Going Out In Lilongwe

Here are Malawian Style’s favourite Lilongwe social hot spots:

Wednesday, The Shack:

On Wednesday’s, head to ‘The Shack,’ where much of Lilongwe gathers for a mid week drink and some friendly competition.

Volleyball at the Shack

Living up to its name, the Shack is a little rough around the edges and is certainly not the Ritz, however since when has the Ritz had two volleyball courts? Throughout the dry season the Shack hosts a weekly volleyball tournament where mixed teams compete against each other in three leagues dependent on skill. The teams always stay the same so if you want to get involved, ask an existing team if you can join them. If Volleyball is not your forte, then drinking a few and judging others on their sporting ability can also be fun, just watch out for those stray balls!  There is also an inside bar area with a dance floor that can get quite rowdy later on in the evening.

Thursday, Buchanans:

Thursday is all about ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ at Buchanans.

Popular with the trained drinkers, the crowd is a mix of old and young. Why is it called Thirsty Thursday’s? Well basically the more you drink the cheaper your drinks get. On the inside you will find a traditional ‘pub like’ interior bar. There is also a very big outside terrace which is a lovely spot to wine away the evening. If you get a bit ahead of yourself with the booze they also have very good food, although remember, ‘Eating is cheating!’

Outside Terrace at Buchanans

Friday, Harry’s Bar:

Friday head over to Harry’s bar for a relaxed ‘home from home’ atmosphere where you will find a good crowd of both expats and locals. Although a bit out of the way, it is a popular meeting place, and can get very busy on Fridays. They often have a cheesy DJ making it a fun pre-party venue to get the weekend started.

Saturday, Zanzi’s (Zanzibars)/ Chez Ntemba:

Zanzi’s is the main nightclub in Lilongwe, along with Chez Ntemba. It has three dance floors where you can expect to hear hip-hop and local Malawian Music. It can get full on the weekends so is a good place to meet new people and practice your dance moves. Normally MK500 entry however this can be more on special events such as music concerts (Malawian artists such as the Black Missionnaries and Naeto C have performed there) Hold on to your belongings however as pick pocketing has unfortunately been reported.

Chez Ntemba International Nightclub:

 The locals place to be on Fridays and Saturdays. Not the most luxurious place to say the least but guaranteed good music and excellent atmosphere. If the dance floor gets too much there is always the open-air area outside where you are bound to end up talking to a few locals and expats – there’s a Braii there too. Entry fee MK500 at weekends. Only place open late on weekdays.

Sunday, Chameleons:

Since they started the Sunday Jazz sessions, Chameleon Bar at The Four Seasons is the  place to be on Sundays. With a swanky cocktail bar vibe and outside garden it is the perfect place to spend Sunday afternoons drinking G + T’s while listening to fantastic live jazz music.

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Things to do in Cape Maclear

Cape Maclear is one of Malawian Style’s favourite places to spend a weekend (or if lucky, much longer : )). Popular with locals and travellers and just over 100km from Lilongwe you will find lots of the young expats coming here to escape the stresses of city life and spend time getting some well deserved R + R. The stunning cape offers much more than a beach and clear water, as it is a haven for boat activities and watersports, as well as having some of the best freshwater diving sites in the world. Once a hippy hangout, the place has some very cool bars and lounges to spend your evenings. The facilities at Cape Maclear are varied and over the years they have developed. Now there is something for everyone, from the backpacker with the small budget to those wishing to splash out.

What to do?

1)Relax. Doing as little as possible is one of the best things to do in Cape Maclear. The clear water and beautiful white beach make this a very easy and enjoyable undertaking.

2)Watersports: Once you are refreshed it’s time to experience the many water activities that Cape Maclear has to offer, such as leisurely swims to the island, snorkeling with the thousands of cichlids (over 800 unique to Lake Malawi), kayaking, water-skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, banana rides and fishing. If you are feeling adventurous Kayak to Dombwe or Mumbo Island.

