Tuesday 7th September - Welcome to Malawi

Tuesday 7th September

Welcome to Malawi

FINALLY! After multiple delays, long waits in airports, plenty of coffee and a couple of small naps on the floor in places I’d never dreamed of lying… we made it to Malawi!

First impressions are usually the ones that make the strongest marks. Summing it up in one word, I would choose ‘smiles’. You are greeted with a smile just about everywhere you go in Malawi

The first place we hit coming off the plain, as usual, was immigration. “How are you, man?” came the call from the cheerful looking chap in the small, untidy, plastic box he’d be sitting in for the rest of the day. His next question was “How long are you staying?” A tricky one, given the visa situation over here. “About 2 months?” I squirmed. “Ah, not long enough man!” was the return with a huge smile which took over the bottom half of his face like a tipped half moon. “Welcome to Malawi.” Welcome to Malawi indeed.

Walking round the corner to find out bags (last out of the plane, giving us that butterfly feeling in the stomach and the stuttered “what if they’ve lost them in transit?” question) we met John and Patrick, two of the guys from Luwawa Forest Lodge, where we will be working from over the next six month. John is here as part of a gap year, we’ll be replacing him in his role when he leaves in a few weeks time.

Last night we stayed in Lilongwe, in a backpackers rest site – we managed to meet some local people along with lots of travellers who, of course, only had great things to say about Malawi. Just before that we had to nip and get diesel for our 300km journey up to Luwawa. This, unfortunately was anything but a ‘nip’ out. We were forced to wait almost 2 hours in the queues after finally finding a station with some petrol. The lack of foreign currency here means that it’s not coming in all to often. Slowing down a country which already works slowly, not a great mixture.

The journey was long but comfortable. The roads here are in good shape and traffic flows well once out of the capital. After the four hour ride we arrived at the lodge, to be greeted by stacks of people only too willing to help us with bags and luggage. They have a great attitude.

I will blog again tomorrow with details about the lodge and what we’re going to be doing. Battery life and power is limited at the moment and I’m struggling!

Take care all,

Danny and Laura