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Lilongwe became the capital of Malawi in 1975 and is now predominantly the hub of major air and road routes in Malawi, making it the ideal gateway for visitors to the country.

It has two distinct parts, the Old Town and the Capital City. The Old Town has all the appearance of a traditional African settlement, with vibrant street life and a large walled market selling everything imaginable. Conversely, the other part could not be more different; spacious and green, the 'garden' Capital City has its roots firmly in the 20th century, with gleaming modern buildings, wide boulevards and verdant gardens.

The Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary

The Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, which separates Old Town and Capital City, is well worth a visit to explore the network of trails that run through the small reserve.

You are unlikely to see many animals here but it does boast spotted hyena, porcupine, bushpig, bushbuck, vervet monkeys and crocodiles. A rather staggering 150 species of birds have also been recorded here.

Exploring Lilongwe

Other activities in Lilongwe include visits to the tobacco auction floors (from April to September), where between 13,000 and 15,000 bales of tobacco are sold each day, with a daily turnover of around $2 million.

Lilongwe does have a bad name and is described by some as 'bland', but this is slightly unfair. Unlike so many other African cities, Lilongwe is safe to stroll around, with little crime directed at tourists, and for those in need of essentials there are good shops, banks and other useful facilities.

The city is mostly used as a stopover destination so long stays here are unlikely.