Malawi — Destinations
Lilongwe
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi and a very green city, to the extent that sometimes you wouldn't guess you were in a commercial hub for all the trees and grassy areas. Lilongwe is also quite a laid-back town, with social highlights revolving round visits to the local nursery, shopping in Old Town or a couple of drinks at the golf club. The city is divided into Old Town (to the South) and New Town (to the North), with the Lilongwe Nature Sanctury between the two. Lilongwe is very spread out so getting around can be a bit of a chore; you can get a taxi or experience an over-crowded minibus.
Blantyre
Named after Dr. Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland, Blantyre is Malawi's commercial center and capital of the country's Southern Region, as well as the Blantyre District. It has a modest but influential expatriate community of people, mainly from England, other European countries and South Africa. The city is also home to the College of Medicine, the Malawi Polytechnic, the Kamuzu College of Nursing and constituent colleges of the University of Malawi.
Mount Soche and the Ndirande, Chiradzulu and Michiru mountains overlook Blantyre, forming the Michiru Mountain Conservation Area. The National Museum is midway between Blantyre and Limbe and houses a collection of traditional weapons and artifacts, as well as exhibits relating to traditional dance, European exploration and slavery. There are various restaurants and hotels in Blantyre, as well as pubs and sports bars. Most visitors to Malawi end up in Blantyre eventually and it's a good place to relax, do a bit of shopping and get a decent meal. Incidentally, Blantyre is twinned with Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England.
The Lake
Occupying a fifth of the country, Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa and home to more fish species than any other lake in the world. Also known as Lake Nyasa, it is often referred to as 'the calendar lake' because it is 365 miles (590km) long and 52 miles (85km) wide. Situated between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, this African Great Lake is about 40,000 years old, a product of the Great Rift Valley fault line. There are fishing villages to be found along the lake shore where residents catch a range of local fish including chambo, kampango (catfish), lake salmon and tiger fish. The export of fish from the lake contributes significantly to the country's economy, and the delicious chambo (similar to bream) is served in most Malawian eateries. Visitors to the lake can see colorful mbuna fish in the water, while there are also occasional sightings of crocodiles, hippos, monkeys and African fish eagles along the shore. The nearby Eastern Miombo woodlands are home to African wild dogs. Swimming, snorkeling and diving are popular activities in the tropical waters of the lake, and many visitors also enjoy waterskiing, sailing and fishing. Then, of course, there are the long stretches of beautiful golden beach to relax on... There are also many options available for holiday accommodation at the lake, including resorts, guesthouses and caravan/camping parks. Cape Maclear is a well developed lakeside town, and nearby Monkey Bay is a great vacation resort. Club Makokola, near Mangochi, is also a popular resort. Most of the lake is accessed by short dirt roads leading off the tarred road that runs its length.
Lilongwe
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi and a very green city, to the extent that sometimes you wouldn't guess you were in a commercial hub for all the trees and grassy areas. Lilongwe is also quite a laid-back town, with social highlights revolving round visits to the local nursery, shopping in Old Town or a couple of drinks at the golf club. The city is divided into Old Town (to the South) and New Town (to the North), with the Lilongwe Nature Sanctury between the two. Lilongwe is very spread out so getting around can be a bit of a chore; you can get a taxi or experience an over-crowded minibus.
Blantyre
Named after Dr. Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland, Blantyre is Malawi's commercial center and capital of the country's Southern Region, as well as the Blantyre District. It has a modest but influential expatriate community of people, mainly from England, other European countries and South Africa. The city is also home to the College of Medicine, the Malawi Polytechnic, the Kamuzu College of Nursing and constituent colleges of the University of Malawi.
Mount Soche and the Ndirande, Chiradzulu and Michiru mountains overlook Blantyre, forming the Michiru Mountain Conservation Area. The National Museum is midway between Blantyre and Limbe and houses a collection of traditional weapons and artifacts, as well as exhibits relating to traditional dance, European exploration and slavery. There are various restaurants and hotels in Blantyre, as well as pubs and sports bars. Most visitors to Malawi end up in Blantyre eventually and it's a good place to relax, do a bit of shopping and get a decent meal. Incidentally, Blantyre is twinned with Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England.
The Lake
Occupying a fifth of the country, Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa and home to more fish species than any other lake in the world. Also known as Lake Nyasa, it is often referred to as 'the calendar lake' because it is 365 miles (590km) long and 52 miles (85km) wide. Situated between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, this African Great Lake is about 40,000 years old, a product of the Great Rift Valley fault line. There are fishing villages to be found along the lake shore where residents catch a range of local fish including chambo, kampango (catfish), lake salmon and tiger fish. The export of fish from the lake contributes significantly to the country's economy, and the delicious chambo (similar to bream) is served in most Malawian eateries. Visitors to the lake can see colorful mbuna fish in the water, while there are also occasional sightings of crocodiles, hippos, monkeys and African fish eagles along the shore. The nearby Eastern Miombo woodlands are home to African wild dogs. Swimming, snorkeling and diving are popular activities in the tropical waters of the lake, and many visitors also enjoy waterskiing, sailing and fishing. Then, of course, there are the long stretches of beautiful golden beach to relax on... There are also many options available for holiday accommodation at the lake, including resorts, guesthouses and caravan/camping parks. Cape Maclear is a well developed lakeside town, and nearby Monkey Bay is a great vacation resort. Club Makokola, near Mangochi, is also a popular resort. Most of the lake is accessed by short dirt roads leading off the tarred road that runs its length.
Lilongwe
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi and a very green city, to the extent that sometimes you wouldn't guess you were in a commercial hub for all the trees and grassy areas. Lilongwe is also quite a laid-back town, with social highlights revolving round visits to the local nursery, shopping in Old Town or a couple of drinks at the golf club. The city is divided into Old Town (to the South) and New Town (to the North), with the Lilongwe Nature Sanctury between the two. Lilongwe is very spread out so getting around can be a bit of a chore; you can get a taxi or experience an over-crowded minibus.
Blantyre
Named after Dr. Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland, Blantyre is Malawi's commercial center and capital of the country's Southern Region, as well as the Blantyre District. It has a modest but influential expatriate community of people, mainly from England, other European countries and South Africa. The city is also home to the College of Medicine, the Malawi Polytechnic, the Kamuzu College of Nursing and constituent colleges of the University of Malawi.
Mount Soche and the Ndirande, Chiradzulu and Michiru mountains overlook Blantyre, forming the Michiru Mountain Conservation Area. The National Museum is midway between Blantyre and Limbe and houses a collection of traditional weapons and artifacts, as well as exhibits relating to traditional dance, European exploration and slavery. There are various restaurants and hotels in Blantyre, as well as pubs and sports bars. Most visitors to Malawi end up in Blantyre eventually and it's a good place to relax, do a bit of shopping and get a decent meal. Incidentally, Blantyre is twinned with Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England.
The Lake
Occupying a fifth of the country, Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa and home to more fish species than any other lake in the world. Also known as Lake Nyasa, it is often referred to as 'the calendar lake' because it is 365 miles (590km) long and 52 miles (85km) wide. Situated between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, this African Great Lake is about 40,000 years old, a product of the Great Rift Valley fault line. There are fishing villages to be found along the lake shore where residents catch a range of local fish including chambo, kampango (catfish), lake salmon and tiger fish. The export of fish from the lake contributes significantly to the country's economy, and the delicious chambo (similar to bream) is served in most Malawian eateries. Visitors to the lake can see colorful mbuna fish in the water, while there are also occasional sightings of crocodiles, hippos, monkeys and African fish eagles along the shore. The nearby Eastern Miombo woodlands are home to African wild dogs. Swimming, snorkeling and diving are popular activities in the tropical waters of the lake, and many visitors also enjoy waterskiing, sailing and fishing. Then, of course, there are the long stretches of beautiful golden beach to relax on... There are also many options available for holiday accommodation at the lake, including resorts, guesthouses and caravan/camping parks. Cape Maclear is a well developed lakeside town, and nearby Monkey Bay is a great vacation resort. Club Makokola, near Mangochi, is also a popular resort. Most of the lake is accessed by short dirt roads leading off the tarred road that runs its length.
Lilongwe
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi and a very green city, to the extent that sometimes you wouldn't guess you were in a commercial hub for all the trees and grassy areas. Lilongwe is also quite a laid-back town, with social highlights revolving round visits to the local nursery, shopping in Old Town or a couple of drinks at the golf club. The city is divided into Old Town (to the South) and New Town (to the North), with the Lilongwe Nature Sanctury between the two. Lilongwe is very spread out so getting around can be a bit of a chore; you can get a taxi or experience an over-crowded minibus.
Blantyre
Named after Dr. Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland, Blantyre is Malawi's commercial center and capital of the country's Southern Region, as well as the Blantyre District. It has a modest but influential expatriate community of people, mainly from England, other European countries and South Africa. The city is also home to the College of Medicine, the Malawi Polytechnic, the Kamuzu College of Nursing and constituent colleges of the University of Malawi.
Mount Soche and the Ndirande, Chiradzulu and Michiru mountains overlook Blantyre, forming the Michiru Mountain Conservation Area. The National Museum is midway between Blantyre and Limbe and houses a collection of traditional weapons and artifacts, as well as exhibits relating to traditional dance, European exploration and slavery. There are various restaurants and hotels in Blantyre, as well as pubs and sports bars. Most visitors to Malawi end up in Blantyre eventually and it's a good place to relax, do a bit of shopping and get a decent meal. Incidentally, Blantyre is twinned with Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England.
The Lake
Occupying a fifth of the country, Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa and home to more fish species than any other lake in the world. Also known as Lake Nyasa, it is often referred to as 'the calendar lake' because it is 365 miles (590km) long and 52 miles (85km) wide. Situated between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, this African Great Lake is about 40,000 years old, a product of the Great Rift Valley fault line. There are fishing villages to be found along the lake shore where residents catch a range of local fish including chambo, kampango (catfish), lake salmon and tiger fish. The export of fish from the lake contributes significantly to the country's economy, and the delicious chambo (similar to bream) is served in most Malawian eateries. Visitors to the lake can see colorful mbuna fish in the water, while there are also occasional sightings of crocodiles, hippos, monkeys and African fish eagles along the shore. The nearby Eastern Miombo woodlands are home to African wild dogs. Swimming, snorkeling and diving are popular activities in the tropical waters of the lake, and many visitors also enjoy waterskiing, sailing and fishing. Then, of course, there are the long stretches of beautiful golden beach to relax on... There are also many options available for holiday accommodation at the lake, including resorts, guesthouses and caravan/camping parks. Cape Maclear is a well developed lakeside town, and nearby Monkey Bay is a great vacation resort. Club Makokola, near Mangochi, is also a popular resort. Most of the lake is accessed by short dirt roads leading off the tarred road that runs its length.
