Malawi's capital city, Lilongwe, is a city of contrasts. The Old Town area is full of dirt roads and small huts that rests in the shadows of the high-rise hotels and towering shopping malls of the new city area. A nature sanctuary -- complete with lush greenery and a wildlife center -- separates the different parts of town, preserving some of the world-famous African wildlife in Lilongwe's surrounding countryside. City folks will find as much to enjoy as nature lovers among Lilongwe's varied attractions.
Founded in 2007, the Lilongwe Wildlife Center sits in the middle of the city's nearly 450-acre nature preserve on Kenyatta Road. Rescued animals from all over the world reside here, roaming freely in a designated natural area. When you go, don't expect a zoo. The animals aren't kept in cages, so you won't necessarily see any -- which makes spotting a baboon eyeing you from the bush or a python slithering out of sight all the more special when it does happen. With your entry fee, you get a guided tour of the center and a walk through the preserve, along with information on the history and mission of the organization. You can also walk about 4 miles of trails that run along the Lingadzi River and through the bush. The center is open during normal business hours during the week and until noon on Saturdays.
Tobacco is the heart of big business in Lilongwe, and you can feel its pulse from the viewing platform of the tobacco auction floors at the Auction Holdings Warehouse in northern Lilongwe. Surrounding the auction house are several huge processing plants. It's in an industrial area, so the best way to travel here is in a taxi. Auctions generally run from early spring to fall. After the auction, head over to the parliament building near the intersection of Kenyatta Road and Presidential Way to see where Malawian history is made. The interior lobby is multileveled, with an open-air center. White columns abound inside and at the facility's amphitheater.
Retail shopping is a part of everyday life in Lilongwe. Malls and markets run the gamut, from high-fashion boutiques in the Four Seasons Centre on Presidential Way to stalls offering traditional trinkets -- such as wood carvings and baskets -- in the craft market outside the Old Town post office. The main market, also in Old Town, is quite a bit larger than the craft market, and offers more varied bazaar shopping -- but beware of petty criminals lurking on darker side streets or operating in the middle of the market's large crowds. Try the smaller Old Town Mall for books and crafts, but go to the Lilongwe City Mall for sleek, modern shopping options.
An easy way to experience the traditional culture of Malawi without having to trek out into the bush is by staying at the Kumbali Cultural Village, a few miles northwest of Lilongwe's center. The vilage is near the Kumbali Country Lodge, which operates the facility. You can stay in a traditional Malawi mud hut or a wood-paneled one. Village cooking staff whip up Malawi favorites like mandazi -- fried dough with honey -- and many other local staples and international foods. A traditional band plays near the central fire pit at night. Don't opt for this lodging if you prefer to travel in luxury, though -- the huts don't have running water, and hot water for bathing is provided to you in a bucket. Bedding and a mosquito net are provided with huts.
