THE NINE MOST MYSTERIOUS PLACES IN MALAWI
By Sangwani Chigezero Chibaka
Do you wish to know the most mysterious places in Malawi? From mythical mountains and rivers to legendary pillars and trees, the variety of Malawi’s wonders never seem to stop astonishing the world.
This list of Malawi’s most mysterious places to visit will surely tickle your spine. Whether you are one dare devil or just another conspiracy theorist, these supernatural tales will send you jumping at your feet.
While some of these places are awesome spots to visit, many of these will leave you scared and afraid. Read on if you dare!
1. MWALA WA MPHINI
Dating back to the Iron Age Mwala wa mphini is a tattooed geographical site situated along the road to Cape Maclear in Mangochi. The name literally translates to “rock marked with tribal scars” because of its numerous tribal marks.
The whole rock is gorged with scars such that the natives believe it is a sanctified rock. Many also believe that it has some healing powers, local healers make healing potions from aggregates of the rock.
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| The site is now a national monument |
A lot of myths circulate about the basis of the rock and its scars, but to date its origin remains a mystery.
2. DZIWE LA NKHALAMBA POOLS
An important waterway within the Mulanje Mountain. Locals claim that the Massif is haunted, it is believed that spirits manifest in various ways on the mountain.
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| Ghost's in form of old men would come and bath at the pools |
A number of people have testified to have seen ghosts in human form, swimming at the Dziwe la Nkhalamba pools (Dam of old men). It is believed that just a sight of them bathing at the pools brings you good luck.
3. MALAPE PILLARS
Hidden within the Chikala hills in Machinga, these mysterious sand formations are a true Malawian treasure. Their magnificent view will leave your jaws dropping, geologists say that the pillars are a result of rain and sandstorm erosion.
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| The Malape pillars |
However locals are certain that the pillars are the making of supernatural powers, it is believed that they were the dwelling place of their ancestral spirits. The place was regarded as profane such that sacrifices were being offered at the entrance.
Natives tell tales of people that went missing within the pillars of Malape, legend has it that a voice of an unidentified person could be heard from within.
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| The cause of these mysterious sand formations remains unknown |
4. CHILEMA TREE 
Located at Malosa in Zomba it is the most mysterious tree in the world, at over 108 years old this Banyan tree continues to dazzle many with its bizarre growing pattern.
Actually the name Malosa (originally malodza but was tainted by the Yao people who don’t have a Z in their
Vocabulary) means “something superstitious”. The name of the tree itself says it all, Chilema tree translates “the disabled tree”. From a distance one would think it’s a forest, imagine one single tree creating a jungle of about 700 square metres and expanding.
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| The tree has extended to at least a hectare |
The tree’s weird growing pattern has sparked national debate, with others claiming that its science that’s responsible but many still believe that the trees behaviour is beyond science.
5. KHULUBVI SACRED RAIN SHRINES
Situated in Nsanje district in the lower shire valley the Khulubvi sacred rain shrines have existed in Malawi since 1500 A.D. Their sole purpose was to offer sacrifices to Mphambe (God) in times of drought, disease and hunger.
To this day the shrines still play an important spiritual role amongst the Mang’anja tribe. The natives still come to these shrines to worship the legendary rainmaker Mbona of Khulubvi who lived during the era of the Lundu kingdom hundreds of years ago. According to Mang’anja oral tradition Mbona was a superhuman who had powers to call for rain, create wells on sand, create forests on deserts and transfigure himself into other creatures.
We don’t know for sure whether all these stories about Mbona’s myths and his superpowers are true or not, but one thing we know is that the villagers are still performing rituals at these shrines, they worship Mbona’s spirit and offer sacrifices.
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| Mbona's followers still perform rituals at the rain shrines |
The shrines include Nyadzikwi memorial in group village headman Lundu area, Mwalaumodzi in the Thangadzi River, Kaloga sacred cave at Mwabvi wildlife reserve in Kanyimbi village, Nkhadzi sacred site in Ngabu, Chifunda Lundu memorial and many more.
The most bizarre thing you will hear when you visit the shrines is that Mbona’s wife is still “alive”! Yes, she is alive and she acts as the link between Mbona’s spirit and his followers.
Weird isn’t it?
6. CHIWETA HILLS
Chiweta hills are located in the northern part of Rumphi district, known for its evergreen vegetation, breath-taking view and the staggering road with epic turns. The road is renowned for its sharp bends and beautiful views of the Lake Malawi with hills to the west and a gorge to the east which borders the lake.
It is neither the hills nor the road that holds the mystery. It’s the cattle! The cattle of chiweta has a story to tell.