For Scuba Diving Kayak Africa is the place to go. Kayak Africa has been operating its Dive School in Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi National Park since 1996 and is the only PADI registered club in Cape Maclear. It offers Scuba diving day excursions as well as certification courses

3) Sail: If sailing is more your thing contact Danforth Lodge. This small four room lodge offers a reasonably high standard of accommodation and a wide range of activities including diving and sailing in a superb 12m catamaran.

3) Hiking – An easy 80 minute trail starts near the Missionary Graves and takes you up to a viewing point above the village. There are other harder walks, which are not so easily marked, for these it is worthwhile finding a guide in town or at the Lake Malawi National Park.

4) Go out on the town: If you fancy a drink or three there are some great bars in Cape Maclear:

Our recommendations are:

Gecko Lounge, Best place to view the Malawian Sunsets are from the Gecko Lounge Veranda deck – Fantastic Food, Best Stocked Bar in the area & Biggest parties on the lake – private chalets and double rooms available as well – the Kampango Banger Cocktail is famous for causing many hurt locker hangovers!

Hiccups is a quite new brick building in the middle of ‘Main Street’. This is the place to be in the late hours, with its well stocked bars inside and outside; courts where you can see that the building is actually built around a tree, and its huge music collection.

Fat Monkeys is an open-air restaurant with a cool beach-vibe on the south end of the village. They have Western-styled food (try the pizza) and sometimes play host to lively parties at night.

The Reggae Beach Bar: If you are looking for a more local vibe, head to the Reggae bar. A great place to dance to Malawian music and mix with the locals.

Malawian Style:

To really make the most out of Lake Malawi come on a Malawian Style Lake weekend, where we rent a cottage for a group of fun people to have a chilled out beach weekend with good food and company. Transport to and from the lake (Lilongwe) included, plus water activities including wake boarding, tubing and boat rides.

Looking for a personalised tour of Cape Maclear: Malawian Style’s tours of Cape Maclear are intended to be unhurried, unrushed and tailored to your individual preferences, so you can get to know the Lake intimately.

To request a custom designed tour that includes Cape Maclear, just send us a message.

Contact info@malawianstyle.com

Best places to stay in Malawi

Huntingdon House

The exceptional house, which exudes colonial charm, is one of Malawi’s many treasures.   Built by Maclean Kay in 1928, the house lies in the heart of the Satemwa Tea Estate. Nestled in magnificent gardens, it boasts several hidden patios and terraces to enjoy your days. Refurbished to the highest quality and keeping with its colonial 1920’s architecture the house offers 5 unique suites, which each have a story, from the original children’s nursery to its own private chapel.

Mkulumadzi

Mkulumadzi is an exclusive luxury lodge set on a lush riverbank within the largely undiscovered and isolated Majete Wildlife reserve. Majete known for its’ stunning location of mature woodland and granite hills, picturesque river valleys and dense forest. The lodge boasts eight excellent chalets set on the bank of the Shire River. All the chalets has a spacious bedroom, lounge and en suite bathroom, outdoor shower and private viewing deck looking out over the beautiful river.

Mvuu Lodge

You can’t get much closer to nature than at Mvuu lodge as the animals roam freely through the camp. The luxury safari tents, each with en suite facilities, sit on raised wooden decks overlooking the river.

Pumulani

After a Safari in Zambia there is no better place to relax. An exclusive beach lodge on the beautiful Lake Malawi, Pumalani has ten exclusively designed villas, which all overlook the lake. Each of the villas has a large bedroom, living area and a private deck with a stunning lake view. Relax by their amazing infinity pool or on the private beach.

Kaya Mawa

Kaya Mawa Lodge is located on the southwestern tip of Likoma Island to the eastern side of Lake Malawi.Set on rocks above a beautiful beach to the south of the island, the lodge isx constructed in stone and thatch, with stylish public areas and ten very comfortable and romantic rooms. Apart from relaxing, the main activities are diving, snorkelling and sailing.  Exploring the island by bike and on foot is a real pleasure.Kaya Mawa Lodge is certainly one of the top two or three lodges on the lake.

