Lilongwe Travel Guide, Malawi

Lilongwe Travel Guide – The Capital of the Poor

This Lilongwe travel guide will give you an insight into the aspect and functions of the city that is known as being the capital of Malawi. The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa, and Lilongwe is located at 450 kilometers away from Lusaka in neighboring Zambia. Although it is the capital of the country, Lilongwe is not the largest city in Malawi, this position being occupied by Blantyre. With a surface of 118.000 sq km and a population of 14.000.000, Malawi is among the least developed and most populated countries in the world. The majority of the population is rural and supports itself through agriculture, but the country is largely dependent upon development needs that come from outside. The high infantile mortality and prevalence of AIDS make it very difficult for the government to handle education, health and economy, but the plan is to invest more and more in the financial and environmental independence of Malawi.

Lilongwe Travel Guide – The Relaxing and the Morbid

In the present day Lilongwe has an estimated population of 900.000 inhabitants and the atmosphere it displays is found fairly rewarding by the large majority of the visitors. There are many restaurants and bars, and Lilongwe even has a casino, so tourists usually feel very good when arriving in the city. Still, for the locals it is very hard to make a living on just a few dollars a day, as most of them came from surrounding villages to the capital in search of jobs that were not available. Most of the international organizations that deal with human rights, health and development for the third world countries are located outside of the city proper and the contrast is therefore very visible when walking through the city. It is estimated that some 20% of the population in Lilongwe is HIV positive. It is very hard for the government to control the rapid expansion of the city that goes hand in hand with the massive deforestation, leading from one serious issue to another.

Lilongwe Travel Guide – The Contrastive City Structure

Inside the city you can get around by buses and minibuses that connect all the neighborhoods, including the City Center area. This is by far the most developed part of Lilongwe, with modern buildings, banks and several international businesses, as well as many government institutions that are also located here. Other areas in the city focus on local trades and have very busy markets, while in different parts of the city you can find expensive hotels and restaurants, shopping areas and even some private clinics. It is safe to walk around the entire city most of the time, but this Lilongwe travel guide would advise you to always look out and take good care of your personal belongings.