The national airline is Air Malawi (QM) (website: www.airmalawi.com).

A passenger service charge of US$30 (payable in US currency) is levied on all international flights. Malawi passport holders can pay in local currency (MWK1,500). Children under two years of age and transit passengers are exempt.

Lilongwe (LLW) (Lilongwe International) is 26km (16 miles) from the city (journey time – 25 to 30 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxis and a bus service are available to the city from the airport. Facilities: Duty-free shop, post office, local travel agents, car hire, bank/bureau de change, restaurant and bar.

Blantyre (BLZ) (Chileka) is 13km (8 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: There is a coach service to the city. Facilities: Car hire, restaurant and bar.

There are road connections with Mozambique at Mwanza in southwestern Malawi and at Chiponde in the east; with Tanzania at the Songwe River Bridge in the far northwest of the country; and with Zambia on the main Lilongwe–Lusaka highway near Chipata in the west.

A luxury coach service connects Blantyre with Johannesburg (South Africa).

Air Malawi’s domestic network provides regular links between Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Club Makokola (southern lakeshore) and Liwonde National Park. Jakamaka Air Charters serves the main tourist destinations in the country.

Cruises on Lake Malawi are available by local steamer. Food and cabins are available. For details contact local travel bureaux.

Central East African Railways (tel: 01 640 844; fax: 01 643 496 or 640 278) operates the lines in the country. The main route connects Mchinji, Lilongwe, Salima, Chipoka, Blantyre, Limbe and Nsanje. Trains tend to be slow and crowded and are little used by tourists.

Traffic drives on the left. All major roads are tarmac and most secondary roads are all-weather.

Bus: There is a good bus system, including an express service, connecting main towns. The journey from Mzuzu to Karonga is particularly spectacular. Luxury coaches connect Blantyre to Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

Car hire: This is becoming increasingly available, with a number of companies offering a wide choice of vehicles. Standards do vary (even with the internationally franchised chains) so it is worth seeking a recommendation. Nonetheless, cars should be reserved well in advance as they are very much in demand. Chauffeur-driven cars are also available.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

Bus: There are services in all major cities.

Taxi: These are in short supply and cannot be hailed on the street. Taxi drivers expect a tip.

The following chart gives approximate average journey times (in hours and minutes) from Lilongwe to other major cities/towns in Malawi.

	Air	Road
Blantyre	0.40	4.00
Mzuzu	1.00	5.00
Zomba	-	4.00
Karonga	1.30	6.30
Mangochi	1.00	4.30