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Places to Visit in Blantyre, Malawi, Lilongwe, Southern Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Blantyre, Malawi, Lilongwe, Southern Africa, Africa

Blantyre is one of the prominent cities of the southern African country, Malawi, located around 360 km south-southeast of the country’s capital and largest city, Lilongwe. It is the administrative centre of Blantyre District and Southern Region of Malawi. Blantyre is considered as the commercial hub of Malawi, holding the headquarters of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, the Supreme Court of Malawi and the University of Malawi. When comes to tourism, Blantyre is famous for its historical structures like the Mandala House and St Michael and All Angels Church,.

Blantyre lies at an elevation of 1,039 meters, covering a total area of 228 sq. km and its geographical coordinates are 15°47′10″ S 35°0′21″ E.

History of Blantyre:

The history of Blantyre dates back to 1876 when it was originally founded with the same name assigned to a town in Scotland. Blantyre came under British consular in 1883 and two years after this, gained municipal status in 1895, which made Blantyre as the oldest municipality of Malawi.

Getting Blantyre:

Blantyre hosts an international airport, named Chileka International Airport, is located around 16 km away from centre of the city of Blantyre. This airport operates flights from and to Johannesburg, Beira, Harare, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Tete and Nairobi.

The bus transportation of Blantyre extends to all the major cities of Malawi, including the national capital, Lilongwe.

The local transportation of Blantyre is catered by buses, minibuses and rental cars.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Blantyre:

Blantyre is a colorful city, having rich cultural features, which are showcased by the cultural centres in the city like La Caverna Art Gallery and Museum of Malawi.

Chichiri Shopping Center is a famous modern shopping option in Blantyre while traditional, especially Indian shops can be found at downtown area of Blantyre.

Here are famous midrange restaurants in Blantyre:

Aub’s Steakhouse
Blue Savannah
Baba Delhi Darbar
Alem Ethiopian Restaurant

Things to do in Blantyre:

The Responsible Safari Company tours
Shopping
Visiting museums

Tourist Attractions in Blantyre:

Mandala House:

The Mandala House is one of the oldest structures of Blantyre, situated atop of hill. Currently it houses the La Caverna Art Gallery and café. The museum showcases a great collection of carvings and pictures displaying the local culture. It is open from 8:30am to 4:15pm (Monday – Friday).

St Michael and All Angels Church:

The St Michael and All Angels Church was constructed during the foundation of Blantyre, may be around 1876 and was designed by a Scottish missionary with the aid of natives. The church is still good condition, attracting both devotees and tourists.

Chichiri Museum:

The Chichiri Museum or Museum of Malawi is a renonwe museum Blantyre, exhibiting the importance of Blantyre’s culture and history. It is also one of the major landmarks of the city.

Chichiri Shopping Center:

The Chichiri Shopping Center is the largest mall of Blantyre, facilitating with a wide range of shopping, restaurant and entertainment options. There are also bank with ATM’s.

Other attractive places in Blantyre include:

Mount Mulanje
The Way of the Cross
Liwonde National Park
Chifundo Artisan’s Network Art Studio Shop
Lengwe National Park

When to visit Blantyre?

Blantyre features a humid subtropical-highland climate with dry season is from May to October (the best time to visit Blantyre) and rainy season from November to April.

Hotels in Blantyre:

Blantyre boasts around 30 upgraded accommodation centres hotels, vacation rentals, BB and inns of which most accept credit cards and offer advance booking facility through online for visitors’ convenience. Some top end hotels in Blantyre in Malawi are provided below:

Sunbird Mount Soche
Protea Hotel Ryalls
Hostellerie de France
Villa 33
Casa Mia Lodge & Restaurant
Leslie Lodge
Pedro’s Lodge
Mount Pleasant Inn
The Namiwawa Blantyre
Annie’s Lodge Blantyre
Studios de France
Top Lodge
Hotel Victoria
Malawi Sun Hotel & Conference Centre
Shire Highlands Hotel

Kololi Tourist Places to Visit in Gambia, Western Africa, Africa

Kololi Tourist Places to Visit in Gambia, Western Africa, Africa

Kololi is a tourist favor town in the Western Region of Gambia, lying on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean between 13°27′ N latitude and 16°43′ W longitudes. Adjoining Bijilo Forest, Kololi is one of the top tourist destinations of Gambia, drawing a large number of overseas tourists, mainly from Germany, The Netherlands, UK and Belgium.

Beaches are the focal point of Kololi’s tourism, well supported by resorts, cafes, restaurants and entertainment centres. Kololi is situated around 5 km west of the heart of Serrekunda, the largest city of Gambia and 16 km west of Banjul, the capital of Gambia.

How to reach Kololi?

Accessing Kololi from Banjul International Airport would not be a difficult task for visitors as there are regular buses plying between these two destinations except availing of airport taxis.

The airport is located around 20 km southeast of Kololi and operates flights from Lagos, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Conakry, Copenhagen, Oslo, Barcelona, Stockholm, Dakar, Madrid, Dakar and Freetown.

The bus network of Kololi extends to all the major Gambian cities, including the capital Banjul and Serekunda.

