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Best Tourist Places to Visit in Mzuzu, Malawian, North Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Mzuzu, Malawian, North Africa, Africa

Mzuzu is a Malawian city, functioning as the capital of the Northern Region of the country, lying at 11.45807° S latitude and 34.015131° E longitude. It is the 3^rd largest city of Malawi in terms of population, after the national capital, Lilongwe and Blantyre. Mzuzu is situated to the north of Viphya Forest, which is considered as the Africa’s largest man-made forest. Mzuzu is also famous among tourists as its nearness with the largest park of Malawi, Nyika National Park and Lake Malawi.

Hotels like Mzuzu Hotel and Key Lounge have inbuilt entertainment venues that are frequented by both visitors and locals. The areas surround the city are well known for the production of tea, rubber, and coffee. Mzuzu is home to the Mzuzu University.

History of Mzuzu:

Mzuzu was not in growth until the middle of the 20^th century and it emerged in the year 1947 around the Tung Oil Estate belonged to the Commonwealth Development Corporation. Mzuzu gained city charter in the year 1985.

How to reach Mzuzu?

Mzuzu is situated around 350 km north of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. By road, Mzuzu is connected to all the major southern and northern Malawian cities, including Lilongwe, served by buses and minibuses.

By air, Mzuzu is only linked to Lilongwe, catered by Swiftair.

Due t its small size, Mzuzu can be explored by foot and also the city is served by buses, minivans and rental cars.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Mzuzu:

Tumbuka people dominate the population of Mzuzu, who use their own dialect Tumbuka language to speak. A type of fish botolo fish is widely used in the preparation of local dishes.

When comes to shopping, Mzuzu is limited to traditional shops only, in which Green Shop is the famous one, offering fresh vegetables, herbs and local specialties like honey and spices.

Things to do in Mzuzu:

Trekking
Hiking
Day tours

Places to see in Mzuzu:

Viphya Forest:

The Viphya Forest is the Africa’s largest man-made forest, located to the south of Mzuzu. Established in 1964, the park is spread over an area of 560 km², home to a wide range of birds, including Olive Woodpecker, Red-faced Crimson-wing and Scaly Francolin.

Nyika National Park:

Situated around 100 km north of Mzuzu, the Nyika National Park is the largest national park of Malawi covering an area of 3200 km. The park is mainly noted for its rich vegetation and other features include a neolithic rock shelter, Lake Kaulime, waterfalls, and opportunities of mountain biking, horse riding safaris and trekking. The park is also home to around 400 bird species.

Chikwina:

Chikwina is a village situated on the shore of Lake Malawi, where visitors can enjoy the beauties many white sandy beaches and also involve themselves in different water sport activities. Chikwina is located not more than 50 km away from Mzuzu.

Entertainment centres in Mzuzu:

Mzuzu itself houses different entertainment centres of which most are housed within the hotels of the city. Entertainment centres at Key Lounge and Mzuzu Hotel are the major among them, attracting tourists from all around the country.

List of other places of interests in and around Mzuzu include:

Mzuzu University
Mzuzu Airport
Mzuzu Central Hospital
Likoma Island
St Peter’s Church
Chizumulu Island
Nkhata Bay
Chongoni Rock Art Area
Lake Malawi National Park
Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve
Lake Chilwa
Kaningina Forest Reserve
Nkotakhota Wildlife Reserve
Kasungu National Park
Liwonde National Park

Best time to visit Mzuzu:

Probably during the months between May and October is the ideal time to visit Mzuzu in Malawi while the weather in condition.

