I spent five nights in Malawi. This was enough for me to make several oversimplified comparisons to Tanzania:
- Local food: nsima and relish (same as ugali and mchicha in Tanzania).
- Local languages: many, with English the common tongue. As in other African countries, language barriers are probably still a contributing factor of tribalism and discrimination. Tanzania, with its near-universal Swahili, seems more cohesive.
- Roads: fantastic.
- Scenery: stupendous. Mountains tower above Lake Malawi from both sides, resulting in spectacular sunrises, sunsets, days, and nights.
- Backpacking: Malawi is a superb backpacking country. Rates are cheap, people speak English, roads are good.... If you want to visit Africa, Malawi is a great place to start.
- Business: it may just be a feeling, but I get the impression Malawi revolves around South Africa whereas Tanzania revolves around Kenya.
- Politics: when I left Malawi, parliament was dissolving. No difference from Tanzania there.
- In general: I would need to stay much longer to understand Malawi.
Next up: Zambia and Victoria Falls.