Mumbo Island

Mumbo Island is a pristine and deserted tropical island floating on the expansive waters of the Lake Malawi National Park. With a maze of massive underwater boulders, innumerable species of colourful cichlid fish and calm, clear water, the National Park offers what many consider the best freshwater snorkeling and SCUBA diving in the world. 
Mumbo Island is only 1km in diameter and has never been populated so it remains in a pristine, natural state. Kayak Africa run Mumbo as an entirely off grid, green camp so that it remains as unspoilt and perfect as it has been forever.

Danforth Yachting

 If you’re looking for a memorable sailing and water sports holiday in one of the most beautiful locations on Lake Malawi, then look no further than Danforth Yachting. Danforth, which is both a yacht charter company and a luxury lodge, offers superb accommodation in Cape Maclear, a location bordering Lake Malawi National Park.

For the latest deals and offers on any of these places contact info@malawianstyle.com or fill out a quick booking inquiry

Top restaurants in Lilongwe

At Malawian style we love to dine out and here are our favourite restaurants in the capital.

 Don Brioni’s Bistro, Mandala Rd/ Old Town (Area 4), Lilongwe, Malawi

 

Situated under Kigoni town lodge Don Brioni is known for its quality food and excellent hosts, Brian and Hope. Over the years Don Brioni’s has picked up many regulars, securing their return with outstanding dishes and great atmosphere. The charming décor and good location, makes Don Brioni’s a perfect little retreat from the city bustle. Highly recommended.

 Reviews

“Yum, if you are in Lilongwe this is well worth a visit” (Lonely Planet)

 “It’s all about the atmosphere!” (Trip Advisor)

 Mamma Mias, Old town mall, Lilongwe, Malawi

Run by an Italian expat family, Mama Mia’s is a real Italian restaurant renowned for it’s pastas, fish and seafood. It’s cosy interior allows for a relaxing and personalized ambience. There is also a shaded terrace where you can dine ‘Al Fresco’ whilst the friendly and attentive staff, serve you up the very best in Italian delights. Esteemed for it’s great Mediterranean vibes, Mama Mia’s is a Lilongwe hotspot not to be missed. Although the prices are high, the portion sizes and quality of the food make up for it.

Reviews

 “Probably the best expresso between Nairobi and Joburg.” (Trip Advisor)

 “A great place to stop for a meal before or after shopping at the mall, but worth a trip just for the restaurant. I would definitely go back!” (Trip Advisor)

 Blue Ginger, P.O. Box 1899, Lilongwe, Malawi

Looking for a good Curry in Lilongwe? Then Blue Ginger is the place to go. Make sure your pocket matches your appetite however as Blue Ginger is known for its high prices.  Despite breaking the bank, the food is of an excellent standard. Owned by an Indian family who know their spices, Blue Ginger caters to any taste whether you like mind blowing heat or a milder flavour. Portion sizes can be quite small however so don’t scrimp with your order. The service is good, with knowledgeable and polite staff. If you fancy a few drinks they also have a well stocked bar which has a varied cocktail menu. To compliment a lazy night at home, Blue Ginger also offers a fantastic takeaway service.

Reviews

 “Indian Class” (Trip Advisor)

Anywhere missing? Where are your favourite places to eat in Lilongwe? 

Best Game Reserves and National Parks in and around Malawi.

Malawi is a nature lovers delight, and possesses as rich a variety of large mammals as most African Countries; including the big five – buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros. There are over 170 species of mammals and some 649 recorded species of bird. As with everywhere, human population demands have meant that most of the big game species are now constrained to game reserves and national parks. Although these reserves are not as famous as some found in other East African countries, they offer excellent game viewing.

Tip: To get the most out of a game viewing expedition you will need to take into account the climate. The best times of the year for game viewing are during the dry season August to November. Some parks will be closed or impassable without a four-wheel drive vehicle during the raining season, particularly Jan – March

-Nyika National Park — the first (certified in 1965), the largest (over 3,000km²) and the highest (average height 1,800M)

Nyika national park, the oldest national park in Malawi was created in 1965. It is also the largest, covering 3000 square kilometres. It has a dense pine forest, wonderful views and a climate and landscape unique to Malawi and rare to Africa.What makes Nyika special is that you can explore the wildlife through various means – On horseback, bike riding, and on foot.The animals to be seen include bushbucks, reedbucks, zebras and roan antelopes, and you may also spot warthogs, klipspringers, jackals and possibly hyenas and leopards.

