Malawi safari packing list

Malawi is generally warm, so pack light summer clothes for wearing in the middle of the day. It can become cold at night though, even during summer and especially if you are visiting the Zomba or Nyika Plateaux, so warm clothing should also be included.

Most lodges have a relatively informal evening dress code, therefore, depending where you are, casual clothing goes down best. There are no safari lodges and hotels where you are required to wear a collar shirt at evening meals.

Sunglasses, suntan lotion, lip balm, shady hats, binoculars, insect repellent and a torch are all essentials for safari holidays. We have included a suggested luggage list below, however, please call the team at Expert Africa if you are in any doubt as to what to take.

Please note that bright colours and white are not advised and army camouflage uniforms or army hats are forbidden. Clothing in muted safari colours like brown, dark beige, khaki and green are ideal.

Don’t forget your bathing costume for the small pools at the lodges, and, of course, Lake Malawi which are all very refreshing in the warmer summer months.

Packing checklist

• Passport
• Visa (if required)
• Insurance details (please see our travel insurance page for more information)
• Credit card
• Cash (US dollars is the most useful currency in Malawi)
• Warm clothes (possibly including hat and gloves)
• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Footwear (including walking shoes/boots if appropriate)
• Swimwear
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Mobile (cell) phone (see below)
• Chargers and adapters (Malawi tends to use type G plugs, with three rectangular pins)
• Torch / flashlight
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Prescription medicines & prescription (if needed)

Mobile (cell) phones on safari

It is a good idea to have a mobile with you on your trip in case of an emergency. If you have ‘global roaming’ enabled, your phone will probably work in most towns in Malawi. Your phone can be set to include ‘global roaming’ by your network provider so contact them before you depart.

As an alternative to global roaming, which can be quite pricy, bring a cheap/old mobile phone with you and buy a local SIM card and some call minutes when you arrive. (Do make sure that this spare phone is not locked against SIM cards from other providers/countries.) Or, buy a cheap phone and SIM card on arrival.

NB: Regardless of whether you use a local SIM card or not, it is unlikely that you will have a consistent signal throughout your trip: many areas are remote, sparsely populated and without cellphone coverage.