How to travel around Malawi like a local

DW (English)

Planes, trains, automobiles, they're found everywhere. But in Africa, there are so many other ways to get from A to B. Let's check how Malawians get around.

Transcript

00:00I am comedian, actor, and gender rights activist, Zaheer, coming to you from Old Town Bus Depot.

00:15Why do things ordinary? Well, we like to do things a little bit differently here in Malawi.

00:20I'm going to take you on five different modes of transport ranked by price.

00:24So, hold on to your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

00:28Malawi's road transport network carries 70% of internal freight and 99% of passenger traffic.

00:35Nilongwe is built around several traffic choke points, which means there's a real need for many new roads that are constantly being built.

00:43I know I'm giving those vibes, but we're not in India.

00:45At number five, we have the world-famous tuk-tuk, which is great for individual transport and perfect for a queer person like myself

00:52because that means I can dress up however I want for only 10,000 kwacha.

00:57Or 5 euros and 50 cents.

01:00Tuk-tuks are a very popular method of transportation in Malawi and are generally used in neighborhoods and for short commutes across town.

01:09You can book one if you're happy to get there eventually.

01:12And if you're willing to share the commute, then that's negotiated up front with the driver, which will save you a bit.

01:19I like it. It's really cool. I mean, except it's very noisy, so you can't really hear yourself.

01:26It's very noisy, but I like it.

01:27It's a different experience because if you're pub hopping and if you're going from one place to the other, this is much more fun than a taxi.

01:35And you can squeeze four people in here if you have to.

01:37And even somebody in front, it's worth it. I mean, it's so fun.

01:40That was amazing.

01:46Number four on our list has been introduced by an e-hailing service in Johannesburg, and people were up in arms.

01:54Motorcycles.

01:54But it kind of makes sense as a way to zip across town fast, weaving in and out of traffic for just over two euro.

02:03Not unusual, I hear you say.

02:05Well, just because you've hired a bike doesn't mean you're going to be the only one on the bike.

02:10I have seen four adults mount 125cc bike with a baby on mom's back.

02:16They can carry anything from luggage to livestock as long as it's from point A to B.

02:20But here's a pro tip.

02:22Get yourself a helmet and hold on tight.

02:25Most passengers in Malawi don't wear helmets, especially since the bikes often carry multiple passengers.

02:31But you want to stay safe, right?

02:33We're at the halfway mark, and my third transport option is just as precarious.

02:37Although on the upside, it's green.

02:40Malawians are the ultimate believers in pedal power.

02:43And with that, I give you the cabaza.

02:45Just like their motorized cousins, they can carry anything from wood to livestock and even charcoal, as well as people, for only just a euro.

02:53Think of it as using someone else's pedal power to get from point A to B without even breaking a sweat.

02:58Cycling with a twist.

03:01But didn't we see some normal buses and taxis at the bus stop?

03:04Cycling with a

03:14Okay, let's be honest, they only work because the average Malaurian is so small that you can fit about six people in here.

03:21They complain, and also, I'm a little bit wider than your average Malaurian.

03:26Whoo! I can let my belly out now.

03:30So that didn't go quite as expected for me, who's actually on the smaller side of average.

03:36So what's our final option?

03:38You know how your parents used to say that they would walk about 10 kilometers to school each day?

03:43Well, if they're not Malaurian, don't believe them, because Malaurians walk everywhere, all the time.

03:50It's basically our national exercise.

03:52And I gotta tell you, if somebody says, I'll see you in a couple hours, chill, relax, have a Fanta.

03:59Just ask our cameraman Craig.

04:01And, oh, what, would you look at the time?

04:03It's about time for me to go for my gig.

04:06I gotta put on a pound of makeup, so that's it for me.

04:09Ta!

04:10Guess nothing beats free.

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