The largest urban area in Malawi, the conurbation of Blantyre-Limbe, is the country’s commercial capital. Now with a population in excess of half a million, this settlement has its origins with the Scottish missionaries from the time of David Livingstone. (It is named after Livingstone’s birthplace in Scotland.) Today it is unquestionably the centre of Malawi’s industry and commerce. Strictly two towns, Limbe and Blantyre form a continuous urban area yet retain their individualities and separate cores. Blantyre has the status and much of the administrative functions but Limbe is the more industrial.

The centre of Blantyre is conveniently compact with most of the services and shops around its triangular central core. This compactness belies the suburban sprawl reaching up towards the surrounding hills.

Blantyre has a number of historical buildings of interest. These include the original town hall (Old Boma) and Mandala House, built in 1882 as the headquarter of the African Lakes Company. It was Malawi's first two-storey building and is believed now to be the country's oldest house. Perhaps the most impressive is St Michael and All Angels church, built by men with no training in architecture, construction or even brick-making.

Visits can also be made to the Museum of Malawi and Carlsberg Brewery, which lie bewteen the two town centres, as well as the tobacco auction floors on the edge of Limbe. Both towns have a good range of shops, markets and services. Blantyre-Limbe has its own international airport at Chileka.

There is a choice of hotels but the two largest, which provide top-class accommodation are the Protea Hotel Ryalls and the Sunbird Mount Soche. Rooms are also available in smaller establishments such as Jambo House. Alternative lodge accommodation is offered by Fisherman's Rest, just a 20 minute drive to the south-west of Blantyre, overlooking the Lower Shire Valley. Leaving the city to the south quickly leads to the new Game Haven lodge, and on to Thyolo.