Day trips

The 6 Best Day Trips from Chipata

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 6 good day trips from Chipata, Zambia, led by Lilongwe, Kasungu, Katete. The closest is Mchinji, about 35 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Chipata at a glance

Destination	Distance	Drive time	Best as
Lilongwe	128 km E	2 hr	Full-day trip
Kasungu	112 km NE	1 hr 45 min	Full-day trip
Katete	77 km SW	1 hr 30 min	Full-day trip
Mchinji	31 km SE	35 min	Half-day trip
Sinda	115 km SW	1 hr 50 min	Full-day trip
Chadiza	53 km SW	1 hr	Half-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Chipata

1
Lilongwe, Malawi
Full-day trip
About 2 hr by car128 km east of Chipata4 hr round trip
Known for Lilongwe Wildlife Center.
Also nearby: Mponela, Chipeni, Dowa, Ntchisi.
2
Kasungu, Malawi
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-east of Chipata3 hr 30 min round trip
3
Katete, Zambia
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 30 min by car77 km south-west of Chipata3 hr round trip
4
Mchinji, Malawi
Half-day trip
About 35 min by car31 km south-east of Chipata1 hr 10 min round trip
5
Sinda, Zambia
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 50 min by car115 km south-west of Chipata3 hr 40 min round trip
6
Chadiza, Zambia
Half-day trip
About 1 hr by car53 km south-west of Chipata2 hr round trip

A sample day trip: Chipata to Lilongwe

A realistic pace for Lilongwe, 128 km from Chipata. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

07:30Leave Chipata
09:30Arrive in Lilongwe (2 hr drive)
09:45Lilongwe Wildlife Center
11:45Lunch
13:00Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Lilongwe
15:30Head back to Chipata
17:30Home in Chipata

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Chipata?: The best day trips from Chipata are Lilongwe, Kasungu, Katete, Mchinji, Sinda. The closest is Mchinji, about 35 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Chipata?: Mchinji is the closest, 31 km south-east of Chipata, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Chipata?: 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Chipata: Mchinji (35 min), Chadiza (1 hr).
What is the biggest city near Chipata for a day out?: Lilongwe is the largest city in day-trip range, 128 km east of Chipata and about 2 hr by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Chipata?: Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Lilongwe at 128 km, around 2 hr by car.

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