| Area |
118,484 sq km (45,747 sq miles). |
| Population |
11,871,000UN estimate 2002). |
| Capital |
Lilongwe- population 440,471 (1998) |
| Climate |
Varies from warm around lake Malawi to cool in the highlands. Winter (May to July) is dry and nights can be chilly, especially in the highlands. The rainy season runs from November to March. Around Lake Malawi, in winter, the climate is particularly dry with pleasant cooling breezes. |
| Language |
The national language is the widely spoken Chichewa but the official language is English. |
| Religion |
80 per cent are Christian, 13 per cent Muslim, 7 per cent follow traditional beliefs and there is a small Hindu minority. |
| Time |
GMT + 2.
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| Highlights |
One cannot visit Malawi without exploring what David Livingstone called "Lake of Stars", Lake Malawi. This enormous lake covers 15,000 sq. miles stretching from Mangochi in the south to the north-eastern-most tip of Malawi. The lake comprises of sandy shores, water that is free of bilharzia and crocodiles but which offers water-skiing, sailing, fishing, wind surfing and particularly snorkelling. Some of the rarest tropical fish in the world are on show too! Other attractions include the Zomba Plateau with its vast forests and waterfalls and the National Parks of Nyika, Vwasa Marsh, Liwonde and Lengwe, all of which offer visitors and excellent experience of unspoilt wilderness and wildlife. Birdwatching is excellent throughout the country with over 650 recorded species.
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| Country Facts |
Malawi is situated in Southeast Africa sharing borders with Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. The country is dominated by Africa's third largest lake, Lake Malawi, which forms the eastern boundary with Tanzania and Mozambique.
The country's stunning scenery varies in the different regions; the Northern Region offers spectacular mountains with the highest peaks reaching to over 3000m. The rolling Nyika Plateau, rugged escarpments, valleys and the thickly forested slopes of the Viphya Plateau combine together as a unique blend of Southern African harshness and startling expanse of vastness.
The Central Region is mainly a plateau, over 1000m high, with fine upland scenery and the country's main agricultural area. The Southern Region is low-lying with the almost surreal 2100m high Zomba Plateau and classic beach fringed shores of south Lake Malawi.
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