1) Petrol is expensive in Malawi and even more expensive in Zambia, so fill up in Tanzania or Botswana where it is cheaper
2) Supermarkets aren't particularly good in Malawi and we found that the only veg we could get was tomatoes and onions - which are expensive
3) Roads are generally good although the road to South Luangwa can be bad in the rainy season, so check in Chipata before setting off. We wanted to go on from South Luangwa as there was another road down to Lusaka on our map. However upon investigation we found out that this road had been washed away completely and was impassable. Best to ask locals in the rainy season.
4) Zambia is an expensive country to drive in. Here is a list of fees we had to pay at the border....
i) $50 visa per person (despite what the lonely planet says, the price is the same from Brits and other Europeans - Pim and Git paid the same). Also despite what the guidebooks say it is apparently now impossible to get visa waivers for Zambia
ii) $20 Road tax
iii) $20 Carbon tax
iv) $5 a police road tax??? We suspect this one is a con
v) $20 for the pontoon over to Botswana
5) For Malawi you need to have reflective stickers on the front and back - Pim and Git were stopped and fined for this at the first roadblock in Malawi. We were pre-warned so bought some stickers in Mafinga, Southern Tanzania
Zambia