Malawi

Places in Malawi

• Blantyre

  Blantyre is Malawi's economic capital and its most cosmopolitan city, named after the birthplace of Scottish explorer David Livingstone. The city offers budget travelers a rare combination of colonial-era architecture, vibrant Asian-run markets, and access to wildlife reserves—all at a fraction of the cost of East Africa's more touristed destinations.

• Cape Maclear

  Cape Maclear (aka Chembe) is a small fishing village on Lake Nyasa in Malawi. It has one dirt road, a few hostels, dive shops, vendors, and bars.

• Likoma Island

  Likoma Island is a remote island in Lake Malawi/Nyasa, technically in Mozambican territorial waters but administered by Malawi. The island offers excellent scuba diving, pristine beaches, and the unexpected grandeur of St.

  Atlas entry

• Lilongwe

  Lilongwe is Malawi's capital city with a population of about 1.1 million (2015). It is remarkably green, with buildings in the new town divided by patches of grassy land and trees, making you wonder if there's a city centre at all.

• Liwonde National Park

  Liwonde National Park is Malawi's premier wildlife destination, offering an authentic safari experience along the Shire River with elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife. Unlike busier East African parks, Liwonde provides a more intimate bush experience with fewer tourists, making it ideal for travelers seeking genuine wildlife encounters away from crowds.

  Atlas entry

• Mangochi

  Mangochi sits at the southern end of Lake Malawi, Malawi's largest and most important lake. The town serves as a practical stop for travelers moving between Monkey Bay and Blantyre, with a notable colonial clock tower honoring Queen Victoria and the Lake Malawi Museum displaying military and cultural history.

  Atlas entry

• Monkey Bay

  Monkey Bay is the gateway to Lake Malawi's southern attractions, sitting at the lake's southern end in Malawi's Southern Region. The town is famous for its large monkey population and serves as the jumping-off point for Cape Maclear and the UNESCO-listed Lake Malawi National Park.

  Atlas entry

• Nkhata Bay

  Nkhata Bay is a small, bustling fishing village of about 15,000 inhabitants overlooking Lake Malawi. The town has a long history as a backpacker destination and was once famous for offering "the cheapest diving course in the world" and dorm beds with breakfast for one U.S.

• Nkhotakota

  Nkhotakota offers a rare glimpse of authentic Malawian lakeside life without tourist crowds. The town of 20,000 sits on Lake Malawi's shore with basic amenities alongside several upscale resorts catering to foreign visitors.

  Atlas entry

• Zomba

  Zomba is a small, welcoming town in Southern Malawi that served as the country's capital until 1975. Most travelers visit specifically for the Zomba Plateau, which offers stunning waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, and excellent hiking through forested mountain terrain.

  Atlas entry