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Capital city and largest city of Malawi
Photo: Jwhyte82, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi. It's a very green city, to the extent that sometimes you wonder if there is a city centre at all as buildings in the new town at least are divided by patches of grassy land and trees.
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It is back down towards old town by the bridge over the river, look out for the sign. It is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre that provides excellent tours of the centre and its wilderness zone, a wide range of wildlife and good value for money. Volunteer opportunities are available. Café-restaurant on premises.
Since Covid-19, the centre does not provide tours to see animals but you can still walk along the river on 3 trails (2-5 km) to try to spot vervet monkeys, crocs, duikers and birds.
Kumbali Cultural Village
See the traditional Malawian dancing and traditional Malawian drumming. Includes live acoustic Malawian music and traditional Malawian dinner.
Forbidden to enter on premises but you can peek the buildings from the entrance gate.
Mausoleum of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, first president of independent Malawi.
Very cheap compared to western prices with an excellent 18-hole course. Challenging for even pros.
Sells meals such as curry, pizza, and burgers. Good quality for price.
Like KFC and surprisingly very good quality. Good chips, and sells ice cream.
From Mabuya Camp. Offers very good Indian and Chinese food. You can also ring up, place and order and have a takeaway (picking it up yourself mind you).
The locals' place to be on Fridays and Saturdays. Not the best looked after place in town but guaranteed good music and excellent atmosphere. If the dance floor gets too much there is always the open air area outside where you are always bound to end up talking to a few locals and expats - there's a Braii there too. Entry fee 500 kwacha at weekends. Only place open late on weekdays too - in the smaller side on bar.
Casino
Not the most popular place now, still holds the famous 'Lollipop' club night every couple of months. Serves food at night too.
Four Seasons
Chameleon's is a Mzungu (White) owned bar in Lilongwe, run by a Scotsman. You will find more white expatriates in this place. The atmosphere is not very African but you can always guarantee an excellent atmosphere during the week to wind down with a cold green. Drinks and food are available. Friday nights and Sunday afternoons are the busiest time. Don't miss the live Jazz Jam sessions every Sunday afternoon.
Four single rooms, and a dorm with four beds. Hot water showers, garden.
camping/dorm beds/double room
Has its own cafe and a residents-only bar. Used to be the Imperial Hotel. Clean, pleasant and friendly, in a very convenient location. They also run good-value safaris to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. US$45-75 (all are en suite, more expensive rooms have a bath and TV). They have a very good restaurant and bar too.
Offers a comfortable and relaxing setting close to downtown Lilongwe but in a quiet residential area. Swimming pool, television, rooms ranging from budget dorm-style to more luxuriant and private.
They offer accommodation from dormitories to more expensive self contained double rooms, breakfast inclusive. From US$10 for a bunk-bed in a shared dormitory room, over $28 and up for a room with private bathroom. They have an outside bar, hopefully building a roof for rainy season. Seems to be a little less private than other camps, having an open gate policy. Still a good pre drinking bar for going out and meeting people.
Central, quiet, cozy spacious bedrooms with wooden floor and furnishings, bar and restaurant with tables outside, garden, good Wi-Fi.
This four-star hotel operated by a South African chain offers modern if somewhat uninspiring comfort. Pool, jacuzzi, gym, speedy wireless Internet and a shopping mall next door. Single/double from US$120/140.
Also uninspiring but comfortable with very similar facilities to Cresta Crossroads Hotel. En suite double rooms from US$110. The hotel does serve pretty good food, the peri peri chicken burger is particularly good, and also there is a small sportsbar. The experience here depends on the day, some of the staff are absolutely fabulous, but some can be a little distracted and inattentive. Do make sure you go for a superior room, the standard ones aren't great.
Catering mostly to the tourist, expat, and wealthy Malawian community, Old Town Mall offers two art and craft galleries, a DVD rental shop, grocery store catering - lightly - to expat tastes with imported food and wine and a book store. Serendipity Cafe and Mamma Mia's Italian Restaurant (see below) are here as well.
By train
By car
Lilongwe is about 110 km from Mchinji on the Zambian border.
By bus
There are regular bus services from Johannesburg, Harare and Lusaka. Intercape has the largest intercity bus route network in Southern Africa.
By boat
The town is very spread out so getting around can be a bit of a chore. You can pick up taxis from the Lilongwe Hotel (in the Old Town) and the Capital Hotel (in the Capital City).
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Lumbadzi · International · LLW
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