Ntchisi Forest Reserve

Ntchisi holds one of the last patches of indigenous evergreen rainforest on the central Malawian plateau, a remnant of what covered much of this country before clearance, sitting on a hill at around sixteen hundred metres. Trails run through it, monkeys and a long bird list use it, and a colonial-era forest rest house on the edge has been restored as a lodge. The forest is small and the pressure on its edges is continuous.

What you actually see

• The evergreen forest - a surviving patch of the original plateau rainforest.
• The forest trails - the walking routes through the reserve.
• The rest house - the restored colonial-era building on the forest edge.
• The birdlife - the species the remnant forest supports.

When to go

May to October is the dry season and best for the road. The rains make the track up difficult. Nights at altitude are cool.

Honest expectations

The road up is rough and needs high clearance. The forest patch is small and encroachment on its edges continues. Facilities are limited to the lodge.

Nearby

Ntchisi town is below, and Nkhotakota is east.