Flying into Malawi/Tanzania

[SIQ]

Morning

Any pilots recently/frequently flying into Malawi (Lilongwe) and/or Tanzania (Dodoma) please give me your contact details as I would like to get some general information. Thanks in advance

[michael.g.miller]

I'd also love to know the latest. I'm planning a trip down to SA from Europe (well, the US originally) and plan on stopping in Malawi / Tanzania.

[C208BE30]

Hello SIQ and michael.g.miller
I am based in Lilongwe. feel free to pm me for info.
Regards
Ralph

[SIQ]

Pm sent

[Segg]

Lilongwe, Songwe and Dodoma are all very easy and friendly airports

No Avgas at Songwe though, and cash only or fuel releases from Tanzania and north of Tanzania

[Avgas]

Blantyre,Llilongwe,Songwe and Dodoma are all user friendly.
Club Makokola can arrange Customs and immigration at their airfield. Great accommodation. They can arrange drums of Avgas but you have to take a full drum.
Songwe Only Jet A1.
Cards accepted in Malawi but not Tanzania US$ works everywhere but they never have change.

Tanzania VERY expensive to fly.
Get overflight and landing permits arranged well in advance. They are also not valid for a long time. So plan carefully.
Check the weather. Rainy season can be very tricky.
enjoy

[TikkaT3]

Is there customs & immigration at Songwe?

[Avgas]

Yes Songwe has customs and immigration.
Go to tower to pay landing fees and file flightplan for next leg. Not a great place to overnight as town is a long drive away.

[Segg]

Yes Songwe has customs and immigration.
Go to tower to pay landing fees and file flightplan for next leg. Not a great place to overnight as town is a long drive away.

I usually draw some cash at the airports ATM and pay 10 000 shillings for a taxi ride to Ifisi Community Centre (a few KM away)

If you arrive in the afternoon C&I has usually gone home by then and they either come meet you at Ifisi, or stamp you in the next morning when you get to the airport. They always make a plan. Overall it's a very friendly experience. We bring Avgas in jerry cans which we fill up in Malawi ($$$$)

Ifisi has VERY nice accommodation at very good prices, and their food is also very decent

If I remember the last time I was there we paid around 90 000 shillings for accommodation, dinner and drinks for 2 people.

EDIT: There is a coffee plantation a little further up the road that a few friends have stayed at, it's slightly more pricey but apparently stunning

EDIT 2: You'll pay landing fees and NAV fees at the tower at Songwe in cash in USD. Make sure you bring the amount quoted in your clearance paperwork, as they don't always have change.

[Avgas]

When flying up north the last unfriendly treatment you will receive will be at Polokwane.
Further up north everybody is friendly.
At Songwe the Puma guys will get on the ladder and help you refuel out of your own Jerry cans. Very helpfull.

[karell]

Blantyre,Llilongwe,Songwe and Dodoma are all user friendly.
Club Makokola can arrange Customs and immigration at their airfield. Great accommodation. They can arrange drums of Avgas but you have to take a full drum.
Songwe Only Jet A1.
Cards accepted in Malawi but not Tanzania US$ works everywhere but they never have change.

Tanzania VERY expensive to fly.
Get overflight and landing permits arranged well in advance. They are also not valid for a long time. So plan carefully.
Check the weather. Rainy season can be very tricky.
enjoy

Hi
Planning to fly Polokwane to Malawi and Zambia during July. What is the current status on Avgas availability in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mfuwe and Livingstone? Also any contacts for Avgas in Malawi and Zambia will be appreciated.

[Ray W]

Blantyre,Llilongwe,Songwe and Dodoma are all user friendly.
Club Makokola can arrange Customs and immigration at their airfield. Great accommodation. They can arrange drums of Avgas but you have to take a full drum.
Songwe Only Jet A1.
Cards accepted in Malawi but not Tanzania US$ works everywhere but they never have change.

Tanzania VERY expensive to fly.
Get overflight and landing permits arranged well in advance. They are also not valid for a long time. So plan carefully.
Check the weather. Rainy season can be very tricky.
enjoy

Hi
Planning to fly Polokwane to Malawi and Zambia during July. What is the current status on Avgas availability in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mfuwe and Livingstone? Also any contacts for Avgas in Malawi and Zambia will be appreciated.

Just remember that there's no fuel at Polokwane itself - you'll have to go to Pietersburg Civil for fuel and then on to Polokwane for customs etc.

[karell]

Blantyre,Llilongwe,Songwe and Dodoma are all user friendly.
Club Makokola can arrange Customs and immigration at their airfield. Great accommodation. They can arrange drums of Avgas but you have to take a full drum.
Songwe Only Jet A1.
Cards accepted in Malawi but not Tanzania US$ works everywhere but they never have change.

Tanzania VERY expensive to fly.
Get overflight and landing permits arranged well in advance. They are also not valid for a long time. So plan carefully.
Check the weather. Rainy season can be very tricky.
enjoy

Hi
Planning to fly Polokwane to Malawi and Zambia during July. What is the current status on Avgas availability in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mfuwe and Livingstone? Also any contacts for Avgas in Malawi and Zambia will be appreciated.

Just remember that there's no fuel at Polokwane itself - you'll have to go to Pietersburg Civil for fuel and then on to Polokwane for customs etc.

Thanks Ray.
Do you know if fuel at Polokwane will get resolved or is this another Pilansberg?

[Ray W]

Hi
Planning to fly Polokwane to Malawi and Zambia during July. What is the current status on Avgas availability in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mfuwe and Livingstone? Also any contacts for Avgas in Malawi and Zambia will be appreciated.

Just remember that there's no fuel at Polokwane itself - you'll have to go to Pietersburg Civil for fuel and then on to Polokwane for customs etc.

Thanks Ray.
Do you know if fuel at Polokwane will get resolved or is this another Pilansberg?

There hasn't been fuel there for at least two years if not longer. I don't think this will be resolved soon.