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Africa is a huge continent, it is the second most populated and second largest continent in the world, with Asia being in the top position for both.
Within the continent of Africa, there is a rich history, and each of its 54 countries has its own story. In this article, we’ll be sharing some interesting details about the African country of Malawi. Perhaps learning more will put Malawi on your “countries to visit” list?
Where is Malawi?
Located in the southeast of Africa, Malawi is a small, landlocked country. However, Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa. The crystal clear waters are a highlight of the country, and contain the most different types of fish species than any other lake on the planet.
What Does the Name Malawi Mean?
The name “Malawi” means “flames”, this is due to the reflection of the sunrise over Lake Malawi. Malawi is also said to possibly derive from Maravi, which is the name of an early tribe in the country.
Lake Malawi has been dubbed “The Lake of Stars” by Scottish explorer David Livingstone when he visited the area in the late 1800s. This was because of the reflection of lantern lights on fishermen’s boats looking like stars on the water. There is also a music festival of the same name, held on the shores of the lake.
Malawi is also nicknamed as “the Warm Heart of Africa” because of how kind and welcoming its people are, especially to visitors. It is also one of the safest countries in Africa, so if you’re looking for a good place to visit, why not volunteer in Malawi?
What Language is Spoken in Malawi
The official language of Malawi is English but many people also speak Chewa, which is also known as Chichewa, as “chi-“ is usually used as a prefix for languages. The Chewa language is spoken in southern and eastern parts of Africa like Mozambique and Zambia.
What is Produced in Malawi?
A large percentage of the country’s population live in rural areas and so agriculture fuels the economy. Tobacco is one of the biggest exports, along with sugar, peanuts, and cotton.
Malawi was also the first African country to grow tea commercially, having done so for over a hundred years and remaining the continent’s second largest tea producer after Kenya.
What is There to Do?
Malawi has nine national parks and wildlife reserves, so it’s a great place to go on safari. There are many diverse landscapes, so there’s lots of variety across each park.
What Animals Can Be Found There?
As mentioned previously, there are many fish species, between 500 and 1,000 in fact. The species found include various types of Cichlids, which are known for their bright colours that have made them favourites in aquariums across the world.
As well as fish, you can find elephants, lions and rhinoceroses in national parks and reserves, they are also found in lower numbers across the country. Buffalo and zebra are common in all areas, as are jackals and various wild cats such as spotted hyenas.
Malawi is also home to 55 species of bats, almost 200 different types of mammals, including primates like blue monkeys, yellow baboons, and bushbabies. Many birds are also found, either natively or migrating, such as flamingos and storks.
Projects and Experiences
If you love animals and you are looking for a place to volunteer abroad, perhaps somewhere in Africa, then the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi is currently the only wildlife sanctuary in the country.
This centre serves as a home to orphaned and injured animals, including birds, monkeys, and other small mammals. You can visit as an animal care volunteer, or join the team if you’re a veterinary student. The goal of the wildlife centre is to raise and nurse the animals to full health, so that they can survive being re-released back into the wild.
To join a project, you can go solo or as a group of up to 18 people. The length of time you can stay over there lasts from a fortnight to 3 months, packages can cost from £1,500 and over for accommodation plus all of your meals.
Visit Malawi
Malawi has become increasingly popular, with travel guide publisher Lonely Planet ranking it one of the best destinations to visit.
Though it has become more popular, the country is still rugged. As beautiful as the location is, Malawi is the fourth poorest country in Africa. Therefore, volunteers would be welcome, and a great help.
If you’re looking for travel ideas, Malawi is definitely worth checking out.
