How to Get Around Malawi

Getting Around

Malawi is small and its roads are its problem. The advisories agree on the rules: do not drive at night, expect roadblocks throughout the country and stop at every one even if it looks unattended, carry identification and your licence, and do not assume fuel will be available on your route -- shortages are frequent and the queues long. Police breathalyse, use speed cameras on main roads often where there are no signs, fine on the spot, and can confiscate the licence and vehicle of a driver caught speeding or drunk. An international driving permit is valid for a year. Canada does not recommend the minibuses, which are overcrowded and poorly maintained, and says long-distance buses between the big cities are generally safe but sometimes carry standing passengers.

The lake is the other road. The MV Ilala of Malawi Lake Services has sailed from Monkey Bay since 1951 and crosses the lake weekly to Chilumba in the north, about 480 kilometres, calling at Likoma on the way; some lake ferries have poor safety measures, and the advice is not to board one that looks overloaded or unseaworthy. Theft is frequent at the Ilala's terminals and the main bus stations of Lilongwe and Blantyre. Fares and timetables are not stated here because no operator page answered.

Verified against Global Affairs Canada, September 2026.

Entry

A visa is required. Since 24 February 2026 nationals of what the e-visa portal calls Category Two countries can obtain a visa on arrival at all designated ports of entry, while Category One nationals must obtain a visa or prior authorisation before departure; the portal strongly encourages everyone to apply online in advance at evisa.gov.mw. The British advisory gives the prices, payable in US dollars cash on arrival: US$50 single entry, US$150 for a six-month multiple entry, US$250 for a year. A passport must be valid six months beyond arrival; a yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from a transmission-risk country and a polio certificate in some circumstances; and the Ministry of Health requires every arriving passenger to complete a Traveller Health Check form, by QR code on arrival or online in advance. All foreign currency must be declared on arrival and departure -- failure can mean detention or a confiscated passport.

Roads

No night driving; roadblocks everywhere, all of them to be stopped at, with ID to hand; fuel shortages frequent enough to plan around; breathalysers, unsigned speed cameras, on-the-spot fines and confiscation of licence and vehicle for speeding or drink-driving; an international driving permit good for a year. Minibuses not recommended; roadside assistance very limited; tourist infrastructure limited outside the major centres.

The lake

The MV Ilala, Malawi Lake Services, Monkey Bay, weekly to Chilumba via Likoma since 1951. Some ferries have poor safety measures; do not board an overloaded one. The Ilala terminals are a theft hotspot.

Emergency numbers

Police 997 or 990, medical assistance 998, firefighters 999.

Verified against Malawi Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, September 2026.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Avoid driving at night; roadblocks are common throughout the country and must be stopped at even if unattended, with ID ready; minibuses are not recommended; some Lake Malawi ferries have poor safety measures and an overloaded or unseaworthy one should not be boarded; fuel shortages are frequent; tourist infrastructure is limited outside major centres, Canada advises a high degree of caution because of crime; petty theft occurs regularly and is frequent in markets, high-density areas, the main bus stations of Lilongwe and Blantyre, the Ilala ferry terminals, street-side restaurants and hotels, The currency is the Malawi kwacha; the economy is predominantly cash-based; US dollars are widely accepted; all foreign currency must be declared on arrival and departure or the traveller may be detained or have the passport confiscated, Avoid driving at night; roadblocks are common throughout the country and must be stopped at even if unattended, with ID ready; minibuses are not recommended; some Lake Malawi ferries have poor safety measures and an overloaded or unseaworthy one should not be boarded; fuel shortages are frequent; tourist infrastructure is limited outside major centres, Emergency numbers: police 997 or 990, medical assistance 998, firefighters 999 (September 2026).
Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — An international driving permit is valid for a year and the licence must be carried for checkpoints; fuel shortages are frequent with long queues; police breathalyse, run speed cameras on main roads often without signs, fine on the spot, and can confiscate licences and vehicles for drink-driving or speeding, A visa is required; single or multiple entry visas are available on arrival for US dollars cash: US$50 single entry, US$150 six-month multiple, US$250 one-year multiple; e-visas online; passport valid six months beyond arrival; yellow fever certificate if from a risk country, polio in some circumstances; the Traveller Health Check form is completed on arrival by QR code or in advance, An international driving permit is valid for a year and the licence must be carried for checkpoints; fuel shortages are frequent with long queues; police breathalyse, run speed cameras on main roads often without signs, fine on the spot, and can confiscate licences and vehicles for drink-driving or speeding (September 2026).
Checked against Malawi Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services — From 24 February 2026 nationals of Category Two countries may obtain a visa on arrival at all designated ports of entry, Category One nationals must obtain a visa or prior authorisation before departure, and all travellers are encouraged to apply in advance at evisa.gov.mw (September 2026).