Malawi Humanitarian Trip
Lilongwe
May 18 - 25, 2024
Malawi, a landlocked country nestled in southeastern Africa, captivates with its stunning natural beauty and warm hospitality. Blessed with the shimmering waters of Lake Malawi, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, its golden beaches and crystal-clear waters beckon travelers to unwind along its shores. Beyond its tranquil lakeside vistas, Malawi’s diverse landscapes boast lush forests, dramatic mountains, and fertile valleys. Wildlife enthusiasts are drawn to its national parks and reserves, offering thrilling safaris amidst thriving ecosystems. Rich in culture and tradition, Malawi embraces visitors with vibrant music, colorful markets, and friendly smiles. With a blend of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion, Malawi promises unforgettable experiences for those seeking to explore its treasures.
The total price includes humanitarian trip expenses, supplies, most meals, transportation (not flights), and hotel stay on clinic days.
With the help of our partners, Hearing the Call, and generous donors, we are able to make our humanitarian trips more affordable and accessible to our members, students, and volunteers.
$500 Deposit Required at Time of Application*
Humanitarian Trip Price: $4,470
Entheos members, please contact Kareem directly for discounted pricing.
(All prices are for double rooms and are subject to change.)
*$500 deposit is fully refundable up to 60 days prior to a trip. Once inside that 60 days, you are responsible for any charges such a the purchase of airline tickets in country as well as the credit card processing fee of 6% (3% on initial purchase and 3% on return).
Note: Application, Payment and the Waiver are managed by Entheos Audiology Cooperative as part of their support for Hearing the Call
May 18 – 25, 2024
Day 1: Arrive Lilongwe (LLW)
Day 2: Training and Orientation at Chikho Hotel
Day 3: Clinic Day / Meeting with senior health officers at Kasungu District Hospital before tour to Mthunthama Health Centre/Anglican St Andrew’s Clinic.
Day 4: Clinic Day
Day 5: Clinic Day
Day 6: Retreat Day at Blue Zebra
Day 7: Retreat Day Continues
Day 8: Depart from Llongwe (LLW)
Flight Information
Confirmation from Entheos that you are on the humanitarian trip.
Arrive Day 1 Travel from US to Kamuzu Intl. Airport in Llongwe (LLW).
Try to arrive midday or earlier to allow for the possibility of delayed flights.
We will depart from Lilongwe International Airport (LLW).
Please enter your flight information by clicking the button to your right that says “Flight Info”.
- The Entheos team usually arrives a day early. If you decide to arrive a day early, you will be responsible for an extra night in the hotel (under $100).
VISAS
Malawi does NOT REQUIRE a visa for U.S. citizens.
Please make sure your passport is valid for up to 6 months after the date of your trip to enter and has two blank pages.
Electrical Power Information
Which Power Plugs and Sockets in Malawi?
In Malawi, the power sockets are of type G. Check out the following pictures.
- Type G: this type is of British origin. This socket only works with plug G
The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Additional Information
One of the first things you have to be aware of on any international trip is the necessary vaccines. Some of the vaccines are hard to get in a quick time frame. Please make sure you read and check the CDC website for information on vaccines immediately.
As we travel internationally, we may be exposed to certain diseases that are rare in the United States. Fortunately, the risk of catching these diseases is still quite low since we will be on site for only a short time and will be eating properly prepared food, etc. However, since it is impossible to eliminate all risk, there are a variety of vaccines and immunizations that provide prevention against many of the most serious infectious diseases in the world that we ask each delegation member consider receiving.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website www.cdc.gov, there are no required vaccines for Malawi, but make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Please refer to the following CDC website for information on Malawi.
- Most expenses will be prepaid for you including: ground transportation, medical evacuation insurance, hotel room accommodations, translators and team meals.
- Each volunteer is financially responsible for paying for and obtaining a passport and visa (if necessary), receiving any necessary immunizations, all food/beverage items in all airports and outside team meals, and any other personal expenditures/shopping during the trip.
- You will want to take enough cash with you for personal shopping. Bring U.S. currency that is as new as possible and undamaged. Traveler’s checks and credit cards (VISA or Master Card) will be good in airports, major hotels and many shops, but cash is the easiest and most convenient method of payment.
- You will be able to exchange money locally. Please bring new $100 bills. You will get a better exchange rate than smaller bills, and they don’t take older money.
- The currency in Malawi is the Malawian Kwacha. To find the most up-to-date currency conversions, please go to XE Currency convertor.
Here are some helpful guidelines concerning the safety and security of your personal items:
- Be mindful of how you carry your purse or where you place your wallet. Men, keep your wallets in a front or zippered pocket, as keeping it in your back pocket will make it susceptible to pickpockets. Ladies, keep purses across your chest or use a fanny pack (keeping your hands free is also wise).
- An under garment money belt worn around your waist is a safe way to carry your personal cash or passport.
- Stay with a group of people at all times – always go somewhere in pairs.
- Take a minimal amount of jewelry with you – nothing flashy.
- Be a confident traveler even if you are unsure or uneasy in a certain situation; confidence and calmness is key.
- We also suggest that you make copies of all flight itineraries, wallet contents, passport, visa, etc. and carry copies in a separate, secure location. It would also be a good idea to leave copies of everything with someone at home also, just in case. These copies could prove invaluable should your personal documents be lost or stolen.
We hope you will enjoy the local cuisine. Most meals will be eaten at a hotel or local restaurant. All foods that will be provided to you should be well prepared and safe for you to eat.
Meals are supplied on clinic days, but not on travel or recreation days.
- As far as drinking water is concerned, to be on the safe side, always drink bottled water and brush your teeth with bottled water at the hotel. Avoid ice. Bottled water will be available.
- You may want to take some personal snack items with you – good items to take include granola bars, dried fruit, and trail mix.
WEATHER:
Malawi has two main seasons, namely the cool dry season between May and October with mean temperatures in May around 72 to 79°F. The hot wet season is between November and April with temperatures between 85 – 95°F.
For further information about weather, please consult these sites: Weather.Com and Weather Underground.
TIME ZONE:
Malawi is in the Central African Time zone and does not observe daylight-savings time.
Click here to view the current time in Malawi.
- Please wear long pants and the team t-shirts provided by our partners. We have found that breathable type pants by Eddie Bauer or Columbia are a good option for hot clinic days (jeans are fine). You will receive TWO clinic t-shirts on the first day of the trip. You may be able to do laundry (for a small fee) at the hotel; we also recommend bringing a mini bottle of detergent (can be purchased at the travel section) to do laundry in your room.
- Bring comfortable shoes to wear. No open toe shoes for clinics.
- No shorts in the clinic.
Before/After Clinic
- There will be time for recreation (going out, dinner, etc.) after clinic days.
- Bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and evenings when it could get cool. Days will be fairly warm.
Here is a one week packing list as an example. You can click here to get a printable list.
Clothing
- 4 – Pants
- 5 – Shirts
- 8 – Pairs Socks
- 2 – Clinic Shirts (will be provided)
- 2 – PJ’s
- Walking Shoes
- Windbreaker or Light Jacket
- Swimsuit (if needed)
- Sandals
Toiletries
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Razor
- Hair Things
- Brushes
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Lotion
- Sunglasses
- Kleenex
- Imodium
- Advil
- Any Medications Needed
Miscellaneous
- Cash
- Passport
- Passport Holder
- Bank Card
- Credit Card
- Pen (to fill out forms)
- Neck Pilow
- Phone Chargers
- Computer chargers
- Converter/Transformer
- Laundry Detergent
- Wine Opener (for others)
- Head phones