Malawi calls itself the warm heart of Africa, and most trips centre on Lake Malawi, from Cape Maclear in the south to Nkhata Bay and Likoma Island in the north, combined with a safari in Liwonde or Majete and hiking on Mount Mulanje or the Zomba and Nyika plateaus. International flights arrive in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Malawi is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, which means a European SIM roams there at its operator's own prices.
Key facts for Malawi
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Airtel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 997 or 990; ambulance 998; fire 999
- Embassies: in Lilongwe
Lake Malawi
Coverage is good in the lakeside towns and resorts but can fade on remote stretches of shore and on the islands. The lake carries bilharzia, a parasite caught through contact with fresh water, so health authorities advise avoiding swimming and wading, and getting screened by a doctor afterwards if you do go in.
Lilongwe, Blantyre and the roads
Coverage is solid in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu. Break-ins, some with violent assaults, have increased in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Limbe, mugging and bag-snatching happen, and most thefts from tourists take place around the main bus stations, so avoid walking after dark, even in a group. Be wary of over-friendly strangers offering to act as guides.
Road deaths are frequent, many vehicles drive at night without lights, and minibuses are often overloaded, so travel in daylight and choose the larger coach services between towns. Fuel shortages are frequent, with long queues, so fill up whenever you can.
Mulanje and the parks
In 2025, a group of UK tourists was violently assaulted and robbed at their hotel in Mulanje, so if you plan to climb Mount Mulanje, get security advice from the Mountain Club of Malawi first. In Liwonde and Majete, the signal is limited away from the lodges.
Laws to know
Drug use and smuggling, including cannabis, are punished severely, and same-sex sexual activity is illegal. Buying or selling ivory or other parts of protected animals is illegal. Outside the tourist areas, dress conservatively, and always carry a copy of your passport and visa, as the police sometimes ask for ID.
Paying
The currency is the kwacha. Many places do not take cards, so be ready to pay in cash, and although cash machines accept foreign cards, they are often out of order and can charge high fees.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up before departure connects when you land in Lilongwe or Blantyre, and your home SIM remains available for texts and bank codes. An Africa plan also covers Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.
Malawian SIM cards from Airtel or TNM are sold at the airports and in town, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Malawi
- Call 997 or 990 for the police, 998 for an ambulance and 999 for the fire brigade, but these numbers are unreliable, so ask your hotel or the local police which numbers work where you are staying.
- Embassies are in Lilongwe. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- As an EU citizen, if your country has no embassy or consulate in Malawi, you can ask any other EU country's embassy for help on the same terms as its own citizens (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- English is an official language alongside Chichewa, which makes it easier to report a problem.
Questions travellers ask about Malawi
Does my EU plan work in Malawi?
No. Malawi is outside Roam Like at Home, so you pay your operator's roaming rates.
Can I swim in Lake Malawi?
Health authorities advise against it because of bilharzia. If you do swim, get screened by a doctor afterwards.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Malawi?
Airtel, with 4G where available.
What are the emergency numbers?
997 or 990 for the police, 998 for an ambulance and 999 for the fire brigade.
The short version
Get the eSIM before you travel, carry enough cash, fill up with fuel when you can, avoid the roads and city streets after dark, keep out of the lake, and save 997.
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