After the Blantyre Marathon: Blantyre's Heritage Buildings

The Route: Hotel → Mandala House → St Michael and All Angels → Museum of Malawi → Lunch → Hotel Logistics: A hired driver or hotel taxi for the day. Distances inside the city are short but the roads are busy. Marathon Month: September Duration: Day trip

Hotel ──(car, 10 mins)──> Mandala House ──(car)──> St Michael and All Angels
                                                          │
Hotel ◄──(car)── Lunch ◄──(car)── Museum of Malawi ◄─────┘

Blantyre's marathon has run in late September in the most recent edition, with the finish at Kamuzu Stadium. The day after is for sitting down in old buildings.

September in Blantyre: this is the dry season, so mornings are cool and the days warm, with little rain. Blantyre sits above 1,000 metres, which keeps the afternoons from becoming oppressive. If your race falls in a different month, remember that the rains start returning around November and can make some roads slow.

Arrange a driver through your hotel for the day and agree the price before you set off. Foreign office advice for Malawi warns against poorly maintained minibuses and against driving at night, so a booked car is the sensible choice.

Mandala House

Mandala House dates from 1882 and was built by the African Lakes Company, a trading firm whose base in Blantyre shaped the town's early commerce. It now houses collections belonging to the Society of Malawi. The building is two storeys, so ask whether you can see the ground floor only if the stairs are a problem. Check opening hours with the Society before you go.

St Michael and All Angels

The church is one of the town's best-known historic buildings, associated with the Blantyre mission. Visit outside service times and dress modestly. Ask permission before taking photographs inside. The grounds are flat enough to walk slowly and there are benches.

Museum of Malawi

The museum lies between Blantyre and Limbe. It is a calmer, indoor way to spend an hour. Check opening times and admission with the museum before you go, as these change.

Lunch

Kabula Grill at Casa Mia on Kabula Hill Road serves pasta and grilled meats and lists opening hours from 07:00 to 22:00. Ryalls Restaurant at the Protea Hotel on Hannover Avenue serves lunch from 11:30 to 14:00. Book either in advance.

Getting Back