This article on Malawi in the Times travel section yesterday gives a beautiful picture of the country, if you have a chance:

BEYOND the shores of Lake Malawi, known for boutique eco-resorts and well-heeled international tourists, there’s another Malawi — a whole country, if a tiny one, of chaotic and lively urban centers, green hills, tea plantations, high mountains and game parks blessedly free of safari jeep traffic jams. 

The article does a great job describing the natural beauty of Malawi, and the pictures are all amazing. Though, this lesson was one that we had to learn the hard way:

From Blantyre, the Thyolo region lies about 25 miles southeast on a good, though winding, road. Everywhere in Malawi, it’s advisable to hire a car and driver (for about $30 a day) rather than to try to travel on your own in a rental car. Traffic weaves wildly, and a smooth paved surface can suddenly turn rough. On one of our trips, we were on a major highway and hit a detour that suddenly took us on a rutted dirt track through the center of a village of tiny thatched huts, their occupants obviously surprised to find traffic barreling through their town.

Our Executive Director Melissa Kushner tried the same trip in a rented car. “Not only did we drive ourselves, but we had zero car battery and our windshield wipers were held down by a lollipop stick. It was pouring out and our car broke down at every stop. Take their advice and get a driver.” 

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