Safety in Malawi: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 23 February 2026.
Safety
- Crime and slow police — A weak economy and widespread poverty keep petty crime going, with theft and pickpocketing in the capital and the larger cities but also in isolated rural areas, and local police do not have the resources to answer calls for help. Be most careful in the evening, avoid non-essential movement after dark anywhere in the country, and do not go at night into the areas known as compounds.
- Mozambique border — Political instability in Mozambique has recently pushed up refugee arrivals, and economic conditions in the border area have deteriorated as a result. Take extra care if you are transiting there.
- Do not photograph — Photographing government buildings, airports, bridges, churches and military installations is strictly forbidden. Do not photograph or film demonstrations either, or get involved in political activity.
- Cyclones and power cuts — Between November and April cyclones forming in the Indian Ocean bring heavy rain and flooding that can cut off whole areas for long stretches. In that season electricity supply suffers too, and can be rationed daily in the capital and in the rest of the country.
- Use a registered operator — The ministry advises against using small local tour agencies for tours and transfers, however good their reviews on social media, and says to check they are properly registered with the Malawian authorities before signing anything. It also suggests group trips run by reputable agencies rather than going alone, including in the outskirts of cities and in isolated rural areas where help would be hard to reach.
- Rivers and lakes — Do not bathe in ponds or watercourses: crocodiles and hippos are present.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 23 February 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Malawi before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 23 February 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.