Best Things to Do in Lilongwe

Lilongwe's charm lies in its unhurried pace, its 180-hectare forest sanctuary right in the middle of town, and the warmth of its open-air markets and cultural villages. Pair a morning walk through the woodland or markets with a long garden lunch or a drive out to the lake.

1. Take a sanctuary tour and forest walk at the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre. Join a guided walk through Malawi's only accredited wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre to see rescued vervet monkeys, baboons, servals and bushbuck, then follow the shaded trails along the Lingadzi River.
2. Visit the marble Parliament Building and Kamuzu Mausoleum. In City Centre, admire the grand domed National Assembly and the quiet, four-columned marble mausoleum of Malawi's founding president, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, beside the central clocktower memorial.
3. Cross the fabric-draped bridge at Lizulu Market and explore Old Town Market. Walk between the two river bridges where hundreds of colourful wax-print chitenje textiles flutter in the breeze alongside stalls of spices, dried lake fish and woven baskets.
4. Bargain for Chief chairs and bao boards at the Old Post Office Curio Market. Meet woodcarvers along Kenyatta Drive in Old Town to inspect interlocking two-piece Malawian chief's chairs and carved mahogany bawo game boards.
5. Spend an afternoon at Kumbali Cultural Village. Drive twenty minutes south-east to a working dairy and forest estate for traditional drumming and dance, woodland trails and farmstead cheese tastings.
6. Drink Mzuzu coffee in the leafy garden cafés of Area 3 and Area 10. Relax under the trees at Four Seasons Nursery and garden bistros over single-origin northern Malawian arabica coffee.
7. Climb Nkhoma Mountain or drive to Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. Hike through miombo woodland and birdwatching trails on the southern hills outside the capital.
8. Taste grilled Lake Malawi chambo with nsima and nkhwani. Order Malawi's famous freshwater bream with pounded groundnut-leaf relish and fiery Nali chilli sauce.
9. Swim in the freshwater surf of Lake Malawi at Senga Bay. Drive ninety minutes east down the escarpment to Salima and Senga Bay for golden sand beaches and boat trips to Lizard Island.
10. Inspect UNESCO rock paintings at Chongoni and Dedza Pottery. Combine prehistoric Chewa and Batwa rock art south of town with handmade ceramics and cheesecake at Dedza.