Lilongwe Tourist Places to Visit in Malawi, North Africa, Africa

Lilongwe Tourist Places to Visit in Lilongwe, Malawi, North Africa, Africa

Lilongwe is the capital city of Malawi situated in the heart of the country, between 13°59′ S latitude and 33°47′ E longitude, around 350 km northwest of the commercial capital of the country, Blantyre. Lilongwe holds the highest population among other cities in Malawi, crossing 978,800 of the 2014 census. Lilongwe lies on plateau at an elevation of 1,050 meters and experiences a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and warm summers.

Lilongwe is home to one of the colleges belonging to the University of Malawi. When comes to tourism, Lilongwe houses many manmade attractions like the Parliament Building, Lilongwe Play Centre and Discorium.

History of Lilongwe:

Until becoming the British colonial administrative centre during the British rule in Malawi in the early 20th century, Lilongwe had a status of small fishing village from long very period. Following the independence of Malawi, the capital was shifted to Zomba in 1964 and Lilongwe regained capital status in 1974 with the decision of Hastings Banda.

How to reach Lilongwe?

Lilongwe is served by the Lilongwe International Airport, which is situated around 20 km away from the midpoint of the Lilongwe city. The airport is catered by Ulendo Airlink, South African Airways, Proflight Zambia, Malawian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines with scheduled flights from Blantyre, Likoma, Mfuwe, Johannesburg, Lusaka, Beira, Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lusaka, Maputo, Tete, Nairobi and Addis Ababa.

By bus, Lilongwe has link with the international destinations like Lusaka, Dar es Salaam, Harare and Johannesburg.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Lilongwe:

Lilongwe is city with people belonging to different communities and also houses some European population, mainly from Britain.

Here are typical shopping options in Lilongwe:

Old Town Mall
Gems and Jewellery Lanka
Crossroads Complex

Apart from traditional food corners, Lilongwe hosts several international chain food corners that are centered in downtown Lilongwe and in Old Town Mall. Some of them are as follows:

Korea Garden Lodge
Bohemia Cafe
Chilli Peppers
Four Seasons

Things to do in Lilongwe:

Vision gaming
Golfing
Shopping
City tours

Tourist Attractions in Lilongwe:

Wild Life Centre:

Wild Life Centre in Lilongwe is a reserve for orphaned and rescued animals that are brought from the different regions of the country. The sanctuary is home to both permanent and rehabilitated wild life, of which highlights are leopard and lions.

Parliament Building:

The Parliament Building of Malawi is situated at Presidential Way in Lilongwe, constructed by Chinese company. Both interior and exterior designs of the building are great to see, showcasing the quality work of Chinese architects.

Kumbali Cultural Centre:

The Kumbali Cultural Centre was constructed to display the cultural features of the Malawian people to visitors. Traditional Malawian drumming, dancing, music and dinner are highlights here.

Lilongwe Golf Club:

The Lilongwe Golf Club is one of the landmarks of Lilongwe, featuring 18 hole course and is cheaper comparing western prices. It is also an ideal place for beginners.

Old Town Mall:

The Old Town Mall is the most famous shopping centre in Lilongwe, housing two art and craft galleries, Italian Restaurant, Serendipity Café, DVD shop and different entertainment centres.

Other attractive places in Lilongwe include:

Crossroads Complex
University of Malawi
Lilongwe Play Centre
Discorium
Gems and Jewellery Lanka
Kumbali Cultural Village

Ideal time to visit Lilongwe:

Visitors can choose any of the months between May and August to visit Lilongwe to make tour memorable.

Where to stay in Lilongwe:

Lilongwe is a city for all types of tourists as housing a wide range accommodation options such as hotels, campsites, lodges and guesthouses with different amenities. Luxury hotels in Lilongwe charge around US$120 per night for single. The major hotels in Lilongwe in Malawi are listed below: