All activities / Trekking / Hiking / Mount Mulanje
Trekking / Hiking in Mount Mulanje
A granite massif rising from the tea estates of southern Malawi, ringed by peaks and gorges and topped by Sapitwa at 3,002 metres, the highest point in Central Africa. Trekked over two to four days with registered local guides from Likhubula.
Why here
Mount Mulanje rises straight out of the tea estates of southern Malawi as a single granite massif, its plateau ringed by peaks and cut by river gorges and clear rock pools. At its centre stands Sapitwa, 3,002 metres, the highest point in Central Africa and the goal of most treks. You climb through montane forest onto open grassland, sleep in simple stone huts scattered across the plateau, and reach the summit on a dawn scramble over boulders and slabs. Mist can close in fast, which is why every party climbs with a registered local guide. The reward is a wild, roadless highland of waterfalls, endemic Mulanje cedar and long views toward Mozambique.
Best months
The dry season from May to October is the trekking window, with cool, clear days and cold nights on the plateau, where temperatures can drop near freezing. The rains from December make the rock slick and the rivers dangerous to cross. Sapitwa is a non-technical but steep scramble; a two- to three-day itinerary allows for the altitude and the weather. Warm layers and a good sleeping bag are essential.
Getting there & around
Treks start from Likhubula, about an hour from Blantyre, where guides, porters and huts are booked and every climber registers at the Forestry Office before setting off. The plateau huts are basic, with mattresses and a fireplace but no power; porters carry food and bedding. Guides and porters are hired locally at set rates. Carry cash for fees and tips.
Skill levels: intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Mulanje Mountain Guides
GuideMulanje Mountain Guides is a Likhubula-based team led by head guide Wesley Nyazule, an accredited mountain guide, offering two- to four-day treks to Sapitwa, the 3,002-metre summit of the Mulanje massif. Trips include registered guides, porters, cooks and all hut and mountain fees, with parties overnighting in huts such as CCAP and Chisepo before the dawn climb to the peak. Registration at the Likhubula Forestry Office is required for every ascent.
Trek Mulanje
GuideTrek Mulanje is run by David Majeweta, a Malawian born at the foot of Mount Mulanje and registered as a tour guide by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Parks since 1997. The company uses only ministry-registered guides, among them Chipiliro Nedi, who has guided the massif since 2004. Alongside the Sapitwa summit trek it runs shorter walks to the Dziwe la Nkhalamba pools and the surrounding tea estates, all from its base at Likhubula.