Sapitwa was done.
Lake Malawi National Park, we are there from the 6th November to the 8th. Its a done deal.
Hikers!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Hiking Big, Blazing Sapitwa!!!!! Here we are!
The ‘Hikers Alliance on 18th September 2009 made history when they saw themselves stepping at the apexof the highest peak in the Central Africa Sapitwa which is found at the magnificent Mulanje Mountain the 3rd largest Mountain in Africa.
Fourteen members arrived at Info Mulanje (Chitakale Trading Centre) at about 12:30 in the afternoon; there they had to spend almost an hour for some logistics and tips to the mountain. Emmie Suliwa who is working with the Info Mulanje could not hide her words to the group by stressing that the mountain is beautiful but it has some mysterious stories so there is need for the group to take care to arrive safely.
From Info Mulanje the Hikers had to spend another hour also at the Likhubula Forest Office for registration and sorting some of the important things to the mountain. We killed a lot of hours at the forest office because there were a lot of things to be cleared. At Exactly 3:10 pm we set up into the Forest of Mulanje Mountain using Sky line path. Slowly but sure the group had passion to reach the destination (Chisepo). Hours couldn’t be on side at about 6:00pm the hikers were at Chambe Basin. The sun say buy to us at the basin but with the courage the group had the journey couldn’t stop there but to walk on. The time the group depart the porters left behind and the time we were passing Chambe basin the porters lost the path and take a path to Chambe Hut. The tour guide had to make an effort to know the whereabouts of the group so he left the group in search of the porters. We agreed to meet at the junction to Chisepo. The tour guide takes an hour before he turns back and because of the darkness the group agreed not to walk on but to wait for the tour guide, indeed he made it and meet the group at the agreed place at about 8:00pm. There the communication was made that trip could not proceeded to Chisepo instead the group will slip at Chambe hut and proceed to Chisepo the next morning.
‘Guys we can not making it to Chisepo this time because it’s a long journey, we are have almost 3hrs to walk so we are sleeping at Chambe hut,' said the guide. The Hikers had to spend a night at Chambe hut. At exactly 6:10am the morning of Saturday (19/09/09) the group continued that tiresome journey to Chisepo hut. In the transit to Chisepo the group had to take pictures and also admire the forest of Cider tree which is also known as National tree. Honestly there was total commitment all the way to Chisepo Hut at around 8:37am every person put on a happy face when they saw that beautiful hut (Chisepo). ‘We are having thirty minutes here of rest and breakfast before start of to Sapitwa, said the tour guide’. Indeed the group had to keep time at exactly 9:05 the hikers were ready for that hectic and tiresome journey to Sapitwa. The weather was on the hikers’ side, sunny a bit hot. ‘We are now going to Sapitwa it’s a long distance and its hike and climb journey, communicated the guide. Remember to take a hot material because Sapitwa is cold always, he added. Every person was eager to see that highest peak so there was just a simple answer ‘we are making it’. Indeed it wasn’t all that simple for one to reach Sapitwa, games, laughter, singing, and all sorts of words had to be used to make the trip simple and fun. ‘Little had I known that its going to be difficult as this I could have left at Chisepo guys.’ Complained Patrick who is also commonly known as Digger by his fans. It was a 3002m hike from Chisepo. Journey to Sapitwa is very dangerous and easy for one to lose his life so the group had to walk in groups.
Noel Ntaba who find the journey so difficult because of the injury he was involved in could not forget his job of counting people every hour to making sure that every person is present. ‘Hey folks God is a real creator, look at these stones, said one of the girls Mandy, admiring the work of the Almighty father’. The group had to kill 5hrs to reach that Promised Land Sapitwa. Because of big and tall stones Noel and Patrick could not make it to the highest peak because of the injuries they were involved in, but still they made it because it was only 100m to the important place. The rest of the hikers step their foot at the top most place. Though they were told not to make a lot of noise the hikers couldn’t hide their happiness by producing jovial sound showing their achievement. There were tears of happiness, hugs, hand shakes and every sign that can display happiness. This place is too windy; no it’s beautiful, no! No! No! Even those people in Mzuzu are seeing as, choruses those happy people who labeled themselves HIKERS. Mandy couldn’t do otherwise but to advise his fellow friends to pray to the Almighty Father for the great job He has showed them to reach Sapitwa.