Food and Shopping in Kololi:

There are plenty of restaurant options in Kololi, of which the most are located on the short road named “The Strip”, which brings visitors to beach line and some of which are as follows:

Gaya Art Cafe
The Green Mamba Garden
Paradiso Bar & Restaurant
T.S. Bar & Restaurant

Other than beaches and restaurants, Kololi is also famous for shopping centres, which includes both modern and traditional options, including Senegambia Craft Market where items are little pricey but worth a price.

Things to do in Kololi:

Beach exploration
Shopping
Walking

Tourist Attractions in Kololi:

Beaches in Kololi:

Kololi is a town with many spectacular white sandy beaches with the opportunity of different water sport activities. The short road ‘The Strip’ leads visitors to beaches and on the way, visitors can find many restaurants and cafes on ‘The Strip’. Kololi’s beaches are mainly famous among tourists from UK, Belgium, Germany and Netherlands.

Senegambia Craft Market:

Located at Senegambia Junction, the Senegambia Craft Market houses a nice collection of African art and craft species. Prices are relatively expensive but worth a money.

Bijilo Forest Park:

The Bijilo Forest Park adjoins the southern part of Kololi where the Kololi Beach Club is located. This park was established in 1982 and is spread over an area of 51.3 hectares. One can generally see monkeys at the park.

Bakau:

Bakau is the most developed town of Gambia, situated around 6 km northeast of Kololi. The highlights of Bakau include the wonderful Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool, Beaches at Cape Point, Independence Stadium and Botanical gardens.

Other places of interest in and around Kololi include:

Tanjii Bird Reserve
TAF Brufut Gardens
Sanyang Beach
One For the Road Bar
Bakau Fish Market
Bakau Craft Market
Makasutu Culture Forest
Sheraton Gambia Resort
Kiang West National Park
Gambia River National Park
MacCarthy Island
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
Kunta Kinteh Island
Gambia National Museum

Ideal time to visit Kololi:

Undoubtedly between November and February is the best time to visit Kololi to explore its white sandy beaches.

Accommodation options in Kololi:

Being one of the top tourist destinations of Gambia, Kololi is packed with several different modern as well as traditional accommodation centers, including hotels, special lodges, BB and inns. The prominent hotels in Kololi are as follows:

Holiday Beach Club Hotel
Aparthotel Djeliba
Seaview Gardens Hotel
Kololi Beach Club
Coconut Residence
Palma Rima Hotel
Paradise Suites Hotel
Dandimayo
Sanchaba Yellow Apartments
Luigi’s Complex
Bamboo Garden Hotel
Villa Kololi Residence
Lavender Lodge
Jalangfara Guesthouse
Sky Guesthouse

Places to Visit in Farafenni, Gambia, Banjul, Northern Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Farafenni, Gambia, Banjul, Northern Africa, Africa

Farafenni is a town belonging to the North Bank Division of Gambia, housing a population around 30,000 people. Farafenni is located on the Trans-Gambia Highway, close to the Senegal border, around 120 km east of Banjul, the capital of Gambia. It is mainly noted as a commercial town, receiving its larger proportion of economy from its big market located near Farafenni Gamtel. Farafenni is also known for its large military base and recently constructed hospital. Farafenni is also called by two other names like Chakubanta and Faracity. Farafenni is home to many schools including a senior secondary school and two junior secondary schools.

Connectivity to Farafenni:

Farafenni is situated around 150 km west-southwest of the only airport of Gambia, the Banjul International Airport and this distance can be crossed by airport taxi or bus or more comfortably by a private transfer.

The highway S Bank Rd links Farafenni to many Western Gambian cities, including Banjul, Serekunda, and Bakau.

The local transportation of Farafenni is catered by buses and rental vehicles like cars and bikes. These options can also be used for airport travel and sightseeing purposes.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Farafenni:

Wolof is a widely spoken language in Farafenni and other languages communicated in Farafenni are Mandinka and Fula.

Farafenni Internet & Shopping Center is one of the famous shopping centres in Farafenni and the town also houses many modern food corners.

Things to do in Farafenni:

Hiking
Shopping at traditional market
Village tours

What to see in Farafenni?

Markets in Farafenni:

Markets are the highlights of Farafenni with a substantial amount of transaction taking place daily. The big and main market of Farafenni is located opposite of Farafenni Gamtel, where one can bag all types of locally produced items including handicraft products. Farafenni is also known for weekly market lumo.

Farafenni Mini Stadium:

The Farafenni Mini Stadium is one of the landmarks of Farafenni, generally used by athletics. It is situated at the outskirts of the town, in the vicinity of the lumo weekly market.

Gambia River:

The Gambia River flows through the middle of Gambia, around 6 km south of Farafenni. There is a village named Bamba Tenda, where visitors can enjoy boating, swimming and many other water sport activities. There can be accessed by bus or rental cars.

