Flights to Malawi
Flights to Malawi For intercontinental flights from Europe South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways (also with KLM) offer good options to Malawi.
AIRPORTS
Lilongwe International Airport, locally known as Kamuzu airport is located about 12 miles from the city center in Lilongwe. It has a single runway and terminal, giving it a few flight options. Most travelers opt to connect in Johannesburg on South African Airways. Other carriers include Air Botswana with flights from Gaborone; Air Malawi with connections from Blantyre, Harare, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, and Johannesburg; Kenya Airways from Lusaka and Nairobi; and Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa and Lubumbashi. Facilities include a bank, currency exchange, bar and restaurant, post office, and several duty-free stores for international travelers.
Chileka International Airport, is located in Blantyre, 9 miles from the city. It is a small facility and it serves three airlines which include Air Botswana, Air Malawi, and South African Airways, with flights to and from Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, and Lusaka. The only domestic flight is to Lilongwe.
There are also Mzuzu and Karonga airports, located in Mzuzu and Karonga respectively. These are small airports and are linked via Air Malawi with domestic connections from Lilongwe.
Entering Malawi by Road
There are road routes into Malawi from Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. Assume that border posts will be closed from about 18.00hrs and reopen at 07.00hrs. Visitors requiring a visa may find this difficult to obtain at border posts and are advised to obtain the documentation in advance. Requirements for vehicle documentation should be checked before traveling. As of March 2016, the following are the requirements for a vehicle to enter Malawi:
- Third Party Insurance – obtained at the border at a cost of MK21,000.00
- Temporary Importation – obtained at the border at a cost of MK10,000.00
- Vehicle Registration Certificate
- If the vehicle is not owned by the driver, a letter of authorisation form the owner or car rental company is required.
International Tour Operators
Most operators who organise tours to southern Africa will offer Malawi itineraries, or provide a tailor-made service. Information about companies can be found in the following sections of the Travel Directory: UK Tour Operators; European Tour Operators; North American Tour Operators; Worldwide Tour Operators.
Duty Free
International travelers over the age of 18 may import, duty free: 200 cigarettes or 225gm of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits; 1 liter of beer; 1 liter of wine; plus a “reasonable” quantity of consumable goods to meet the travelers' immediate need while in Malawi.
Visas
Please see the separate Visa Guide for information on visas for Malawi, including a link to the e-visa system introduced in November 2019.
