Experience the best of Lilongwe

Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi, a spread-out city on the central plateau at about a thousand metres above sea level. It has two parts: the Old Town, with its markets, shops and bus stands, and the newer City Centre, with government buildings laid out in the 1970s, after the capital moved from Zomba in 1975.

The Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, a stretch of forest running between the two halves of the city, has walking trails among birds and monkeys, and a wildlife centre within it cares for rescued animals. The craft stalls and markets of the Old Town sell carvings, baskets and cloth. Lake Malawi is a few hours' drive east, and the Dzalanyama forest and Kasungu National Park lie to the south-west and north-west.

Nsima, a thick maize porridge, is eaten with a relish of beans, greens or fish, and chambo, a Lake Malawi fish, and kapenta, small dried lake sardines, are favourites. Roasted maize cobs are sold at roadsides. Nights turn cool in June and July, and the rains arrive in November.