“My soul has been refilled with love, laughter and happiness, and that’s all by something you have created”
The Orbis Hiking Challenge
A 7 day expedition traversing Mulanje Mountain, Central Africa’s highest free standing mountain
2024 Dates Coming Soon…
Summary
The Orbis Hiking Expedition is every adventurers dream week away. Just you, your team, your rucksack and your local guide. No wi-fi, no power, no noise, no light polution- just nature. Mulanje Mountain is a remote region of Malawi, Africa and offers stunning mountain trails, wild peaks and basic mountain huts to spend the nights in. Traverse the plateau and take on 4 peak climbs including Sapitwa (3,002m). Cook your meals round the open fire and listen to your guides tell you stories of witchcraft and wizardry found on the mountain…
Highlights
Meeting your mountain guides at base camp.
First dip in the mountain waterfalls.
Stream jumping and building bridges.
First night around the campfire.
The incredible night sky and milkyway.
The silence and darkness of nights on Mulanje Mountain.
The smell of Mulanje Cedar on the trails.
Your well earned bucket shower- mountain style!
Purpose
The Orbis Hiking Challenge is a Sport with a Purpose expedition. Our Purpose for this years expedition is Mountain Conservation and we will be raising funds and awareness for two organisations promoting education and community action to combat doferestaion and degradation of Mulanje Mountain and Zomba Forest Reserve. We hope to raise £10,000 but more importantly we hope to show you the incredible work of these organisations and by hiking Mulanje you will understand all the more how vital it is to protect this stunning region of Africa.
What to expect from the mountain
For us the beauty of this region of Malawi is in it’s wildness. Your local guides know every inch of every trail even though there seems no set path- just a scramble of trails criss crossing rivers and rocky outcrops. Views stretching for miles down over the tundra with mountain huts strategically placed offering the adventurous the chance to conquer some of the Mulanje’s jagged peaks. The routes do not require ropes, but do require a mid-high level of fitness and poles are essential. Your guides are experts and have so much patience, they are also hugely knowledgeable and will become your very best friends as you negotiate the steeper trails and particularly the harder descents. Your overnight huts are very basic- simple wooden huts with beds often on mattresses on the floor. Toilets are long drop style and water for washing is heated over the fire and delivered through a bucket shower system.
Expedition Outline
Day 1: Arrive into Blantyre, Malawi
Day 2: Acclimatisation at base camp and meet your guides.
Day 3: Ascent to Plateau. 5-7 hrs (moderate). 1,000m elevation.
Day 4: 2hr dawn Chilema Peak climb (steep). 5hrs trek to Chisepo Hut (undulating).
Day 5: Sapitwa Peak Climb (steep, technical) Hike time 6hrs estimate.
Day 6: 7hr trek to Chinsama Hut taking in Nandalanda Peak on route.
Day 7: Gentle 6hr undulating route to Sombani Hut.
Day 8: Descent Day. 3hrs. Farewell Meal in Blantyre
Day 9: Depart or onward travel
The Peaks of Mulanje in Detail
Day 4: Chilemba Peak. 2,359m above sea level. 2 hrs Hiking Time. Undulating/Steep.
Day 5: Sapitwa Peak. 3,002m above sea level. 6hrs Hiking Time. Steep/Technical.
Day 6: Nandalanda Peak. 2,590m above sea level. 6 hrs Hiking Time. Scrambles/Mid Level
Day 7: Namisile Peak. 2,684m above sea level. 6 hrs Hiking Time. Scrambles/Mid Level
Please note Mulanje Peak climbs often include scrambling, boulders, uneven terrain and it is advisable to bring good walking poles and boots. No ropes needed.
Stay a little longer.
We want to show you every bit of this region of Africa because it is simply amazing! Let us know how many days you can add on and we can help you plan- take a local guide or pick up car and head off on a self drive adventure.
Wildlife Safari
We would recommend two add on nights at the beautiful Majete Wildlife Reserve. The reserve now has The Big Five and offers a combination of 4 x 4 game drives and river boat safaris. The lions are a highlight!
Lake Malawi
The Lake of Stars. Eco-Lodges for luxury retreat, back packers for some local action, kayaking adventures or scuba diving courses with the Cyclid Fish, the lake is an essential part of your Malawi to-do list. Our favourite place is Mumbo Island!
Purpose
Use your time in Malawi to Travel with a Purpose. Get involved with one of our linked communities, share your business skills with a Malawian entrepreneur or visit a local family on our village homestay air b n b scheme.
Adventure
We want you to see the whole country! And if you have the time then do head North. Northern Malawi is beautiful, wild, an adventurers paradise. National Parks, Plateaus, Lake shore and stunning rural communities. Explore by 4 x 4 self drive, guided or motorbike!
Further Information
Your Team
Joining you on your Orbis Hiking Challenge team will be a group of 10-20 people. We try and keep our group sizes relatively small so you all really get to know each other but also can have your own time too. Leading your team will be your mountain guides, local to Mulanje and brimming with knowledge. They know every inch of the mountain and plenty of great stories of wizardry too! Your team will all get to know eachother well as accommodation is very basic in the huts and bucket showers under much demand after a long day of hiking!
Costs, Inclusions and Payment
Travel costs and travelling to hidden gems of the world can be even more pricey. Your tourism dollars go miles in Africa and provide employment for our Malawian staff. suppliers and support for our community links. Our prices are competitive whilst also reflecting the incredible Orbis service you get pre/post travel and the back up support we offer during your time in Malawi. So dig deep…it will be worth it!
The cost of The Orbis Hiking Challenge is £2,300 (excluding flights). Flights are around £600-£900- we can help you source these if needed. This price covers everything in country - all accommodation, activities, guides, porters and food. Your tips, visas and drinks (alcohol) are additional.
You need a 20% deposit to secure your place. From there we will try and be as flexible as we can with a payment plan that suits you.
