Thanks for the tip! Our self-drive through Botswana and Zambia ends in Lilongwe, so this is great info. I have seen no reference to the limit and, since we will be without a guide, I have done much research. Robin

Was that K in USD, GBP, Euro or local currency?

Wonder why you had that much of whichever currency when departing the country. How much did you bring in the first place? For how long a stay in Malawi/other country/ies? To pay for what? Rooming, sightseeing, park fees, meals, souvenirs, other?

I've never even had USD$1,000 on any visit to Africa or anywhere!

I'm guessing the K is for kwacha, the Malawian currency. 3000K is equal to about $US 20.

I've found from personal experience that time-limited situations like this are where I'm most likely to get ripped off. For example, at 3:30 AM it's kind of hard to argue with a Saigon cab driver that's just jacked up the price for a ride to the airport compared to the price he quoted you the night before. He was the only ride in town, if we wanted to make the flight.

I finished a book written by a South African guy who bicycled the circumference of Africa--he said he never once paid a bribe. I suppose that if he were in the situation mentioned, he probably would refuse to get on the plane and figure out some other way to get to where he's going.

I got caught crossing from Malawi into Zambia like that many years ago. Turned around and went into the market several kilometres back. Bought some supplies in the market. Changed the rest on the black market - quite illegal, but no other viable options and drove back to the border.

Btw Robin. You will be required to buy 3rd party insurance at the border if you didn't get a Yellow Card - COMESA- insurance. They have a reputation for overcharging, so be sure to check the details. Twice they tried to charge me for a commercial truck instead of a passenger vehicle.

We've been warned about the 3rd party insurance. Here is what we are expecting to pay to get the Land Rover (UK registered) from Botswana to Zambia and then from Zambia to Malawi:

Kazungula ferry fee US$20
Toll office: US$30
Consul levy fee/district council: 10,000K or 20 pula
Carbon tax 150,000 to 200,000K
COMESA 55,000-100,000K
We will have a carnet for customs.

From Zambia to Malawi:
3rd party insurance MK5500 for 1 month
US$20 road tax

Anything else? Robin

Well shoot! USD$20 if Kwacha! That's a racket for sure and a shame!

Reminds me of my stopover in Cairo last August, flying wiht Egypt Air. The official who was checking the monitor scanning the handbags, told be to open my bag. He found there a cable from a plug extension, and he showed me I couldn't board with it. His English was bad so he just grabbed the cable and made a gesture to show me that it could be used to strangle someone!

Before I had time to react he said ok, and told me to put it back in the bag. As I was packing my bag he kept tapping me on the hand saying "zamani, zamami". After a while, seeing his extended palm, I understood that what he meant was "some money, some money". He wanted me to give him money for allowing me to board with the cable. Seeing as he wasn't getting anything, he told me to go. I seriously contemplated to return and demonstrate on his neck that the cable could indeed be used for strangling. But alas, the stopover was short and the next flight was about to leave.

I know its a bit late, but there has ALWAYS been a limit on the amount of currency that can be taken out, consider yourself lucky they increased the amount to MK3000 early last year, it used to to be MK200! Note that the UK FO travel advice does inform of this. At one time they didnt seem to be too concerned, I have always left with quite a bit more than the limit, but in recent times they have become concerned with forex smuggling, which has become a major problem, particularly with nationals of two certain countries, so searches are now more thorough. Also be advised that if you have a substantial amount of foreign currency on entry, this should be declared,a large sum on leaving could be construed as forex smuggling if you cannot account for the amount, and it could at least be confiscated, or at worse you could be prosecuted. At the end of the day MK2000 is only $13
Ivan