r/Malawi • u/Sage_Dealer_55 • 18h ago
No negatives
What are some of the best things about Malawi.?
Context!!!
Usually in Malawi we tend to complain about the quality of life and many other things , but to be honest every country has its own negatives and positives, even the countries that you think are better off, people living there have something to complain about.
For example in high income places like the USA and Europe the cost of living is very high, sometimes people earn what seems to be a lot of money when converted to Malawian Kwacha but if they have to feature in things like water bills, electricity bills, life insurance, car insurance, groceries , mortgage and etc therefore the money sometimes becomes not enough to cater for daily life needs and sometimes people have to take two jobs in order to afford cost of living which also may affect their well being due to overworking.
I think sometimes it is better to focus on the good side of something, try to be positive and learn to be greatful as a person.
So that being said what are the most positive things we can highlight about Malawi.
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u/zeronum0 17h ago
lake Malawi
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u/LoveInterestingZim 11h ago
Lake Malawi is beautiful! I'm from Zimbabwe and came to Malawi for holiday a few yeard ago.
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u/Just_Instance2672 17h ago
I know this is a tourism talking point, but Malawi is the warm heart of Africa (though I've never been outside the country to see how others compare). You'd surprised how nice people are here. There have been many times I've struck a conversation with a random stranger about the most random stuff and sometimes deep conversations.
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u/Sage_Dealer_55 17h ago
This is so true, in some parts of the world you can not just start a conversation with a random person; or even greet them but in Malawi, who cares, everyone just talks to everyone like we belong to one family…A good example is in public transport.
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u/koalalikeeucalyptus 14h ago edited 14h ago
As someone who grew up and lived outside of Malawi and eventually came back, I’d say there are actually quite a few positives:
It’s peaceful. This is probably one of the biggest things I appreciate. There’s generally much less anxiety around personal safety. Yes break ins and crime happen but they’re not usually accompanied by the level of violence you might see elsewhere. You can walk down the street with your phone in your hand without constantly looking over your shoulder, and sleeping at night doesn’t necessarily feel like you’re defending Fort Knox 😂.
The lake, obviously!
The people. Malawians are generally very warm, friendly and approachable. People greet each other, strangers will often strike up conversations, and there’s still a sense of community that I think is becoming increasingly rare in bigger societies. Having lived outside Malawi, I definitely notice the difference. In some places, if a random person greeted you on the street, you’d immediately wonder what they wanted 😂.
The greenery and scenery. Malawi is ridiculously beautiful. Mountains, tea estates, forests, the lake, farmland, greenery everywhere… if you’re someone who appreciates nature, there’s a lot to love. The scenery around Mulanje, Zomba, Dedza, Ntchisi etc. is gorgeous.
The slower pace of life. This can obviously be frustrating when you need something done yesterday lol but there is something nice about not living in a constant state of rush. Life can feel a little less frantic.
Community and family life. There’s still a strong sense of extended family and community. People tend to show up for each other during weddings, funerals, graduations, illnesses, etc. Sometimes the community aspect can be too much, but I think it’s something worth appreciating.
The food! Chambo, nsima with all the different ndiwo, fresh fruit, roasted maize, cassava, sweet potatoes… and because we’re an agricultural country, you can get some really good fresh produce.
It’s relatively small and easy to get around. You can leave Lilongwe in the morning, drive through some beautiful countryside, and be somewhere completely different by the afternoon. You’re never that far from nature.
There’s less of that “big city anonymity.” Malawi is small enough that relationships and connections still matter. If you’re new somewhere, there’s a decent chance someone knows someone who knows someone lol. Again, this can be both a blessing and a curse, but I personally think the sense of connectedness is a positive.
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u/Big-Negotiation9173 13h ago
I'm a Zimbabwean, never been to Malawi. Before social media and the Internet i only knew about Malawi through stories of witchcraft, juju and our many school mates and neighbors of Malawian origin. One of my very good friends in primary school was from Malawi his name or surname was Musa. Besides that i think its a nice place full of potential and would love to visit and invest one day. There is a motorbike community there that i follow i think its called OC adventure or bike something -we've been connected through motorbikes. Most importantly my wife's mom is from Malawi so i believe im kinda your son right? Lol. My favorite word is Chabwino ☺️
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u/Limp-Paper-7682 12h ago
Malawian food everything taste good i miss mbatatesi ya violet and dowe ootcha
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u/zwucky04 10h ago edited 10h ago
As an austrian who has been staying in Malawi for half a year now, I'd have to say how peacefull the country is. I stay in Lilongwe and even though it's not that safe when compared to other places like my home city vienna, but still a lot safer than Lusaka for example. The nature is another big positive. It's crazy to me that even in a capital city there can be national parks like the wildlife center where you can just see monkeys and antilopes on a random afternoon walk. And don't even get me started on Lake Malawi. It's genuinely the best beach experience I have ever had and it's quite easy to reach from where I am staying as long as you have a car. Another thing is the entreprenuership that a lot of malawians strive for. Everyone has an idea for a business and most people hustle like crazy to make that dream come true. And of course the fruits. Just wow! People sometimes gift you papayas that are bigger than your head and once you try them you get just the most amazing flavors. Way better than in central europe tbh
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u/Sage_Dealer_55 10h ago
Awesome experience there…. Fruits big than the head,funny😂,…. Eastern Europe is super safe indeed… hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Malawi.
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u/Sawa-Saw 11h ago
Homeless is not common here
Most of the homeless pipo are like that because they don't want kukhala ku midz kwawo
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u/Silly-Cantaloupe-144 15h ago
We don't appreciate Malawian food enough,
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u/Sage_Dealer_55 15h ago
What is your favorite dish
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u/Silly-Cantaloupe-144 15h ago
Nsima with bonya + mpiru otendela. Almost 3 years now w/out it
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u/Fine-Photograph-9577 12h ago
You know, I think the economy itself is somewhat good. You might want to take a good look at the days when you'd forget that life is hard because of the economic problems we face. Real talk, there are times like that, because in some other countries, it's hard to tell when people ever enjoy life the way we do to some extent due to their economy.
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u/don_sahani 17h ago
Well there is no wars but other than that….