Mini Guide to Malawi
What to see with a rental car in Malawi
You’re likely to begin at Lilongwe Airport, a popular collection point for car hire. From there you can spend a few nights in the capital with its excellent bars and restaurants. There’s plenty of history there too, so search out the museums and galleries. From there, head north to Zomba, the colonial capital of the country and home to many colonial buildings. It’s here you’ll first encounter the staggering landscape of the country as the Zomba Plateau rises steeply behind the city.
You’ll then travel further north through the Liwonde National Park and on to the shores of Lake Malawi. Bypass Mangochi and follow the western shore to Cape Maclear with its beautiful beaches around Monkey Bay. Heading more inland, you’ll find a landscape more like Scotland with thick forests and verdant heathland surrounded by majestic mountains. Ntchisi National Park is the best stopover for this before driving up towards Tanzania, stopping at Mzuzu, the biggest settlement in the north.
Facts about Malawi
- Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world
- Malawi was formerly the British protectorate of Nyasaland
- It’s home to Africa’s third largest lake, Lake Malawi
- Most of the country is located at high altitude making it cooler and greener than its neighbours
Is it safe to rent a car in Malawi?
Malawi is a beautiful country found in the south east of Africa. Completely landlocked, it is dominated by the southern portion of the Great Rift Valley, the largest canyon on earth. There’s so much to see in the country you’ll almost not know where to start.
Renting a car is safe in Malawi, what you can be sure of is that you’ll likely want to consider a 4x4 vehicle if you’re going to get anywhere outside the capital Lilongwe. The main car hire company, Avis, in Malawi have a range of pick-ups, trucks and 4x4 rentals including the Toyota Hilux, Land Cruiser and Fortuner capable of carrying large loads and up to 7 passengers.