Malawi, Landlocked country between Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique, East Africa.
Malawi is a landlocked East African nation bordered by Tanzania to the north, Zambia to the west, and Mozambique to the south and east. The terrain runs along a rift valley system with a narrow lake forming the central axis, flanked by highland zones of savanna and wooded hills.
Bantu settlements shaped the lakeshore from the first century onward, followed by the rise of the Maravi confederacy in the 15th century. British influence began after David Livingstone traveled through in the 1850s, leading to protectorate status in 1891 and independence in 1964 under Hastings Banda.
Rural daily life follows agricultural rhythms, with planting and harvest seasons shaping the pace of movement between villages. Community kitchens prepare nsima from ground maize, served alongside relishes made from locally grown vegetables and dried fish from the lake.
Traveling during the dry season from May to October eases road connections, with minibus networks linking major towns. Malaria prophylaxis applies in lowland areas, visas on arrival are available for most nationalities, and mobile phone coverage reaches most populated regions.
Over 850 fish species inhabit the lake, making it the most species-rich inland body of water on Earth, with cichlids accounting for 90 percent of this diversity. The endemic chambo fish forms a dietary staple and some species live only in specific bays or rock formations.
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