Chipata: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Chipata is a city of 327,059 people in Zambia (Eastern Province), 1,147 m (3,763 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Mfuwe International Airport (MFU), 88 km (55 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Chipata runs from about 11 h 22 min a day in late June to 12 h 58 min in late December (computed for -13.63° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Chipata is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Mfuwe International Airport (MFU), 88 km (55 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,349 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Flights to Chipata: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Chipata · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Lilongwe, 128 km (Malawi)
- Blantyre, 349 km (Malawi) — flights
- Tete, 298 km (Mozambique)
- Lichinga, 282 km (Mozambique)
- Mzuzu, 283 km (Malawi)
- Mandimba, 333 km (Mozambique)
- Zomba, 347 km (Malawi)
Common questions
Which airport serves Chipata?
Mfuwe International Airport (MFU), 88 km (55 mi) from the centre.
How big is Chipata?
About 327,059 people live in Chipata (GeoNames).
What time zone is Chipata in?
Africa/Lusaka, currently UTC+2.
What currency is used in Chipata?
The Kwacha (ZMW). Traffic drives on the left.
Which cities are near Chipata?
Lilongwe (128 km), Blantyre (349 km), Tete (298 km), Lichinga (282 km), Mzuzu (283 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.