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. The city serves as the main transit hub for the country with an international airport and offers a relaxed atmosphere compared to larger African capitals.

Located at an altitude of 1050 m, Lilongwe's temperatures are a little lower than expected for a tropical city. Warm summers and mild winters are characteristic. The rainy season lasts from December to March, with January typically receiving the most rainfall (223 mm average). The dry season from May to October offers the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing.

Lilongwe is very spread out so getting around can be a chore. Taxis can be picked up from the Lilongwe Hotel in Old Town and Capital Hotel in Capital City. Minibuses are very cheap at 1000-2000 K as of August 2024, with routes including one from the large blue bank in new town to Shoprite supermarket in old town. Moto-taxis are ubiquitous with rides costing 1500-2500 K as of August 2024 - bargain for the best price.

The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (on the opposite side of the road to the old nature sanctuary) offers wildlife rescue tours and now has three walking trails (2-5 km) along the river where you can spot vervet monkeys, crocodiles, duikers and birds. The Kumbali Cultural Centre showcases traditional Malawian dancing, drumming, and live acoustic music with a traditional dinner. The Kamuzu Mausoleum (next to Parliament on Presidential Way) honors Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Malawi's first president. Golf is available at Lilongwe Golf Club with an 18-hole course that is very cheap compared to western prices.

The LSPCA (Lilongwe Society for the Protection & Care of Animals) accepts volunteers from various backgrounds including veterinary, IT, marketing and animal care. The programme requires a minimum 2-week commitment and includes visiting schools to educate about animal health, community vaccination clinics (rabies and Newcastle disease), spay and neuter clinics, and farm day clinics. With a shortage of vets available to most residents, LSPCA promotes higher animal welfare standards.

Several shopping complexes serve different needs. Crossroads Complex at Mchinji Roundabout has gift shops, post office, pharmacy, ATMs, and fast food outlets including Steers and Pizza Inn. Shoprite (South African chain) is centrally located and popular with tourists for stocking up. Game hypermarket (Walmart-owned) opposite Shoprite stocks tents and hardware but is expensive. For cheaper bulk shopping and imported alcohol, try Chipiku near the corner of Chilambula and Mzimba. Old Town Mall caters to tourists and expats with art galleries and a DVD rental shop.

The only beer brewed in Malawi (besides Chibuku, a grainy beer in cartons) is Carlsberg, brewed in Blantyre and available as Green, Special Brew, Classic, Stout, Elephant or Light. Glass bottles require a 25 kwacha deposit. Local spirits include Malawi Vodka, Malawi Gin, Malawi Rum, Gold Label Brandy (around 600 kwacha per bottle), and Powers cane spirit. These can also be bought in 30ml sachons. For food, Sana (opposite Diplomats pub) offers good curry, pizza and burgers. Chicken Inn (next to Shoprite) is like KFC with surprisingly good quality.

Diplomats Pub in old town (+265 8553492) offers good music, cold beers, and braai (South African barbecue) at weekends. Opens 5PM till 2AM with pool tables (100 kwacha per token). Zanzibar Nightclub ('Zanzi') is the major nightclub, packed Fridays and Saturdays with 500 kwacha entry (higher for concerts). The Shack is the place to be on Wednesday nights with free entry and volleyball league games at 6PM. Chez Ntemba in Area 47 behind Total Petrol Station is popular on weekends with 500 kwacha entry.

4G mobile telephone service is available from Airtel and TNM. BBC World Service can be heard on 98.0MHz. No specific WiFi hotspot information was provided in the article.

Transport is not always easy to get at late hours, so always ensure you have means of transport to get back to your accommodation. Lilongwe is said to be unsafe at night, so avoid walking alone after dark. Be very wary of money, wallets, bags and cameras at Zanzibar Nightclub where pickpocketing has been reported.

Cape Maclear is a laid-back village on the south end of Lake Malawi, perfect for beach and water activities. Salima (1-2 hours away) is the easiest entry point to Lake Malawi with nice resorts including Livingstonia Beach Resort. Kuti Wildlife Park near Salima offers campsites, A-frame chalets, game drives, and wildlife including sable, nyala, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich, giraffe and waterbuck. Chipata (1-2 hours east) is the gateway to Zambia. South Luangwa National Park in Zambia can be visited via Kiboko Safaris from Lilongwe with advance notice visa arrangements possible.