Lilongwe © Malawi Tourism

Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi and a very green city, to the extent that sometimes you wouldn't guess you were in a commercial hub for all the trees and grassy areas. Lilongwe is also quite a laid-back town, with social highlights revolving round visits to the local nursery, shopping in Old Town or a couple of drinks at the golf club. The city is divided into Old Town (to the South) and New Town (to the North), with the Lilongwe Nature Sanctury between the two. Lilongwe is very spread out so getting around can be a bit of a chore; you can get a taxi or experience an over-crowded minibus.