Kondwani Chamwala who is the president for the group who failed to make it because of some commitment was with the group in mind. He phoned one of the group members to find out the whereabouts, everyone shouted Sapitwa! Sapitwa! Sapitwa.
Pictures were taken to an extent of deleting the old pictures from the cameras with an aim of having the unique ones at the highest peak. To add source to already cooked food the hikers had to see a picture of the lost white man (Bushman) who got lost in the Mountain some two months ago. Every person wanted to have a picture with him. Hikers spent at least 15 minutes before start descending. The way down which was started at about 14:20pm wasn’t all that simple especially to people like Noel, Patrick and Ndagha who were involved in injuries and sickness respectively. Brethren, Raster man, Empress were some of the words used to make the descending process a bit simpler. At about 17:00 the hikers were at their dwelling place (Chisepo Hut).
One of the newly joined member who in is life just visited Bunda Mountain Angelina Tsinga could not hide his happiness that he has put a foot at Sapitwa. She had intention of joining the Hikers group until one of the group members forced her to do so. ‘I am not regretting to be in this group, the group is full of fun and I am an achiever, lamented Angelina who is in her 3rd year at Polytechnic doing Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
Mandy Pondani was the girl of the day who looked very strong though walked that long journey. ‘This is my second time to visit Mulanje Mountain, my first time I visited CCAP hut and I was just told that there is Sapitwa and I wanted one day to step on it. Now that I have seen Sapitwa and step my foot on it I have finished Mulanje mountain, she said calmly.’ Apart from Mulanje Mountain Mandy visited Zomba and Michiru Mountain and Nyika.
The morning of 20th September 2009, the hikers set off and say by to Mulanje Mountain at about 8:10am. The journey back was just but full of memories of Sapitwa. At Chambe Plateau Hikers changed the route and followed Chapaluka. They had a pass by visit to Dziwe la Nkhalamba falls before reached at Likhubula CCAP House at around 15hrs.
Many thanks to Man Kocha and leader of the delegate Madam Lydia for the effort and to the group big up folks!!!!! Get ready for SAPITWA I DID IT T-shirts 19.09.09
LONG LIVE HIKERS!!!!!
Friday, February 6, 2009
hikers magazine is calling
as the members are busy enjoying the holiday blues, be reminded that hikers alliance is to produce a colour magazine in due course. send your stories to kchamwala@yahoo.com
Thursday, December 18, 2008
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Hikers Alliance would like to thank all members and participants of the 2008 trips to various tourism destinations.
We hereby announce that according to the survey among the members, THE TRIP TO THE MALAWI'S ISLAND IN THE SKY, (MOUNT MULANJE) has been voted as the trip of the year. In case you missed it, next time be number one to join.
Looking forward to another exciting moments in 2009.
ALL THE BEST DURING THIS FESTIVE SEASON.
We hereby announce that according to the survey among the members, THE TRIP TO THE MALAWI'S ISLAND IN THE SKY, (MOUNT MULANJE) has been voted as the trip of the year. In case you missed it, next time be number one to join.
Looking forward to another exciting moments in 2009.
ALL THE BEST DURING THIS FESTIVE SEASON.
End of Semester
We have finally closed the semester. Those who missed the HIKERS BIG PARTY at the Poly Square Gardens, zawoooooooooo!
It's not over until.....
Next semester is another year with big and coloured dreams.
Hikers Alliance is planning to visit one of the largest National Park and Plateau, NYIKA.
It seems a mere dream but members are optimistic to be there before the end of the first month of the first semester next year.
Keep your eye on this blog to find how much you can pay to be part of this much awaited trip.
VIVA HIKERS!
Once a hiker, alwayz ONE.
It's not over until.....
Next semester is another year with big and coloured dreams.
Hikers Alliance is planning to visit one of the largest National Park and Plateau, NYIKA.
It seems a mere dream but members are optimistic to be there before the end of the first month of the first semester next year.
Keep your eye on this blog to find how much you can pay to be part of this much awaited trip.
VIVA HIKERS!
Once a hiker, alwayz ONE.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Done but ....
The much awaited last trip of the semester to Zomba plateau finally took place on 16th November 2008. Hikers went as far as Mulunguzi Dam, Chagwa dam, Queens View, Emperors' View and had a final rest at Kuchawe Inn.
