From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Malawi Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 6 Jun 1997 12:56:43 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1359 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <970606125643_76702.1202_CHN63-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: bzs@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 93 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Malawi ============================================================ Malawi - Consular Information Sheet June 5, 1997 Country Description: Malawi is a developing African nation. Tourist facilities are limited. Aging infrastructure and lack of investment have rendered electricity, water supply and telecommunications unreliable. Credit cards are not commonly accepted. Entry Requirements: A passport is required. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of Malawi, 2408 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20008, telephone (202)797-1007. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Malawian embassy or consulate. While strict dress codes are no longer in effect, travelers may wish to dress modestly, especially when visiting remote areas. Areas of Instability: Spontaneous civil disturbances, primarily related to labor and student strikes, occur but are uncommon. Information on Crime: Armed robberies and carjackings are growing common throughout Malawi. Residential break-ins, car theft and petty crime are frequent in urban areas. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Medical Facilities: Travelers should be aware that contrary to the frequent claims of the local tourist industry, some stretches of Lake Malawi contain the parasite schistosoma, aka bilharzia. Medical facilities are basic at best. Some medicines are in short supply or unobtainable. Doctors and hospitals often require immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage to be useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession or dealing in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Road Safety/Automobile Travel: Malawi's roads are in poor repair. Secondary roads may be impassable to all but four-wheel drive vehicles during the rainy season (November-April). Given Malawi's very high road accident rate, travelers should drive defensively and avoid road travel outside cities at night. Road support networks for stranded drivers do not exist. Land routes through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean and Zimbabwe, including the Tete Corridor, can be dangerous. Incidents of carjacking and other violent crime, including murder, have occurred. Four wheel drive utility vehicles are targeted at a higher rate than other style vehicles. Travelers should plan their trip to ensure they travel only during daylight hours. Travelers are encouraged to convoy with other vehicles if possible. To ensure that travelers are provided with the most current information, persons traveling overland to Malawi should contact the U.S. Embassy consular sections in both Malawi and in the proposed countries of transit. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe in area 40, City Center, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Malawi. The U.S. Embassy's mailing address is P.O. Box 30016. The telephone numbers are (265) 783-166, 783-342 and 783-367. The fax number is (265) 780-471. No. 97-087 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 27, 1997 to update information on entry requirements. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories