Things to do in Malawi
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Nature Sanctuary
The Nature Sanctuary is an incredibly peaceful wilderness area by the Lingadzi River. Take a taxi here though; it's not safe to walk. There is a signposted network of walking trails, and the information centre lists the birds and animals that may be seen. There is also a small, and rather unpleasant 'zoo' area, which consists of a few precarious looking cages filled with mangy-looking hyenas, monkeys and crocs.
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Don Brioni's Bistro
Don Brioni' Usually buzzing with a lively infusion of locals and tourists, this place under the Kiboko Town Hotel is suitably Italian in décor and flavour and the eccentric English owner is sure to come over and chat. Excellent steak, fish, chicken accompany pizzas and pastas on the menu.
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Mt Mulanje
Mt Mulanje (also called the Mulanje Plateau) rises steeply from the undulating plain of the highlands, surrounded by near-vertical cliffs of bare rock, many over 1000m (3280ft) high. The cliffs are dissected by vegetated valleys, where rivers drop in spectacular waterfalls.
It is often misty here and Mulanje's high peaks sometimes jut above the cloud, giving rise to the local name 'Island in the Sky'.
This is one of the finest areas for hiking in this part of Africa. There are clear paths up the mountain, several huts and stunning scenery. Up on the plateaus there are clear mountain streams (safe for drinking) and swimming holes where you can cool off in the icy water. Y…
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Ali Baba's
's Fast-food joint serving good burgers and shawarmas, but with a smattering of chicken, steak and fish dishes.
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Tobacco Auction Floors
For a view of Malawi's economic heart, go to the public gallery overlooking the tobacco auction floors at the vast Auction Holdings warehouse about 7km north of the city centre, east of the main road towards Kasungu. This is best reached by taxi, but local minibuses serve the industrial area. The auction season is May to September.
Tobacco is Malawi's most important cash crop, accounting for more than 60% of the country's export earnings, and Lilongwe is the selling, buying and processing centre of this vital industry. Most activity takes place in the Kenango industrial area on the northern side of Lilongwe, the site of several tobacco-processing factories and the huge an…
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Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve
For one reason or another this reserve seems to be one of Malawi's best-kept secrets, but it's possibly your best chance to get up close and personal with elephants and well worth a visit. Vwaza is an ideal destination for any budget; it's compact and accessible, the accommodation is close to the main gate, and public transport here is straightforward.
The main camp is conveniently located a safe but rewarding distance from the hippo-heavy Lake Kazuni, which also lures impalas, buffaloes (rumoured to be particularly aggressive here), waterbucks, elands, roans, sables, zebras, hartebeests and pukus. The big attraction however, is the 160-plus elephants within the park. The…
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Liwonde National Park
Liwonde National Park is the closest thing Malawi has to a traditional game park. Dominating the west, the Shire River overflows with hippos and crocodiles and is a favourite stomping ground for the abundant elephants. Waterbucks are also common near the water, while beautiful sable and roan antelopes, zebras and elands populate the flood plains in the east.
Night drives can reveal spotted genets, bushbabies, scrub hares, side-striped jackals and even spotted hyenas. Several black rhinos are protected within a separate enclosure as part of a rhino breeding program, and there's a rich and colourful array of birdlife. October to January is particularly good for birdwatching…
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PAMET
PAMET is an inspiring project that was set up to teach people how to recycle paper. This is an important issue in Malawi, where some people are too poor to buy exercise books for their children. For USaround US$1 you can take a tour of their workshop to see how it's all done. They sell a lovely variety of cards and other paper products made from a range of different material (including elephant dung!).
To help slow down the rate of deforestation, PAMET makes paper briquettes that are used as an alternative to charcoal and firewood.
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CCAP Church
Probably the most impressive building in Blantyre is the CCAP Church , officially called the Church of St Michael and All Angels. This magnificent church was built in 1891 by Scottish missionaries who had no construction training, using only local handmade bricks and wood. It has a basilica dome, towers, arches and bay windows. Although extensively renovated in the 1970s, what you see today is pretty much how it looked the day it was completed.
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Blantyre Sports Club
Blantyre Sports Club offers daily membership for US$5, which allows you to enter the club and use the bar and restaurant. To use the pool or to play squash or tennis costs an additional US$1. Nine holes of golf costs US$3; equipment can be hired. The club also features live music on the last Friday of every month.
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Mandala Manager's House
A nice way to spend an hour or two is a visit to the Mandala Manager's House. Set in pleasant gardens, this old colonial house was built in 1882, and is now home to a café (has excellent homemade cakes, salads and good coffee), the La Caverna Art Gallery and the Society of Malawi Library & Archive.
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Chichiri Stadium
Blantyre's main sports venue is the Chichiri Stadium , between the city centre and Limbe. This is also Malawi's national stadium; international football and other events are held here. There's no regular programme, but matches are advertised in the newspaper and on billboards around town.
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Parliament Building
For a political view, head to the Parliament Building , which moved from Zomba in the mid-1990s to the palace of former president Banda on the outskirts of Lilongwe. At least this obscenely grandiose monstrosity is being used now - during Banda's rule he stayed here only one night.
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Old Town
In Old Town the streets near the market have several bottle stores, which are basic bars that play music loud and late. This area has a very hard edge, so go here only with a streetwise friend, enough money for an evening's supply of beer and nothing that you can't afford to lose.
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Carlsberg Brewery
A visit to the Carlsberg Brewery , east of the centre, may appeal. Free tours are conducted at 14:30 every Wednesday; you must book. The tour ends with a free tasting session. Some places to stay in Blantyre arrange transport here. Alternatively, you can walk or get a taxi.
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Summer Park
Behind Ali Baba's; choose from a small selection of sundaes, milkshakes, burgers and pizzas at the counter and then your choice is brought out to you in the large garden. Enormous yellow-striped awnings provide shade, and there's a constant stream of African pop hits.
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Market
The main market is a pocket of frenetic activity, with traders, market stalls and food vendors packed into a swarming, small area. It's also a good place to pick up cheap bootleg CDs from the dozens of little stores that line the streets immediately around the market.
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Green Bamboo Garden
This place, opposite the Lilongwe Hotel, serves great, fresh Chinese food (the stewed fish head in brown sauce is actually quite tasty); and for those of you who wish to exorcise your inner diva, there are three private rooms that have karaoke thrown in for free.
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Bombay Palace
This place serves the best Indian food in the city. It's stylishly decorated and the food tastes surprisingly fresh and light. The speciality is the Rumali Basket Masala - a light crispy batter filled with onions, tomatoes and green chillies.
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Craft Market
There's a craft market outside the Old Town post office, where vendors sell everything from trinket woodcarvings, basketware and jewellery to traditional Malawi chairs. If you go late in the day you're likely to get a better deal.
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21 Grill on Hanover
This is a highly rated eatery, with swanky interior complete with soft lighting, mahogany bookcases, comfortable cushioned chairs and the soft tinkle of piano music in the background. Serves seriously good steaks and seafood.
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Zanzibar To Victoria Falls
19 days (ex Dar es Salaam)
by Intrepid
Try the legendary Dabaga chilli sauce in Iringa, Travel through the vast, rolling African plains, Witness the awesome power of Victoria Falls, Canoe down the ge…Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,160 -
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Africana Hotel
A lively place with a large outdoor patio that's popular with nearby office workers and government types. It's easy to make friends here and you're sure to strike up a conversation with one of the locals over a few beers.
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Central Bookshop
For a much wider selection than TBS, visit this bookshop. It stocks stationery, books and guides about Malawi, local-language dictionaries and a good range of novels by local writers. There's also a pleasant coffee shop.
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Old Town Mall
Old Town Mall houses a small corridor of shops including African Habitat, selling a variety of African arts and crafts, and Central Africana with an impressive selection of decorative and antique maps well worth framing.
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