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Malawi Information BLANTYRE - Although not the diplomatic capital,
Blantyre is the main commercial and industrial capital of Malawi. Stretching
some 20 Kms, it has joined up with its ‘sister city’ Limbe. As with most big
African cities, there is little of
LILONGWE - The capital city
of Malawi is a sprawling centre. It is well set out with both a "New" and "Old" City
area. The former has smart Hotels, Embass MZUZU - The capital of the north, this is the main stopover town, and turning-off point for all areas north. If exploring the northern areas, this is the last place to change money, fill your petrol tank and make phone calls. The market is huge, with everything from plastic buckets to salt, but not much for tourists apart from fresh produce. It will however, give you a glimpse into African trading life. There are also a number of restaurants and roadside stalls from which to get a good meal. This is a small, quiet and attractive city in the Northern Region, situated on a 1000m high plain, about 370km north of Lilongwe. It has recently experienced some commercial development with the return of the Asian businessmen and a new University has been recently commissioned. Mzuzu offers all the usual amenities of a city. The city has an airport 10km to the north which operates flights to and from Lilongwe, Blantyre and Karonga. There is a variety of accommodation including an international standard “Sunbird Tourism” Mzuzu Hotel.
Nearby tourist attractions include Nyika Plateau to the north, a cool 3000m high plateau with good game viewing, horse riding, hiking and superb views. To the northwest is Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve, a well established safari camp as is the case with Nyika. The roads to both camps can be poor, particularly in the rainy season, but Nyika is served by Air Malawi flying from Mzuzu airport, twice a week. Also to the north is the historic Livingstonia Mission, way up in the mountains and overlooking the majestic Lake Malawi, and to the southeast there is Nkhata Bay on the shores of Lake Malawi, where lake steamers can be boarded, and where there is also excellent scuba diving, line fishing, and good beach accommodation available.
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real interest to do other than to buy books
and maps, get visas and relax at the many cafes and restaurants. The National
Museum is worth a visit to view traditional weapons and artefacts, but on a hot
afternoon check out the Carlsberg Brewery for a guided tour and a free tasting
session! Walking on Michiru Mountain, 8 Kms out of Blantyre, is a good way to
spend a day. Blantyre is the industrial centre of Malawi with cement, food and
tobacco processing, and textile industries. The city is also an important rail
hub which provides the landlocked nation vital access to ports in neighbouring
countries. Blantyre was founded in 1876 as a Church of Scotland mission station
and was named for the birthplace of David Livingstone. In 1956, Blantyre was
combined with Limbe to form one city.
ies
and offices while the latter has markets, bus stations, cafes and interesting
restaurants. However, it doesn’t hold much interest for visitors
and is usually just used as a stop over
for arriving or leaving the country. But a day in this lively city could be
interesting, with a visit to the
market on Malangalanga Rd, and a look into some of the old Indian spice and
cloth shops. There is also
a Nature Sanctuary
on Kenyatta Rd, which thankfully isn’t like a Zoo, and there are good sporting facilities at the Lilongwe Golf
Club, the only 18 hole course in the
country. You can also visit the tobacco auction floors based at Kanengo in the
northern part of the city boundaries. Tobacco is Malawi’s most important
cash crop, so this gives an interesting insight into the country’s trade. At
night there are a number of good restaurants and nightclubs to visit. 
