Muli bwanji! Welcome to the “Warm Heart of Africa”—Malawi!

A landlocked country in Southeast Africa known for its extraordinary friendliness and its massive, shimmering lake. There are around 21 million people living here, and the capital is Lilongwe, though the city of Blantyre serves as the main commercial hub. The official languages are English and Chichewa.

Malawi covers about 118,484 square kilometers (45,747 square miles). That’s roughly the same size as the state of Pennsylvania in the U.S., or about the same size as Bulgaria. A huge portion of the country’s “territory” is actually water—the stunning Lake Malawi takes up about one-fifth of the total area.

The most popular sport is Football, followed closely by Netball, where the Malawi national team (the Queens) is a world-class powerhouse. Their national animal is the Thomson’s Gazelle, though the country is also famous for the colorful Cichlid fish found in its waters.

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of black, red, and green with a rising red sun in the center of the black stripe, where the black represents the indigenous people of Africa, the red symbolizes the blood shed for freedom, and the green stands for the lush nature of the land.

The food is simple and satisfying. You must try Nsima, the national staple, which is a thick porridge made from ground corn and served with “relishes” like beans, meat, or vegetables. Another favorite is Chambo, a delicious fish from the lake that is often grilled or fried and served with a spicy fruit-based sauce called Nali. For a snack, you’ll often see people selling roasted Maize on the cob along the roadsides.

Malawi is home to Lake Malawi National Park, the world’s first freshwater marine park and a UNESCO World Heritage site; it contains more species of fish than any other lake on Earth! The country is also famous for the Mulanje Massif, a giant granite mountain that rises abruptly from the tea plantations and is often called “The Island in the Sky.” For wildlife lovers, Liwonde National Park offers incredible views of elephants and hippos along the Shire River. Malawi is also one of the world’s largest producers of Tobacco and Tea, and a visit to the rolling green tea estates of Thyolo is like stepping back in time.

From the white sandy beaches of Likoma Island to the vibrant rhythms of the Gule Wamkulu masked dancers, Malawi is a land of genuine smiles and natural wonder. Zikomo! That means “Thank you!”