 

▪   Kasungu National Park — situated approximately 165km north of the capital city, Lilongwe, this is, at over 2,000km², the second largest of Malawi’s parks

Covering just over 2,316 square kilometres, Kasungu is Malawi’s second largest park. Situated on Malawi’s western border with Zambia, Kasungu became a National Park in 1970. It was viewed as the best game park in Malawi, but unfortunately the park has seen a huge loss in its number of animals.  There was once over 2,000 elephants and now there are estimated just 150. This is mainly due to cross border and local poaching.However there are still animals to be seen, such as eland, buffalo, zebra, kudu, roan, sable, puku, hartebeest and even leopard, lion and the mysterious painted dog.

▪  Lake Malawi National Park — designated a National Park in 1980 to protect the unique diversity of tropical fish living in Lake Malawi, some not found anywhere else on earth.

Lake Malawi National Park is a national park located in Malawi at the southern end of Lake Malawi. It is the only national park in Malawi that was created to protect fish and aquatic habitats. Despite this, Lake Malawi National Park still has a fair amount of land, including several small islands in Lake Malawi, and is home to other animals such as baboons. A large baobab tree, purportedly over 800 years old, is said to have been a favourite of Dr. David Livingstone as a place where he could give sermons and speak with other missionaries. The graves of five early missionaries are also found in the park. The many endemic fish species make it a key example of specialized evolution. For this characteristic, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984

▪   Liwonde National Park — situated 120km north of Blantyre, on the banks of the Upper Shire River.Liwonde can be found at the southern end of Lake Malawi beside the Upper Shire River, and borders Lake Malombe. It has a very diverse landscape including riverine swamps, open grassland, deciduous woodland and even mopane woodland. This diversity means that Liwonde has the most scenic game viewing in Malawi and allegedly the best bird watching in Southern Africa. Despite a huge amount of visitors, Liwonde is still peaceful and uncommercialised.

▪  Majete Game Reserve — in the South West of Malawi, with an area of 691km²

Majete Wildlife Reserve is 691km.sq, and lies at the low attitude of about 100m. The Shire River forms part of the eastern boundary. It was gazetted as a Game Reserve in 1955, 50 years ago. Further extensions occurred in 1969 to include dry season water sources, and in 1976 it was extended to include the full width of the Shire River. In 1988 there were estimated to be over 200 elephants in Majete, but by 1992 all had been exterminated.

 After years of heavy poaching African Parks Network took over management in 2003. Since than a lot has changed. The Reserve is completely fenced, has over 250 km of good roads, has a very professional Law Enforcement team and is restocked with over 4,000 animals including, elephant, rhino, buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, kudu, nyala, waterbuck, impala, warthog, hippo et cetera. Soon the big cats will be reintroduced; cheetah, lion and leopard. The park is also appreciated for the Shire River, especially the Kapichira Falls, which are situated close to the park entrance. It is a wilderness area where bird watching is very favourable and, provided you are escorted by a game scout, you are allowed to walk around.

 ▪   Luangwa National Park Zambia

Very close to Malawi we could not leave South Luangwa national park off the list, which experts have called one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and with good reason: few parks can match this phenomenally high game density. What’s more, three quarters of this wild and remote 9050 sq km park is still largely unexplored.The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its ox bow lagoons is amongst the most intense in Africa. All the big predators are there, as well as four of the Big 5 (the notable exception being the rhino, which was sadly poached to extinction).The South Luangwa has become famous as the home of walking safaris. Although other parks have now caught up, the South Luangwa stands out as the best reserve to see big game on foot: elephant, hippo or even lion. The South Luangwa is well known for extremely high standard of guiding. Many of the guides grew up in the area, and have been guiding for 10 to 20 years. In addition to exceptional guiding, this is one of the few safari destinations where you can find true African bushcamps in remote wilderness areas. The word bushcamp is quite misleading though, because while you’re far from any other sign of civilisation, you won’t be expected to give up any of your creature comforts.

Malawian Style offers fantastic Safari Packages, to check them out click here