The Art of Slowing Down: Filming in Malawi

I’ve been to Malawi a few times now, working on my documentary, which follows the opening of a pharmaceutical factory producing life-saving medicine for children under five.

Even after all these trips, Malawi still manages to surprise me. You’d think that by now I’d know what to expect, but this country has a way of reminding me that nothing ever goes exactly according to plan. And honestly, that unpredictability is part of its charm.

A Country That Moves at Its Own Pace

One of the first things you learn when filming in Malawi is that the clock doesn’t mean the same thing it does back home. Meetings start when people arrive. A “quick drive” can take hours. And when someone says “tomorrow,” it might just mean “sometime next week.”

At first, that can be frustrating, especially when you’re on a shooting schedule and the light is fading. But over time, I’ve learned to lean into it. Plans change constantly, appointments get canceled for reasons no one can explain, and yet somehow… it always works out. The key is to stay flexible, keep your gear ready, and be open to whatever the day brings.

The Beauty That Never Gets Old

No matter how many times I go, Malawi’s beauty still catches me off guard. The light, the landscapes, the colors, everything feels alive. The morning mist over the hills, the golden hour along Lake Malawi, the red dirt roads winding through villages, it’s cinematic even before you hit record.

Filming here reminds me why I fell in love with visual storytelling in the first place. You don’t have to chase perfect compositions, they’re everywhere. You just have to slow down enough to notice them.

People Who Make the Place

What really makes Malawi special, though, is the people. Everywhere I go, I’m met with kindness, curiosity, and smiles that make you forget how hot or tired you are. Strangers wave as you pass. Kids run up just to see the camera screen.

Even when communication isn’t perfect, people go out of their way to help. It’s hard not to be inspired by that. Their warmth gives every project here a human layer that no amount of lighting or production design can fake.

Travel Light, Stay Ready

Filming solo has taught me to pack as if I’ll be running a marathon, because some days, I am. Dust, heat and long days mean you quickly regret every extra kilogram in your bag.

That’s why I travel with a Micro Four Thirds system, specifically the Panasonic GH series. It’s small, light, and reliable. The image quality easily holds up for documentary work, and the compact lenses mean I can fit an entire filmmaking setup in a small backpack.

The less gear you carry, the more freedom you have to move, and the more likely you are to capture something real.

The Unpredictable Reward

Filming in Malawi has taught me that not every shot needs to be planned, and not every moment needs to be controlled. The best scenes often appear when I stop trying to force them.

There’s a rhythm to life here, slower, more human, and beautifully unpredictable. And once you learn to move with it instead of against it, everything starts to flow.

Every trip teaches me something new and reminds me why I keep coming back. It’s not the beautiful landscapes or the stunning wildlife that make Malawi special, it’s the people. Their kindness, patience, and warmth are what truly give this country its name: The Warm Heart of Africa.

And maybe that’s true for any country we fall in love with. It’s rarely just the scenery, the nature, or the the food that makes a place memorable. It’s the people who transform a country from somewhere you visit to somewhere you remember.

So what’s your favorite country?