Accommodation Options in and around Mzuzu:

Hotels in Mzuzu have uniqueness, housing a wide range of entertainment centres within other than providing basic facilities and services. These features are highly admired by visitors coming to the city occasionally. Some prominent hotels in Mzuzu are listed below:

Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel
Mimosa Court Hotel
Ilala Crest Lodge
Flame Tree Guest House
Mzoozoozoo Lodge
Moni Lodge
Pine Tree B & B
CCAP William Koyi Guest House
Ilala Crest Lodge
Flame Tree Guest House
Mimosa Court Hotel
Njaya Lodge
Aqua Africa

Monkey Bay Tourist Places to Visit in Monkey Bay, Mangochi, Malawi, South Africa, Africa

Monkey Bay Tourist Places to Visit in Monkey Bay, Mangochi, Malawi, South Africa, Africa

Monkey Bay is a town situated in the Mangochi District in the Southern Region of the southeastern African country, Malawi, around 200 km east of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. It is one of the top tourist destinations of Malawi, manly noted for its spectacular beaches on the shore of Lake Malawi, which are famous all around the country. Monkey Bay has facilities of an internet café, a police station, a supermarket and a hospital. The geographical coordinates of Monkey Bay are 14°05′00″ S 34°55′00″ E and its elevation measures 500 meters.

History of Monkey Bay:

Before coming under the British rule, Monkey Bay had seen the rule of the Muslim Yao chief, Mponda, until the end of the 19^th century. Monkey Bay also saw the death of the first Bishop of Likoma, Chauncy Maples, who drowned in Lake Malawi in the vicinity of Monkey Bay.

Connectivity to Monkey Bay:

The Lilongwe International Airport is the Malawian’s important airport and the major closest airport to Monkey Bay, situated around 210 km away from the midpoint of the town of Monkey Bay. This airport covers Addis Ababa, Lusaka, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Blantyre, Likoma, Mfuwe, Lusaka, Harare and many other African destinations.

The bus connection of Monkey Bay is expanded to all the prime cities and towns of Malawi, including the national capital, Lilongwe and Blantyre.

Shopping and Food in Monkey Bay:

Monkey Bay houses a supermarket, a traditional market and many other smaller shops. The town is also home to an internet café, food corners with both local and international dishes but there is no bank or ATM in Monkey Bay, for which visitors are needed to reach Mangochi, which is around 60 km away from Monkey Bay.

Things to do in Monkey Bay:

Boat cruising
Kayaking
Diving
Snorkeling

Tourist Attractions in Monkey Bay:

Beaches in Monkey Bay:

The beaches of Monkey Bay are considered as one of the best of Malawi that are highly admired by overseas tourists for tidiness and pleasant environment. There are also many diving schools in Monkey Bay.

Cape Maclear:

The Cape Maclear is the busiest resort in Malawi on the shore of Lake Malawi. It is situated around 18 km northwest of Monkey Bay, offering wide range of outdoor activities like snorkeling, hiking, boat cruises, kayaking, and diving. Bars, restaurants, and lodges are plenty in number in Cape Maclear.

Lake Malawi National Park:

The Lake Malawi National Park is UNESCO designated World Heritage Site, covering an area of 94 km². It was established to protect fish and aquatic habitats in the year 1980. Population of baboons, a huge baobab tree and many small islands are its highlights.

Mangochi:

Mangochi is a tourist favor town, situated around 60 km southeast of Monkey Bay, housing Lake Malawi Museum, Clock Tower, Shire Bridge and many other winsome manmade and natural tourist attractions.

Other attractive places near Monkey Bay include:

Religious sites in Mangochi
Shire Bridge in Mangochi
Lake Malawi Museum
Chichiri Shopping Center
Chichiri Museum
Lengwe National Park
Mandala House
Mount Mulanje
Chifundo Artisan’s Network Art Studio Shop
The Way of the Cross
Liwonde National Park
St Michael and All Angels Church

Ideal time to visit Monkey Bay:

The pleasant weather of Monkey Bay makes it as a year round destination, although to experience the best of Monkey Bay’s beaches, visitors can choose any month between May and October.

Where to stay in Monkey Bay?