When driving through the hills one can easily spot large herds of cattle grazing along the road unattended to. Yes the cattle has no owner, and they roam around the hills freely with no herdsman.
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| The cattle of Chiweta have a history |
According to Thumbiko Shumba’s book Consequences (2011) it is said that a long time ago in one of the villages around Chiweta, a certain old man had a lot of cattle. Then the owner of the cattle started feeling unwell. When he saw that the condition was worsening, he took his cattle and dumped them in the hills to be free range. He then cast a spell that whoever would try to steal his cattle would die. The man died shortly afterwards. Since then his cattle have been multiplying. No one dares to steal the cattle. Some say others have tried taming the cattle, but all efforts were in vain.
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| When driving through the hills one can easily spot the cattle grazing along the road unattended to |
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| History has it that the owner cast a spell on the cattle that whoever tries to steal them would die |
Other versions of the story say that the owner is still alive and that he comes once a while to slaughter some of his cattle.
7. MWALA WA NKHOPE
Somewhere near Namwera in Mangochi district stands a huge action-figure like rock, a true definition of nature’s art.
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| From a distance the rock resembles a huge human skull |
Skull rock or “Mwala wa Nkhope” is a huge boulder hundreds of feet high atop the Nkope (Originally Nkhope which means “the face”) Mountain, renowned for its likeness to a human skull.
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| The Skull rock |
From a distance the rock resembles a huge human skull, this distinctive feature has made the place a tourist attraction site.
8. SAPITWA PEAK
This is the highest point on the magnificent Mulanje Mountain. Over the past decade, untold tales have been told about the Sapitwa peak. The mountain is locally known as Chilumba mu mlengalenga, meaning “Island in the sky”. To the natives, it is more than just a spectacular geographical location.
Legend has it that the mountain is a dwelling place of ancestral spirits. The spirits reside at the peak in fact they don’t call it the Sapitwa for nothing. It’s literally translated as “a place where people do not go,” and scaling up the peak is regarded as a death wish.
Stories of people to have mysteriously gone missing on the peak have been told from generation to generation. In September 2003, a Dutch tourist by the name of Linda Pronk went missing after attempting to scale up the peak. In 2009 another tourist, Gabriel Buchmann also went missing on mount Mulanje. “No one has ever reached the peak and came back alive”, the locals will assure you.
There is a strong belief that the spirits control life on the mountain and that they are irritated by whosoever tries to climb the peak. All those people who have strangely gone missing were actually kidnapped by the angry spirits.
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| The Sapitwa "a place where people do not go" |
9. MWALA WA NTHUNZI
As you travel along the Limbe – Thyolo road, there is this small cryptic stone which is a peculiar wonder of the world. Dating back to the colonial period not only has the rock been earning the respect of the locals but also gathering the attention of the world. Whilst many call it the wishing stone, others have named it the traveller’s stone but the natives call it “mwala wa nthunzi”. But then again what is it that is so special and peculiar about the stone?
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| The rock date's back to the Colonial period |
It is said that the stone can’t be moved, people have tried removing it only to find it back intact at its rightful place the next day. Myth has it that when they constructed the road (Limbe – Mulosa boarder) in the early 50s, the stone wouldn’t bulge. So they just gave up and diverted. Others claim that the then chief asked the construction workers that the stone should be left there and the workers obliged.
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| Construction worker's of the Limbe-Thyolo(then Cholo)road made a diversion when constructing the road since the rock wouldn't bulge |
According to Malawi Lost History, travellers would walk around the stone three times to ensure a safe journey (hence the name traveller’s stone). Others would walk around the stone three times before making a wish (hence the name wishing stone). It was also believed that whistling was impossible when walking around it.
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| The Traveller's/Wishing stone |
Now, whether the wishes did come true or not I can’t say, or that you can’t whistle when you are walking around it, I am not sure. But Locals have kept the respect for the rock since time immemorial and the rock remains there today.
Dare to make a wish? Take a road trip down Thyolo!
SYNOPSIS
It is sad to note that these amazing sites remain hidden and unknown to many, even worse uncelebrated by our nation. Malawi has a rich cultural history, it is high time we took more serious actions in preserving our culture and traditional beliefs. Whether we like it or not this is our history, and we can take the advantage of such beautiful relics in boosting the tourism industry. Thumbs up to the department of antiquities for declaring some of these sites as national monuments.
Photo credits; Mawila Lodge, Bushcamper Malawi, Zeeyacreations, Bon Voyage club, Malawi tourism, Mwana wa Nyaunthali, Charles T.W Mbale, Asher Williams, Agness Mizere, Marc Henrion, Malawi-Nyasaland historical moment's, Peter J. Makwana, Malawi lost history page and the Malawi heritage magazine.
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