Due to excitement and other internal factors the trip was incomplete. The much awaited and historical Chingwe's holes could not be reached. Time was not on our side.
Coming back is a must, may before the end of the semester or before trip to Nyika National Park next semester.
NYIKA IS WAITING!
Due to excitement and other internal factors the trip was incomplete. The much awaited and historical Chingwe's holes could not be reached. Time was not on our side.
Coming back is a must, may before the end of the semester or before trip to Nyika National Park next semester.
NYIKA IS WAITING!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Poly Storms Mount Mulanje
Many adventurous stories have been told about the fun that one finds on Mulanje Mountain. Unfortunately, most of these adventures have been undertaken by foreigners, mostly Westerners. So when a grouping of Malawi Polytechnic students, calling themselves Hikers Alliance, decided to take a break from the library and hike on mount Mulanje, the members did not know how much fun, adventure and memory making that was awaiting them atop the Mulanje massif.
The fifteen group comprised of Gibson, Henry, Lydia, Annie, Johali, Eve, Kondwani, Madalitso, Mandie, Grey, Isaac, Ndagha, Gloria, Richard and Nesta
We departed the school campus on Friday at around 1200 hours, heading for a three day hiking adventure on Malawi’s Island in the Sky. By 1500 hours, we were ready to start climbing from our base, the Likhubula Forest lodge. We started the ascending, knowing that we would arrive at our final destination, Hopes Rest Cottage, in six hours time. Whew.
Slowly but surely, we were on our way up the mountain of mysteries. Everybody in the group was highly excited with the adventure. However, just after passing the first stream, that was also the first slope, everybody could not hide it, but sit down to catch a breath. Resting at least three times in an hour, we took the pace of the slowest climber amongst our group. This is the rule when hiking Mount Mulanje.
To the surprise of the whole group, our tour guide, Kondwani Chamwala who is also a student at the college himself never sat down whenever we rested. He told us he would sit down when we are half way to our destination. At last, he sat down with us at a place called pa ma Caves.
I guess the name was derived from the caves that are at this place. That was when darkness fell…halfway our journey. Utilizing the torches we were provided, we slowly climbed, run out of water, and refilled our bottles at a river called Namunyemunye.
After what seemed like eternity, we heard voices from a distant Laughing; our guide told us the voices were from our porters, who overtook us at Namunyemunye, chatting with the guard of the cottage. Finally, we were there, after a climbing of five hours and thirty minutes.
We took our bath from the warm water the guard had prepared for us, then we prepared our ‘supper’ before going to sleep.
Saturday morning. Everybody was up 0800 hours, despite a tiresome climbing the previous day and night. A pleasant surprised us all. Having arrived at night, nobody knew how beautiful the cottage and its entire surrounding was. It was a natural phenomena.
The house is said to be built in the late 1880’s by missionaries as a resting place when they climb. We were amazed when told that we woke up above 2000 meters above sea level. That morning, we prepared our braii meat as we were scheduled to take a tour of the plateau that is called Lichenya plateau, on which we were on.
Saturday afternoon. Having being nearer to the sun, the plateau was hot. We left for………….peak and the beautiful Linje natural pools.
It was a refreshing sight we found at the peak. We had an aerial view of Mulanje, with tea plantation estates in a scenic view that included the M1 road up to somewhere in Luchenza. We lucky enough we were that when the day suddenly became cloudy, we found ourselves in an island, above the cloud. Literally, the clouds were beneath us that we could no longer see the aerial view, but being above clouds.
Then came the refrigerator cool Linje natural pools. The water in the pools are crystal clear that one might even drink without problems. We swam, admired nature, swam and ten sun bathed.
Back at the cottage, in the evening we had our braii. Under a cloudless sky, we chatted till we lost track of time and retired to bed, to prepare for our descending the next day.
By 0900 hours on Sunday morning, we had our prayer, and the journey back to the world began. Using the same root, we also refilled our bottles at Namunyemunye River, whose waters we discover were also crystal and unpolluted, just like at Linje pools.
Further down, we detoured to have a final swim at the famous DziweLa Nkhalamba Pools. At the more-than-sixty-meters-deep pools, we found a group Western tourist.
These pools, with a history themselves, provider tourists with a refreshing swim with its cold waters. The pools also provide a platform for diving, as they have a natural diving platform that is at least ten meters high.
