Malawi has a lot to offer the adventurous traveler with wildlife reserves that are untrammeled and peaceful, mountains for hiking, including Nyika, Zomba and Mulanje plateaux, and scuba diving in Lake Malawi, reputed to have the highest diversity of freshwater fish species in the world.

For relaxation Lake Malawi cannot be beaten. It is one of Africa's most beautiful great lakes, enclosed by sheer mountains and lined with palm fringed sandy bays.

Relatively small in size, and with English widely spoken, getting about in Malawi is fairly easy. It remains one of the few remaining undiscovered gems on the African continent.

The flip side

Malawi ranks 162nd poorest out of 175 countries in the world.

It is also one of most densely populated countries in Africa with a population of about 12 million people in an area smaller than the size of England. With very few mineral or natural resources, the country's economy is almost entirely dependant on agriculture and erratic rainfall has caused immense hardship in recent years.

76% of Malawians earn less than 2 dollars a day.

Average life expectancy is 38.5 years.

The country lacks adequate community infrastructure, including schools and clinics, and there are few opportunities for people to improve their own livelihoods.

Conservation

22% of Malawi's land area is under some form of conservation.

Although Malawi is dependant on agriculture for its livelihood the vast majority of its people farm on less than one hectare per family. Wood and charcoal are the main providers of energy for cooking and much of the remaining resources here lie within conservation areas. In addition, fish has been the main source of protein in the national diet but Malawi's lakes and rivers are fished out.

The authorities have a tough time catering to the basic needs of food, health and education; conservation is seen more and more as a luxury they can ill afford.

Malawi's only other potential area off development lies in the expansion of TOURISM.