Journey Impressions: Lilongwe

Lilongwe: approx. 0.67 m inhabitants (2009)
Malawi: approx. 14.8 m inhabitants
Population growth (2008): 2.8%
People per km²: 125
Gross national income per person in 2008 PPP: 830 USD


17.11.2010 Lilongwe: In Lilongwe we had little opportunity to soak up many impressions. We felt exhausted. Nevertheless, after we arrived in the hotel we tried to finish the tasks we had already begun. A tasty local beer improved our mood considerably. Afterwards, we agreed to meet for a meal in the hotel. The hotel made the necessary preparations, including the lighting of a fire in a huge fireplace, which sent smoke through the entire hotel!

We met in the restaurant again at 6 p.m. As we sat down in the garden, we could see that the fire was really raging now and a sort of barbecue had begun. After several enquiries regarding the food on offer and the chance of getting served, to our surprise we were offered a pizza cooked on a charcoal grille. We'd not eaten any pizzas in Africa so far. Both of us therefore ordered a so-called Full House Pizza - with every topping laid out on the tray! The pizza was the best thing we had had all day, absolutely delicious; both of us were very satisfied.

Most of the hotel's guests seemed to be American. Their conversation was often loud and they were discussing various business activities. But there were Africans at some tables. The service in the hotel impressed as once again. The way in which the staff moved in a quiet rhythm between the tables serving the guests was really quite remarkable.But we could feel the pressure of constantly getting up early starting to tell. It was therefore only 8.30 p.m. when we both retired to our rooms so that we could get enough sleep to be able to begin the next day fresh.

18.11.2010 Lilongwe: It was worth it because the next morning we really did feel better. After breakfast our driver took us to the airport. The journey did give us the chance to gather a number of impressions at last. Malawi is obviously a country of progress: well-made roads, good-looking buildings, colourful clothing on the people in the streets. What we saw did not give us the feeling of serious poverty.

  One particular thing we noticed on the way to the airport was a whole row of different factories owned by various investors: Chinese, American, British, Dutch and others. Malawi is clearly trying to attract foreign investors in order to stimulate the economy. Another aspect that caught our attention was the intensive and carefully tended agriculture in the small fields: carefully ploughed or planted areas separated by fruit trees bearing oranges or bananas, for instance.On our way to the airport we regretted somewhat that we had had no time to get to know Lilongwe and its goings-on. But as they say, 'You can't have everything' - and today we had to fly on to Livingstone.