Lilongwe
Visitors arriving here are surprised at the gracious space and sweep of this city, created during the time of the first President of Malawi, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda. The streets are wide and tree-lined, the buildings tall and the gardens very beautiful. Founded in 1906 on the banks of the Lilongwe River, it aims to be - and is - a new kind of city in Africa. The city centre has some shops and restaurants, but very soon dissolves into leafy suburbs, and there is little of the noisy street trading found in other Malawian towns.

Visitors will be comfortable here, and rested. The climate is mild. The crime rate is lower than else-where in Africa and the shaded streets a pleasure to stroll in. Le Meridien Capital Hotel, and the Sunbird Lilongwe Hotel are laid-back and very comfortable. There are less expensive options including the newly re-opened Imperial Hotel, Lingadzi Inn, Capital City Motel, Hueglin's Guesthouse and Annie's Lodge. There are several good to excellent restaurants around town and some real budget places both to eat and stay.

Lilongwe is well positioned for both short and long excursions. Dedza, Kasungu, Salima and Ntcheu are easily accessible for weekends and there is a forest reserve with excellent birding opportunities at the city's own Nature Sanctuary between the old and the new town. Also within reach, but requiring a bit more effort, are South Luangwa National Park in Zambia and Tuma and Dzalanyama Forest Reserves or Bunda Mountain and dam.

Mzuzu
A likeable little town, Mzuzu is a fast-growing administrative centre that provides facilities not generally found throughout the sparsely populated Northern Region like banks and supermarkets in an otherwise deprived region. The Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel is a splendid base from which to explore the whole Northern region.