【Dry and Rainy Seasons】 Two Seasons in Malawi

Jacaranda seeing at its best in October.

 Seasons in Malawi 

The dry season (May ~ November)

Cold dry season (May ~ August)

Many African countries have two seasons, a dry and a rainy season, unlike Japan.

In Malawi, the dry season usually lasts from May to November and there is almost no rainfall. Furthermore, the dry season has cold (May ~ Aug) and hot (Sep ~ Nov) periods.

Unlike Japan, which is in the northern hemisphere, Malawi is in the southern hemisphere and therefore has different temperatures and weather.

July and August, the summer months in Japan, are winter here. In Mzuzu, the temperature drops to around 10 degrees Celsius, so people wear coats during the day and blankets at bedtime. (I brought Ultra light down jackets and Heattech fleece from Japan which are very useful).

It is very cold in Mzuzu because of its high altitude, about 1300 m above sea level. On the other hand, the lowest areas, such as Lake Malawi, are only about 500 m above sea level, so even in winter, you can comfortably spend time in a thin long sleeve. 

Hot dry season (September ~ November)

Jacaranda blooms during the hot period. The beautiful purple flowers remind me of cherry blossoms in Japan. You can also enjoy other flowers, such as bougainvillea, which are rarely seen in Japan.

While the sky is cloudless blue at this time of year, the ultraviolet rays are particularly strong. Sunscreen is always essential.

This season is also very dry, so it is different from the summer in Japan. This season is not as humid as in Japan, so spending time in the shade of trees is surprisingly comfortable. However, the soil is also dry and dusty, and in rural areas where there are many unpaved roads, the dust turns the grass and trees brown.

The rainy season (December ~ April)

The rainy season, on the other hand, usually lasts from around December to April. During this period, farmers are very busy, ploughing the fields, sowing seeds, and harvesting.

It can be a little chilly when it rains, while on sunny days it is as hot as in the dry season.

During the rainy season, the plants and trees are lush and green thanks to the rains, and You can see that many things look different. You can also see mature maize all over Malawi. On the other hand, due to recent climate change, there can be severe thunderstorms and roads can be washed away by the large amounts of rainfall.

The rainy season also sees a large number of winged ants, known as Gumpi (Local language). They are popular in the market where they are fried crispy and are a popular snack food. They are also an important source of protein for those who cannot always buy meat.

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