LilongweCapital

Lilongwe is the purpose-built capital of Malawi, the green garden city of the south-central plateau that the government established as the seat of the nation in the middle of the twentieth century. It spreads along the bank of the river of the same name, divided into the old town of the markets and the bazaars and the new city of the wide avenues, the ministries and the embassies. The city sits at a mild altitude, and its jacarandas, its parks and its slow, orderly streets give it a gentle, spacious feel that few African capitals can match. The markets, the museums and the reserves of the surrounding countryside fill the days, and the friendly pace of the middle of the country sets the tone of the whole of Malawi.

About Lilongwe

Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi. The city's documented population is around 1,100,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Malawian Kwacha (MWK) and English and Chichewa are spoken; the dialling code is +265.

The Garden Capital of the Old Market and the New City

Lilongwe divides between the two capitals of the old town and the new city, with the great market of the old centre, the museum of the country and the hotel strip of the new side making the classic route of the visitor. The wildlife trust of the city, with its walking trails and its rescued animals, and the craft markets of the town fill the easier days, while the reserves and the lake of the country lie a short drive beyond. It is a green, slow and remarkably friendly capital, where the traffic is light, the people warm and the everyday life remarkably unpressured for a national seat of government.

The Mild Plateau, the Rainy Summers and the Craft Markets

The plateau altitude gives the city a mild, comfortable climate, with the cool dry winters and the hot, rainy summers, and the evenings stay fresh through most of the year. The kwacha is the currency, the English the official language, with the Chichewa filling the streets and the markets of the town. The old market, the museum and the trust of the wildlife make the core, while the reserves and the lakes of the country stretch the stay of the visitor. Light layers for the evenings and the rain gear for the summer, together with a warm smile for the famously friendly Malawians, complete the preparation.

The Wildlife Trust, the Reserve of the North and the Lake of the Country

The old town of the capital, with its great covered market and its Chinese-built arcades, holds the everyday commerce of the middle of the country, while the new capital of the wide avenues carries the ministries and the memorial of the national hero of the country. The wildlife trust of the Lilongwe, a rehabilitating sanctuary of the rescued animals with its walking trails and its spotlit viewings of the night, is the beloved green escape of the city. The reserves of the country beyond the town, with their elephants and their antelope, and the lake of the Malawi, the shining inland sea of the region, complete the remarkable reach of the little city of the river.

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Country: Malawi
Population: 1,100,000

Capital: Lilongwe
Region: Africa
Currency: Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages: English, Chichewa
Calling code: +265
Country code: MW

Frequently asked questions

Is Lilongwe the capital of Malawi?

Yes — Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi.

What currency do I need in Lilongwe?

The local currency is the Malawian Kwacha (MWK). Languages spoken in Malawi include English and Chichewa.

What is the dialling code for Malawi?

The international dialling code for Malawi is +265.

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