After close to six hours of descending the famous mountain, we had a finger licking good lunch at the Likhubula Guest House before our driver came to pick us up, back to the polluted world.
All members of the Hikers Alliance agreed that it was a rare opportunity to hike the Maulanje massif. It has been agreed that the Alliance will be back to Mulanje mountain, this time nothing less than Sapitwa.
All members have their own experiences on the mountain jolted down on http://www.hikersalliance.blogspot.com and the group is found at hikersalliance@imapmail.org
The fifteen group comprised of Gibson, Henry, Lydia, Annie, Johali, Eve, Kondwani, Madalitso, Mandie, Grey, Isaac, Ndagha, Gloria, Richard and Nesta
We departed the school campus on Friday at around 1200 hours, heading for a three day hiking adventure on Malawi’s Island in the Sky. By 1500 hours, we were ready to start climbing from our base, the Likhubula Forest lodge. We started the ascending, knowing that we would arrive at our final destination, Hopes Rest Cottage, in six hours time. Whew.
Slowly but surely, we were on our way up the mountain of mysteries. Everybody in the group was highly excited with the adventure. However, just after passing the first stream, that was also the first slope, everybody could not hide it, but sit down to catch a breath. Resting at least three times in an hour, we took the pace of the slowest climber amongst our group. This is the rule when hiking Mount Mulanje.
To the surprise of the whole group, our tour guide, Kondwani Chamwala who is also a student at the college himself never sat down whenever we rested. He told us he would sit down when we are half way to our destination. At last, he sat down with us at a place called pa ma Caves.
I guess the name was derived from the caves that are at this place. That was when darkness fell…halfway our journey. Utilizing the torches we were provided, we slowly climbed, run out of water, and refilled our bottles at a river called Namunyemunye.
After what seemed like eternity, we heard voices from a distant Laughing; our guide told us the voices were from our porters, who overtook us at Namunyemunye, chatting with the guard of the cottage. Finally, we were there, after a climbing of five hours and thirty minutes.
We took our bath from the warm water the guard had prepared for us, then we prepared our ‘supper’ before going to sleep.
Saturday morning. Everybody was up 0800 hours, despite a tiresome climbing the previous day and night. A pleasant surprised us all. Having arrived at night, nobody knew how beautiful the cottage and its entire surrounding was. It was a natural phenomena.
The house is said to be built in the late 1880’s by missionaries as a resting place when they climb. We were amazed when told that we woke up above 2000 meters above sea level. That morning, we prepared our braii meat as we were scheduled to take a tour of the plateau that is called Lichenya plateau, on which we were on.
Saturday afternoon. Having being nearer to the sun, the plateau was hot. We left for………….peak and the beautiful Linje natural pools.
It was a refreshing sight we found at the peak. We had an aerial view of Mulanje, with tea plantation estates in a scenic view that included the M1 road up to somewhere in Luchenza. We lucky enough we were that when the day suddenly became cloudy, we found ourselves in an island, above the cloud. Literally, the clouds were beneath us that we could no longer see the aerial view, but being above clouds.
Then came the refrigerator cool Linje natural pools. The water in the pools are crystal clear that one might even drink without problems. We swam, admired nature, swam and ten sun bathed.
Back at the cottage, in the evening we had our braii. Under a cloudless sky, we chatted till we lost track of time and retired to bed, to prepare for our descending the next day.
By 0900 hours on Sunday morning, we had our prayer, and the journey back to the world began. Using the same root, we also refilled our bottles at Namunyemunye River, whose waters we discover were also crystal and unpolluted, just like at Linje pools.
Further down, we detoured to have a final swim at the famous DziweLa Nkhalamba Pools. At the more-than-sixty-meters-deep pools, we found a group Western tourist.
These pools, with a history themselves, provider tourists with a refreshing swim with its cold waters. The pools also provide a platform for diving, as they have a natural diving platform that is at least ten meters high.
After close to six hours of descending the famous mountain, we had a finger licking good lunch at the Likhubula Guest House before our driver came to pick us up, back to the polluted world.
All members of the Hikers Alliance agreed that it was a rare opportunity to hike the Maulanje massif. It has been agreed that the Alliance will be back to Mulanje mountain, this time nothing less than Sapitwa.
All members have their own experiences on the mountain jolted down on http://www.hikersalliance.blogspot.com and the group is found at hikersalliance@imapmail.org
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