Lilongwe Travel Guide
Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, is a very green city with leafy trees and grassy areas breaking up the concrete. In typical Malawian fashion, it's quite a laid-back city with social highlights revolving around visits to the local nursery, shopping in Old Town, or a couple of drinks at the golf club.
It is divided into Old Town (to the south) and New Town (to the north), with the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary between the two. Old Town is more popular with visitors as it's home to markets, craft stalls and attractive cafes, restaurants and pubs. New Town is focused more on business, with office buildings, banks and embassies.
Located in central Malawi, Lilongwe itself isn't a major tourist draw. However, a large expat population has given the city a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, making it the perfect stopover for travellers heading to game reserves and beach resorts.
Many trips to Malawi begin at the Lilongwe International Airport, and the city makes for a pleasant introduction to the country, though those not travelling on business seldom stay long. Tourists in transit also take advantage of the shopping in Lilongwe, which is the best in Malawi.
Old Town Mall is home to impressive art and craft galleries, a grocery store, travel agencies and upmarket clothing stores. Crossroads Complex, at the Mchinji Roundabout, also boasts gift shops, a post office, ATMs and fast food outlets. It is a good idea to capitalise on these amenities, particularly for banking, as ATMs are scarce outside of urban areas.
Getting Around
Most local travel in Lilongwe is by minibus. Tourists may find the most useful service is between the Old Town and City Centre. Lilongwe is fairly spread out, so minibuses are a cheap way to get around for adventurous visitors. Taxis are also available from the main hotels and are more expensive.
Hiring a car is an option, although the narrow winding roads of the Old Town are not friendly to cars. Travellers planning to explore Malawi beyond the city will want to hire a 4x4, as the roads around Lilongwe are good. Further afield, the roads deteriorate.
Lilongwe Climate and Weather
Lilongwe has a humid subtropical climate with balmy summers and chilly winters. Winter is the best time to visit Malawi, coinciding with the dry season, and lasts from May to October. The dry season is also the best time for game viewing and hiking.
June and July are the coolest months, harbouring cold nights, especially in the highlands, and average daytime temperatures of 73F (23C). November to April is the hot, humid rainy season, with more rain falling on the higher plateaus than around the lake, with temperatures reaching up to 86F (30C). Some roads may become impassable during heavy rains.
Malawi travel info
Electricity
Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, rectangular blade plugs are standard.
Language
English is the official language and widely spoken and understood, but Chichewa is the home language of the majority.
Money
The official currency is the Malawian Kwacha (MWK), which is divided into 100 tambalas. Foreign currencies are accepted by banks, authorised hotels and other institutions in the main town centres. Bureaux de change are also available. The US Dollar is the easiest currency to exchange. ATMs are widely available and credit cards are accepted. It's wise to keep a reserve supply of cash as power cuts can affect the use of ATMs and credit cards.
Tipping
Service charges are generally not included in hotel and restaurant bills, and tipping is at the client's discretion. It is common practice to tip guides in the national parks.
Health
Malaria is a health risk in Malawi throughout the year, especially on the coast. Cases of dengue fever and chikungunya fever have been reported and are also transmitted by mosquitoes. Precautionary measures against being bitten should be taken at all times. Vaccinations are recommended for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid; all eligible travellers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Travellers coming from a country with yellow fever require inoculation against the disease. Tap water should not be drunk unless it has been boiled or chemically treated. Medical facilities are limited and, outside of the capital and other urban areas, medical care may be difficult to find. Limited medications are available but it is advisable to bring along a medical kit for private use. Comprehensive medical insurance is advised.
Safety
Malawi is considered a relatively safe country in which to travel and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free, but sensible precautions should be taken with regards to personal possessions and security, particularly after dark. There have been reports of robberies, money scams involving tourists, muggings and 4x4 vehicles being hijacked.
Most crime is petty and opportunistic and much of it occurs around bus stations and in other crowded public areas. Visitors should carry a photocopy of their passport and visa at all times, but original documents should be stashed in a hotel safe when possible. Travellers are advised to avoid street protests and political rallies, which can become violent.
Local customs
It is customarily expected by most Malawians to be greeted with a friendly 'Hello, how are you?' and a handshake. It is courteous to ask permission before taking photographs of people. Homosexual acts are sadly illegal.
Women may generally dress as they please but should take local custom and religion into account when travelling outside of the main tourist areas and consider covering legs and shoulders to avoid giving offense.
Doing business
Business in Malawi is quite formal. Business cards are usually exchanged on meeting, accompanied by a firm handshake. Punctuality is important and dress should be formal; lightweight suits with a tie are acceptable.
English is Malawi's official language and almost all business is conducted in English. Malawians tend to be very polite and thoughtful, and expect the same treatment in return. Business hours usually start fairly early, from about 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
Duty free
Travellers to Malawi do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco. For travellers over 18 years of age 1 litre of spirits, and 1 litre of alcohol like beer or wine, can be brought into the country without incurring duty fees.
Communications
The international dialling code for Malawi is +265. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Telephone calls within Malawi are cheap, and the network is reliable between major towns and cities. There is good mobile coverage throughout the country and WiFi is available in all hotels and lodges. Local SIM cards are readily available from street vendors.
Passport & Visa
Those passengers who attain a visa on arrival and who want to extend this visa beyond the 60 day extension option must apply for a residence permit. All foreign passengers to Malawi must hold return or onward tickets and the necessary travel documentation for their next destination, and sufficient funds to cover their expenses while in the country. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Malawi if visitors are arriving from or transiting through an infected area. It is highly recommended that visitors' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Entry requirements
US citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Malawi. They can attain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days, and can extend this visa for an additional 60 days.
British citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Malawi. They can attain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days, and can extend this visa for an additional 60 days.
Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Malawi. They can attain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days, and can extend this visa for an additional 60 days.
Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Malawi. They can attain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days, and can extend this visa for an additional 60 days.
South African citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Malawi. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Irish citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Malawi. They can attain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days and can extend this visa for an additional 60 days.
New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Malawi. They can attain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days and can extend this visa for an additional 60 days.
Useful contacts
Official Tourism Website of Malawi: www.visitmalawi.mw
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