Mount Mulanje presents a paradise for avid hikers and at the same time, scares most people off due to its imposing look on a clear day. The novice hiker may shy away due to the look of Manga peak from the road, or indeed the scary looking Chilemba peak as seen from the Likhubula side.
If you have never been up Mount Mulanje and wonder what to start with, so you are safe and do not suffer the 'shame' of having bailed from a hike, then I got you covered with this blog. You will obviously need to be an active person; walking or running at least 3 times a week. For Blantyre residents, you need to be able to hike mountains like Michiru to get the minimum fitness levels required. For Lilongwe residents, Bunda mountain will do, as preparation.
Chambe Hut
Chambe Basin, for me, is a destination I consider as 'Mulanje For Beginners'. You can take a circular trail that starts from Likhubula and ends at Likhubula with one night spent on Chambe Plateau. Skyline path is a short but steep trail I recommend to use when going up. It starts gently until you cross a river and after that you face a 900m elevation steep climb to the top. This is a 3 hour trail which offers beautiful backdrop views of the Likhubula Valley. As you go up, you will see a cable that runs down from the plateau to the bottom (The Skyline) which was used to transport pines that were harvested from the plateau. For beginners, due to fitness levels, the trick is to start early so that you arrive at the hut in good time even if it takes you 5 hours.
View from Skyline Path
Chambe Plateau has two forest huts; France's Cottage and Chambe Hut and you can stay at either. According to Mountain Club of Malawi, France’s Cottage is an old forestry cottage renovated in 2005. The last residents were the France’s in the late 1940s, and Laurens van der Post (author of the book on Mulanje, Venture into the Interior) stayed here on his visit. Forester Freddie France accompanied him further and was washed away attempting to lead the crossing of a flooded Ruo River. Tragically, his body was never found.
France's Cottage
The cottage has two small bedrooms, one with two single beds and one with two sets of bunk beds. There is a small living room with an open cooking fireplace. It faces the east face of Chambe Peak and is situated within 200 metres of the Chambe mountain hut. The cottage accommodates 6 people in comfortable conditions as it is better furnished and equipped than the standard mountain huts. There is piped water to a back garden tap and one pit-latrine toilet. The cottage can be used by special arrangement.
Chambe Hut can take up to 16 people in its 2 large rooms. One of the rooms has a fireplace where occupants can cook and use to get away from the evening chill. The hut is probably the most popular due to its easy access.
Descending from Chambe Plateau is best done using the scenic and fairly shaded Chapaluka path. Though a little longer than Skyline, it offers stunning views and refreshing waterfalls.
One of the waterfalls on Chapaluka Path
This route also passes through the famous Dziwe La Nkhalamba pools and waterfalls; a nice picnic spot. For those that are good swimmers, its always lovely to take a dip here after your hike, before walking to Likhubula finish point; 45 minutes away.
What are you waiting for? Go take on 'The Island In The Sky!' Still curious? See the below video for more:
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