profile on Malawi please click on the following  U.S. Department of State Website at

www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/7231.htm

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