Monkey Bay is a colorful town housing many standard hotels with upgraded facilities providing healthy and memorable hospitality service to visitors coming to the town from different regions of Africa. Also it is advised for visitors to keep some local currency in pocket as some hotels in Monkey Bay don’t accept cards. Some nice hotels in and around Monkey Bay are given below:

Villa Tafika Lodge
Alcon Cottages
Monkey Bay Mufasa Backpacker Lodges
Sun n Sand Holiday Resort
Sunbird Nkopola Lodge
The Makokola Retreat
Twin Towers Lodge
Nyanja Eco Lodges
Mpale Cultural Village
Palm Beach Leisure Resort
Namizimu Forest Retreat
Boadzulu Holiday Resort
Nanchengwa Lodge

Tourist Places to Visit in Mangochi, Malawi, South Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Mangochi, Malawi, South Africa, Africa

Mangochi is a resort town situated on the shoreline of the Lake Malawi in the Southern Region of Malawi, lying around 470 meters above sea level. It is relatively an upgraded town, situated around 180 km north of the country’s 2^nd largest city, Blantyre and 250 km southwest of Lilongwe, the capital and largest city of Malawi. Due to its position on the shore of the Lake Malawi, Mangochi gains lot from it, mainly tourists from the different regions of the country.

Mangochi is home to many marine-engineering shops, shops, supermarkets and banks. Mangochi coordinates with 14°27′36″ S latitude and 35°16′12″ E longitude, experiencing a tropical savanna climate.

History of Mangochi:

Mangochi originated as a British colonial defense post in the 1890s, was established by colonial administrator Sir Harry Johnston. Fort Johnston was the former name of Mangochi, which emerged as a slave market and administrative center during the British rule. Mangochi was also the site of the establishment of the British gunboat Gwendolen in 1897.

Getting Mangochi:

The Chileka International Airport is the closest airport to Mangochi, situated around 180 km away. This airport operates flights from and to Johannesburg, Beira, Harare, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Tete and Nairobi.

Mangochi has good connectivity by bus to all the major cities of the country like Liwonde, Zomba, and Blantyre.

The local transportation of Mangochi is served by minibuses and rental cars and bikes.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Mangochi:

Yao people dominate the population of Mangochi and have their own dialect. The Lake Malawi Museum is the major cultural centre in Mangochi.

Mangochi houses many supermarkets and dozens of grocery and cloth shops. Sun ‘n Sand Resort Restaurant is one of the reputed food corners in Mangochi, giving full values for visitors’ money.

Things to do in Mangochi:

Shopping
Hiking
Day tours

Tourist Attractions in Mangochi:

Lake Malawi Museum:

The Lake Malawi Museum is popular museum in the region housing a wide range of items showcasing the environmental, historical an ethnical features of Mangochi. The highlights include Hotchkiss gun, model of the Guendolin gunboat and marine steam engine.

Clock Tower:

Clock Tower in Mangochi was constructed in the early 20th century in the honor of Queen Victoria during the British rule in Malawi. It is now one of the major landmarks as well as tourist attractions of Mangochi.

Shire Bridge:

The Shire Bridge is a scenic manmade attraction, drawing tourists for its grand constriction and nature enthusiasts who like to enjoy sightseeing.

Religious sites in Mangochi:

Mangochi houses a large mosque and Catholic Cathedral and both of these are famous among both visitors and locals for nice constructions and holiness.

Other attractive places in Mangochi and Blantyre (180 km) include:

Chichiri Shopping Center
Chichiri Museum
St Michael and All Angels Church
Mandala House
Mount Mulanje
Chifundo Artisan’s Network Art Studio Shop
Lengwe National Park
The Way of the Cross
Liwonde National Park

When to visit Mangochi?

Probably from May to October is the best time to visit Mangochi while the weather remains dry.

Hotels in Mangochi:

Being a tourist destination, Mangochi boasts many accommodation centres, highly guesthouses and lodges of which most are upgraded providing different modernized facilities and services. The Nkopola Lodge is one of the recommended options, offering visitors swimming, fishing, and sailing activities. List of the famous hotels in Mangochi are listed below:

Sun n Sand Holiday Resort
Sunbird Nkopola Lodge
The Makokola Retreat
Palm Beach Leisure Resort
Namizimu Forest Retreat
Boadzulu Holiday Resort
Nanchengwa Lodge
Twin Towers Lodge
Nyanja Eco Lodges
Mpale Cultural Village
Villa Tafika Lodge
Alcon Cottages
Monkey Bay Mufasa Backpacker Lodges

Lilongwe Tourist Places to Visit in Malawi, North Africa, Africa

Lilongwe Tourist Places to Visit in Lilongwe, Malawi, North Africa, Africa

Lilongwe is the capital city of Malawi situated in the heart of the country, between 13°59′ S latitude and 33°47′ E longitude, around 350 km northwest of the commercial capital of the country, Blantyre. Lilongwe holds the highest population among other cities in Malawi, crossing 978,800 of the 2014 census. Lilongwe lies on plateau at an elevation of 1,050 meters and experiences a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and warm summers.

Lilongwe is home to one of the colleges belonging to the University of Malawi. When comes to tourism, Lilongwe houses many manmade attractions like the Parliament Building, Lilongwe Play Centre and Discorium.

History of Lilongwe:

Until becoming the British colonial administrative centre during the British rule in Malawi in the early 20th century, Lilongwe had a status of small fishing village from long very period. Following the independence of Malawi, the capital was shifted to Zomba in 1964 and Lilongwe regained capital status in 1974 with the decision of Hastings Banda.

How to reach Lilongwe?

Lilongwe is served by the Lilongwe International Airport, which is situated around 20 km away from the midpoint of the Lilongwe city. The airport is catered by Ulendo Airlink, South African Airways, Proflight Zambia, Malawian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines with scheduled flights from Blantyre, Likoma, Mfuwe, Johannesburg, Lusaka, Beira, Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lusaka, Maputo, Tete, Nairobi and Addis Ababa.

By bus, Lilongwe has link with the international destinations like Lusaka, Dar es Salaam, Harare and Johannesburg.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Lilongwe:

Lilongwe is city with people belonging to different communities and also houses some European population, mainly from Britain.

Here are typical shopping options in Lilongwe:

Old Town Mall
Gems and Jewellery Lanka
Crossroads Complex

Apart from traditional food corners, Lilongwe hosts several international chain food corners that are centered in downtown Lilongwe and in Old Town Mall. Some of them are as follows:

Korea Garden Lodge
Bohemia Cafe
Chilli Peppers
Four Seasons

Things to do in Lilongwe:

Vision gaming
Golfing
Shopping
City tours

Tourist Attractions in Lilongwe:

Wild Life Centre:

Wild Life Centre in Lilongwe is a reserve for orphaned and rescued animals that are brought from the different regions of the country. The sanctuary is home to both permanent and rehabilitated wild life, of which highlights are leopard and lions.

Parliament Building:

The Parliament Building of Malawi is situated at Presidential Way in Lilongwe, constructed by Chinese company. Both interior and exterior designs of the building are great to see, showcasing the quality work of Chinese architects.

Kumbali Cultural Centre:

The Kumbali Cultural Centre was constructed to display the cultural features of the Malawian people to visitors. Traditional Malawian drumming, dancing, music and dinner are highlights here.

Lilongwe Golf Club:

The Lilongwe Golf Club is one of the landmarks of Lilongwe, featuring 18 hole course and is cheaper comparing western prices. It is also an ideal place for beginners.

Old Town Mall:

The Old Town Mall is the most famous shopping centre in Lilongwe, housing two art and craft galleries, Italian Restaurant, Serendipity Café, DVD shop and different entertainment centres.

Other attractive places in Lilongwe include:

Crossroads Complex
University of Malawi
Lilongwe Play Centre
Discorium
Gems and Jewellery Lanka
Kumbali Cultural Village

Ideal time to visit Lilongwe:

Visitors can choose any of the months between May and August to visit Lilongwe to make tour memorable.

Where to stay in Lilongwe:

Lilongwe is a city for all types of tourists as housing a wide range accommodation options such as hotels, campsites, lodges and guesthouses with different amenities. Luxury hotels in Lilongwe charge around US$120 per night for single. The major hotels in Lilongwe in Malawi are listed below: