Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
southeastern face of Chambe Peak (2557m), but if you fancy reaching the summit of this spectacular peak, from
Chambe Hut it will take you five to seven hours to get to the top and back. The ascent is stiff and the paths are
vague, so you may need a guide. About two to 2½ hours from the hut, you reach a large cairn on a broad, level
part of the ridge at the foot of the main face. You might be happy with reaching this point, which offers excellent
views over the Chambe Basin to the escarpment edge and the plains far below.
Chambe Hut to Chisepo Hut or Thuchila Hut
This route is 12km (five to six hours). About two hours from Chambe, you reach Chisepo Junction, where a path
leads up to the summit of Sapitwa Peak (3001m). You can hike to the summit of Sapitwa but it's a toughie and the
upper section involves some tricky scrambling among large boulders and dense vegetation. From Chisepo Junc-
tion you should allow three to five hours for the ascent, plus two to four for the descent. You can then either spend
the night at Chisepo Hut or push on through to either Chambe or Thuchila Hut. If you're short of time, you can do
a shorter loop by descending from Thuchila Hut to Lukulezi Mission, then hiking or catching a matola back to
Likhubula.
Thuchila Hut to Sombani Hut
This stage (12km, four to five hours) takes you across a small col and down into the Ruo Basin. About two hours
from Thuchila Hut, you reach Chinzama Hut, where you can stop if you want an easy day. The large mountain
directly opposite Sombani Hut is Namasile (2687m), which takes about three hours to ascend, plus two hours on
the descent. The path is steep and strenuous in places, spiralling round the northern side of the mountain to ap-
proach the summit from the west. A guide is recommended unless you're competent on vague paths in bad weath-
er.
Sombani Hut to Fort Lister Gap
This stage (5km, three hours) is all downhill, with great views over the surrounding plains. There are a lot of
forks, so a guide is useful to show you the way; otherwise, at every fork keep going down. For the last section you
follow a dirt track, past Fort Lister Forest Station, from where it's another 8km along the dirt road to Phalombe
village. There's little or no traffic, so you'll have to hike (about two hours), but it's pleasant enough. Most porters
include this stretch in the fee you pay for the final day.
From Phalombe there are one or two buses a day back to Likhubula or Mulanje (MK200, one hour) and there
should be plenty of matola (MK250).
Sleeping
BELOW THE MOUNTAIN
Likhubula Forest Lodge $$
Offline map
( 01-467737, 0999-220560; campsite per person US$6, s/d without bathroom incl
breakfast US$25/31, s/d incl breakfast US$31/37, whole lodge US$240; ) This faded
but lovely old colonial house has lots of character; a homey kitchen, five clean rooms
(two with their own bathrooms) and a communal lounge with rocking chairs, and a nightly
LODGE
 
 
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