The western shore comprises one of Earth's poorest and most obscure countries. Like most travellers, we've enjoyed Malawi. We hung out a few days at lazy Nkhata Bay, the biggest backpacker stop between Zanzibar and Victoria Falls. Then we spent four days in Blantyre, the commercial capital, a pleasant enough city by African standards, strikingly modern and well-maintained to our eyes after three months in grotty Kenya and Tanzania. Despite the US State Department's dire warnings about the state of Malawi's roads, they've been among the best we've seen in Africa.
People here speak English more often than in Tanzania.
Beth got a pair of pants made, and the tailor did a great job for about eight bucks. I've found some reasons to like Malawi, but there's really no reason there should even BE a Malawi. It's yet another silly idea for an African country, without foundation in geography, culture, or linguistic grouping. Like most African states, it's a historical accident. I had planned to outline its history, but actually Malawi has the exact same history as three dozen other African countries.