The 6 Best Day Trips from Chipata
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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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.
Built from 6 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Chipata
- 1
Lilongwe, Malawi
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km east of ChipataKnown for Lilongwe Wildlife Center.
- 2
Kasungu, Malawi
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-east of Chipata - 3
Katete, Zambia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car77 km south-west of Chipata - 4
Mchinji, Malawi
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car31 km south-east of Chipata - 5
Sinda, Zambia
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car115 km south-west of Chipata - 6
Chadiza, Zambia
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car53 km south-west of Chipata
A sample day: Chipata to Lilongwe
- 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.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Chipata?
- For a weekend away from Chipata, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Lilongwe (128 km, 2 hr), Sinda (115 km, 1 hr 50 min), Kasungu (112 km, 1 hr 45 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- 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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