21 days in Malawi & Lusaka Itinerary

The capital city of Malawi and its largest, Lilongwe serves as an important center of economy and transportation for the area.

Get out of town with these interesting Lilongwe side-trips: Chongoni Rock Art Area (in Dedza) and Kuti Wildlife Reserve (in Salima). There's lots more to do: stroll through Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, make a trip to Tindoz d'Afrique, appreciate the history behind World War I Memorial, and buy something for everyone on your list at Old Town Mall.

To find traveler tips, maps, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Lilongwe trip builder website.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Lilongwe is an approximately 20-hour flight. Traveling from Amsterdam to Lilongwe, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Wed) to allow enough time to fly to Likoma Island.

Located on the Mozambican side of Lake Malawi, Likoma Island holds plenty of allure with giant baobabs and sweeping views of the wild coast.

On the 27th (Thu), pause for some serene contemplation at St. Peter's Cathedral.

To see more things to do, where to stay, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Likoma Island trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Lilongwe to Likoma Island takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of car and ferry. On the 27th (Thu), you'll have the morning to explore before heading off to Lusaka.

Tourism in Lusaka, Zambia's commercial and government center, thrives mostly due to its central location and well-connected airport, making it a gateway for exploring the country's numerous nature reserves and national parks.

Change things up with a short trip to Munda Wanga Environmental Park in Chilanga (about 32 minutes away). Spend the 28th (Fri) in the pleasant surroundings of Chaminuka Game Reserve. There's still lots to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Lilayi Elephant Nursery, examine the collection at Zambia National Museum, browse the different shops at Arcades Shopping Mall, and take in the architecture and atmosphere at Cathedral of The Holy Cross Lusaka.

For other places to visit, ratings, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Lusaka holiday planner.

Traveling by flight from Likoma Island to Lusaka takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of car, bus, and shuttle. Cap off your sightseeing on the 4th (Fri) early enough to catch the flight to Mulanje.

Mulanje is a town in the Southern Region, Malawi close to the border of Mozambique. Kick off your visit on the 5th (Sat): take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Mount Mulanje.

To find maps, where to stay, and tourist information, read Mulanje vacation planner.

Getting from Lusaka to Mulanje by flight takes about 7 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of bus and car. In August, daytime highs in Mulanje are 31°C, while nighttime lows are 19°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sat) so you can drive to Zomba.

Zomba is a city in southern Malawi, in the Shire Highlands. Kick off your visit on the 6th (Sun): pause for some photo ops at King African Rifles Monument and then take an exotic tour of Shire Eco Safari Camp. On the next day, get outside with Zomba Plateau.

For maps, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Zomba online holiday builder.

You can drive from Mulanje to Zomba in 2 hours. In August in Zomba, expect temperatures between 31°C during the day and 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 7th (Mon) to allow time for the car ride to Chikwawa.

Chikwawa is a town with a population of approximately 12,000 located in the Southern Region of Malawi on the west bank of the Shire River. On the 8th (Tue), stroll through Majete Wildlife Reserve.

To see where to stay, more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, read Chikwawa travel itinerary planner.

You can drive from Zomba to Chikwawa in 2 hours. August in Chikwawa sees daily highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Tue) early enough to drive to Blantyre.

As Malawi's second-largest city, Blantyre represents the country's main commercial and industrial hub and boasts a dynamic array of food options.

Start off your visit on the 9th (Wed): relax and rejuvenate at Serendib Hair Day Spa, then look for gifts at Tiyamike Sewing, then get engrossed in the history at Chichiri Museum, and finally browse the different shops at Chichiri Shopping Centre. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: take in the architecture and atmosphere at St.Michael's and All Angels Church, take in the exciting artwork at La Caverna Art Gallery, get your bearings at The Society of Malawi Library, then hike along The Way of the Cross/ Njira ya Mtanda, and finally make a trip to Malawi Stock Exchange.

To see maps, ratings, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Blantyre online travel planner.

Traveling by car from Chikwawa to Blantyre takes 1.5 hours. In August, daily temperatures in Blantyre can reach 31°C, while at night they dip to 19°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Fri) to allow time to travel back home.