Kiang West National Park:

The Kiang West National Park is situated to the southwest of Farafenni, on the bank of Gambia River. With an area of 11,526 hectares, this park is the Gambia’s one of the largest wildlife reserves. It draws tourists mainly for bird-watching, for which Tubabkollon Point, in the proximity of a sandy beach, is an ideal spot. The road leading to park is not in good condition, so it is advised visitors to take a guided tour from the city for easy exploration. From November to January is the best time to visit the Kiang West National Park.

List of other places of interest in and around Farafenni includes:

Makasutu Culture Forest
Market in Brikama
Nyambai Forest Park
Sheraton Gambia Resort
Tanjii Bird Reserve
Sibis Garden Bar
Gambia River National Park
TAF Brufut Gardens
Kiang West National Park
MacCarthy Island
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
Kunta Kinteh Island
Kachikally Crocodile Pool
Abuko Nature Reserve
Gambia National Museum

When to visit Farafenni?

Throughout the year is best, especially the dry months between November and February are ideal to visit Farafenni in Gambia.

Where to stay in Farafenni?

Standard hotels are limited in Farafenni, so for more facilitated star rated hotels, one can consider the capital, Banjul or the country’s largest city Serekunda. The prominent hotels in Farafenni and Banjul (around 120 km) are as follows:

Papaya Residence
Sardinka Guest House
Oasis Relax Lodge
Bijilo Beach Hotel
Casa Carla Bijilo
Lemon Creek Hotel Resort
Baobab Holiday Resort
Coco Ocean Resort and Spa
Golden Beach Hotel
Adji’s Lodge
Kingfishers Apartments
Tranquil Holiday Resort
Keapar Mariam Lodge
Seafront Residence Hotel

Serekunda Tourist Places to Visit in Serekunda, Gambia, Banjul, Western Africa, Africa

Serekunda Tourist Places to Visit in Serekunda, Gambia, Banjul, Western Africa, Africa

Serekunda is the largest city of the Western African country, Gambia, situated around 13 km west of the national capital, Banjul. It is basically a market town and also known for wrestling events and the population of silk cotton trees. The major suburbs that form the city of Serekunda are Latrikunda, Sukuta, Kanifing and London Corner.

The name Serekunda literally means ‘the home of the Sere family’. There are many tourist destinations, especially seaside resorts like Bakau, Fajara and Kotu lying west of Serekunda. Serekunda is also recognized as a city with many historic mosques. Serekunda is geographically positioned between 13°26′ N latitude and 16°40′ W longitude.

How to reach Serekunda?

As like the rest of Gambia, Serekunda is also served by the Banjul International Airport with scheduled from Madrid, Dakar, Freetown, Lagos, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Conakry, Copenhagen, Oslo, Barcelona, Stockholm, Dakar and many other prime European and African cities. Tourists can use airport taxi or bus or pre-booked private transfer to cross the distance of around 18 km between the airport and the heart of Serekunda city.

By bus, Serekunda is connected to all the major cities of the country through roadway including the capital, Banjul and the country’s most famous tourist destination, Bakau.

Food and Shopping in Serekunda:

Serekunda is home to a well maintained traditional market, where all types of local specialties like baskets, wood carvings, jewels, fruits and vegetable can be purchased.

Apart from traditional features, to reach the taste of overseas tourists, Serekunda houses many upgraded restaurants with Italian and Asian menus like Gfc, Broadway Fast Food & Restaurant and Youth Monument Bar & Restaurant.

Things to do in Serekunda:

Watching wrestling matches
Traditional shopping
City tours

What to see in Serekunda?

Abuko Nature Reserve:

Abuko Nature Reserve is situated near Lamin village, around 6 km away from the heart of Serekunda. The reserve is rich in vegetation and also houses around 300 bird species as well as some monkeys and crocodiles. Visitors are allowed between 8AM and 6.30PM and admission fee is GMD 35.

Bijilo Forest Park:

The Bijilo Forest Park lies to the west of Serekunda on the beach line, covering a total area of 51.3 hectares. Established in 1982, the park is famous among both locals and international visitors, especially among nature and adventure sport lovers, for its dense vegetation and way to beaches.

Bakau:

Bakau is the most recognized tourist attraction of Gambia, holding a unique crocodile pool Bakau Kachikally, botanical gardens and pristine beaches with the opportunities of different water sport activities. It is to the north of Serekunda, accessible by bus or rental vehicle.

Fajara:

Fajara is a beach town with around 20 hotel complexes with both traditional and modern amenities. Beaches in Fajara are also well served by modern cafes and restaurants.

List of other places of interest in Serekunda includes:

Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool
Independence Stadium in Bakau
Beaches at Cape Point
Bakau Fish Market
Bakau Craft Market
Kiang West National Park
Gambia River National Park
MacCarthy Island
Makasutu Culture Forest
Tanjii Bird Reserve
Gambia National Museum
TAF Brufut Gardens
Sheraton Gambia Resort
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
Kunta Kinteh Island

When to visit Serekunda?

Visitors can choose any month between November and March to visit Serekunda in Gambia.

Where to stay in Serekunda?

Everyone can find accommodations and lodging to fit their needs in Serekunda including budget travelers, but booking hotels through online is recommended to avoid difficulty in getting hotels during peak season. The major hotels in Serekunda include: