Flying to Lilongwe
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Johannesburg (JNB)
about 2 hours 30 minutes · Non-stop
R 2 176 ×3
R 6 528 all in
Per-payment figures are the all-in total divided by 3 and rounded. The number of payments and the schedule differ by partner — Happy Pay splits over 2 — and your own plan depends on that partner's approval. You see it in full before you confirm. Fares are the lowest seen for a sample date about six weeks out, not a quote; airline pricing moves constantly.
Best time to fly
Weather, crowds and fares move together in Lilongwe. These are the trade-offs.
May to August
Dry and cool — the most comfortable months, and good visibility in the lake.
September to November
Hot and dry before the rains, with the best game viewing at Liwonde and Majete.
December to April
Wet season. Green and dramatic, with some roads becoming difficult.
Before you go
Malaria
A malaria area including the lakeshore. Take medical advice on prophylaxis before travelling.
Bilharzia
Lake Malawi carries a bilharzia risk. Many travellers still swim; the standard advice is to take a course of treatment afterwards. Discuss it with a travel clinic.
Cash
Malawian kwacha. Card acceptance is limited outside the main hotels — carry cash.
Distances
Roads are slow. Allow considerably more time than the map suggests, especially in the wet season.
About Lilongwe
Lilongwe is Malawi's capital and the usual arrival point for a country that trades on being unhurried. It is a low-rise, spread-out city that most visitors pass through rather than linger in.
Lake Malawi is the reason to come — a vast freshwater lake with clear water, cichlid fish found nowhere else, and a string of low-key lodges along its shore. Cape Maclear and Nkhata Bay are the best-known spots.
Getting in from the airport
Kamuzu International (LLW) is about 25 km north of Lilongwe, roughly half an hour. The lake is a further three to five hours by road depending on which shore you are heading for — arrange transport in advance, as options at the airport are limited.
Entry requirements for South African passport holders
Malawi has generally admitted South African passport holders for tourism without a visa arranged in advance, though it operates visa requirements for many nationalities. Confirm the current position with the Malawian High Commission or your airline before travelling.
Entry rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the destination's embassy or consulate before you travel — this page is a guide, not an authority.
Flying to Lilongwe, answered
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Last reviewed by Fly n Pay Later editorial team.