A Short History Malawi was settled by various Bantu tribes who traded with Portuguese merchants on the coast before the Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone arrived on the north shore of Lake Malawi in 1859. He was followed by other missionaries who established missions along the lakeshore. In 1891, the British established the British Central Africa Protectorate, and by 1907, the Nyasaland Protectorate. The British remained in control during the first half of the 20th century, but the Nyasaland African Congress was formed in the 1950's as an opposition group to colonial rule under the leadership of Dr Hastings Banda. By 1961, Banda was in discussion with the British about constitutional reform and in 1964 Malawi became independent after the Malawi Congress Party (Banda's party) won elections. However, Banda declared himself 'president for life', had a wide control over parliament and anybody who criticised him was expelled from the country or imprisoned. In the 1978 elections, Banda personally vetted everyone who wanted to stand as a candidate, and he made all candidates take an English examination. Finally, increasing domestic unrest and pressure from the international community led to a referendum in which the Malawian people voted overwhelmingly in favour of multi-party democracy. Free and fair elections were held in 1994, and were won by Bakili Muluzi, leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Malawi's newly written constitution eliminated special powers previously given to Banda's Malawi Congress Party, and Malawi saw its first transition between democratically elected presidents in 2004, when Bingu wa Mutharika became president. Climate There are three seasons in Malawi. The rainy season extends from November to April, the cool season from May to July and the dry season from August to October. Temperatures and rainfall are greatly influenced by Lake Malawi and altitude, which varies from 37 metres (in the Lower Shire Valley) to 3050 metres (Mount Mulanje). Along the lakeshore, the mean annual temperature is 24°C, and humidity can be high during the rainy season. On all our tours, it's best to bring warm clothing - raincoat, warm hat, socks etc. - as across Africa wet/dry and hot/cool climatic periods change invariably. Health Matters Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Malaria: A malaria risk, predominantly due to P. falciparum, exists throughout the country. P. falciparum is resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine. Recommended prophylaxis: mefloquine. Precautionary measures to take to prevent contact with mosquitoes include: insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under a mosquito net and wear long sleeve clothing and long trousers in the evenings. Other: Seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic at least six weeks prior to departure about what vaccinations you require. Typically the list includes typhoid, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B and meningitis. Untreated tap water is considered unsafe to drink. Hospital facilities are generally reasonable in Lilongwe but in rural regions medical facilities are limited. Insurance: Health insurance is essential; adequate medical provision is often only provided privately and may require health insurance or a cash payment before admission. It is recommended that visitors carry personal medical supplies with them. Money Guide Currency: Malawi Kwacha (MKW) Exchange rates: US$1 = MKW140 GB£1 = MKW280 The following information is provided to assist you in planning the finances you will require for your safari. It is intended as a general guide only and may change with local conditions. African currencies tend to fluctuate more rapidly than your own currencies. On arrival in Lilongwe you will be able to convert money into MKW. The bureau de changes are the easiest place to change money, and US$ and GB£ are accepted in both cash and traveller's cheque format. Traveller's cheques attract a commission charge and a lower exchange rate than cash, which is changed with no commission. If coming south from Tanzania, MKW can be purchased on the border using US$ cash. To ensure you don't get ripped off, your trip leader will organise this. ATMs are effectively non-existent for foreign cards in Malawi. You need MKW to pay for snacks, drinks and small souvenirs etc. and services such as water-sport hire, guided village walks and laundry. Optional Activities in Malawi such as horse-riding (US$45) and scuba diving (US$30) are best paid for in US$ cash. Larger carved wooden souvenirs such as Malawi chairs (approx. US$20) can be paid for in US$ cash or MKW. Visa requirements: Most nationalities do not require visas. Please check with your embassy prior to arriving in Africa, as visas are not obtainable on the border. Average Costs: Internet, MKW7-10 per 30 minutes. Beer, MKW100. Bag of laundry, MKW500. Postage stamp, MKW70.