Marvelous Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa. The country has a background of highlands that are split by the Great Rift Valley and the huge Lake Malawi.

The capital Lilongwe is located on the Lilongwe River. It is the most populous city in Malawi.

Lilongwe Wildlife Center is Malawi’s only sanctuary for orphaned, injured and rescued wild animals. The wildlife that makes its home here includes a one-eyed lion rescued from Romania, a python, two cobras, baboons, duikers, servals and blue and vervet monkeys. The purpose is to rehabilitate the animals so they can go back into the wild. Visitors can wander the woodland trails and enjoy the picnic area, playground and cafe.

The Parliament Building is worth a look at. It sits on the outskirts of Lilongwe near Capital Hill. Visitors can get a free guided tour.

Kamuzu Mausoleum is a marble and granite mausoleum and the final resting place of Malawi’s “president for life”, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. There are four pillars with the initials of his most prized principles – unity, loyalty, obedience and discipline and between them a wrinkled portrait of the “lion of Malawi”. Banda ruled from 1961 to 1994 and died at almost 100 years of age.

The Reserve Bank Building is a landmark in central Lilongwe.

Traveling in Malawi

Liwonde National Park is where visitors can do some wildlife watching and enjoy going on safari. The park stretches along the Shire River near the border with Mozambique. This is a vast reserve of flood plains and wetland swamps with swaying grass fields and baobab groves.

Here you can see bush elephants, jackals, hyenas, impalas, waterbucks, baboons and much more.

Blantyre is a town boasting over 150 years of history since it was first established by missionaries working for the Church of Scotland. Visitors enjoy seeing old structures like Mandala House or getting a look at the Malawi Stock Exchange. There are also various tobacco-packing factories.

Nyika National Park is the largest of its kind in the country and one of the most unusual natural habitats. There are many riverways, grassy plains and colorful orchid beds. You can see roaming elephants and water buffalo. Visitors enjoy horse riding safaris, hiking, and bird watching.

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is located right in the heart of Malawi’s central backcountry. Here you can see green miombo woods and winding rivers heading toward Lake Malawi. Here travelers come to spend time in the safari lodges along the waters. You can see tropical birds, elephants, buffalo and leopards.

Likoma Island is surrounded by the waters of Lake Malawi. Visitors admire the Gothic Likoma town cathedral. It is famous for its crystal-clear shore waters and unspoilt coastline. You can enjoy fishing and snorkeling.

Chongoni is known for its rich history and pre-historic arrays of rock art. It is a UNESCO site. Here you can see the Dedza Mountains reaching nearly 2,000 meters above sea level. There are caverns with religious elements and old artwork. On the westernmost edge is Mphunzi Mountain.

Kasungu National Park is one of the off-the-beaten-path nature reserves in East Africa. Rolling plateaus border Zambia. There are savannahs, bush, miombo woodlands, and dusty plains. This nature reserve is known for its large African elephant populations. Along Lake Lifupa are lodges for eco-tourism accommodations and you can go on safari.

Karonga is surrounded by mountains in the north of Malawi. It sits on the banks of Lake Malawi a short distance from Tanzania. This little town offers guesthouses.

One of the highlights here is the Culture and Museum Center.

Zomba is located on the edge of the Shire Highlands. Here you'll find rare cypress trees and juniper bushes with verdant forests and highland lakes. Hike to the summit and get awesome vies of both the Mulunguzi and Shire Rivers.

Mangochi is located at the most-visited section of lakeshore in Malawi. The lakeshore stretches south to north between the town and Lake Malawi National Park. There are also Swahili fishing towns and resorts.

Here is where you can find the great Hotchkiss gun that at one time downed the German naval ship Hermann von Wissemann in WW II, a colonial clock tower raised by Queen Victoria, and hike the Malawi-Zanzibar trade routes from past centuries.

Lake Malawi National Park is a place for nature lovers. Among the Sylvan hillsides are the shores of the country’s largest lake Lake Malawi. You can see baboons and antelopes along the shore. There are safari lodges on the reserve's various islands. You can also see old missionary settlements.