All About Chikwawa
Basic Information about Chikwawa
| Land Area (km2) | 4,755km2 (Ranking No.6 / 28 districts) |
|---|---|
| Population | 564,684 (Ranking No.14 / 28 districts) |
| Population Density | 119/km2 (Ranking No.20 / 28 districts) |
| Literacy Rate | 57.55% (Ranking No.24 / 28 districts) |
| Electrification Rate | 6.42% (Ranking No.16 / 28 districts) |
| Water pipe Rate | 6.91% (Ranking No.14 / 28 districts) |
*The data is as of 2018.
Chikwawa is located approximately 55 km south of Blantyre, on the west bank of the Shire River.
On the way down from Blantyre towards Chikwawa, the view of the vast plains and Shire River below is spectacular.
However, due to its terrain, the area is also known to be frequently flooded during the rainy season.
Chikwawa was the first town in Malawi to be seen by European explorers when David Livingstone’s Zambezi Expedition travelled up the Shire River in 1859.
The area also has a history of being ravaged by Portuguese slave traders in the 19th century.
Chikwawa is a wildlife paradise and is home to Majete Wildlife Reserve, Lengwe National Park and Nyala Park.
Majete Wildlife Reserve is the only place in Malawi where you can see all the Big Five animals – lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant and buffalo.
Lengwe National Park is a popular destination for birdwatchers and a rare place to see nyala in Malawi.
Chikwawa is also the largest sugarcane producing area in southern Malawi, with extensive sugarcane fields on the Nchalo Sugar Estate.
Chikwawa can be visited as a day trip from Blantyre or is worth an overnight trip from Lilongwe.
The Sena and Mang’anja people make up over 80% of the population, and the Chichewa is the main language spoken in Chikwawa.
Chikwawa Population by Tribe
| Tribe | Sena | Mang’anja | Chewa | Lomwe | Others |
| Percentage | 48.64% | 30.56% | 7.39% | 7.30% | 6.38% |
*The data is as of 2018.
Chikwawa Population by Religion
| Religion | Christian | Islam | Others | No Religion |
| Percentage | 86.75% | 1.67% | 8.32% | 3.26% |
*The data is as of 2018.
Accommodations in Chikwawa
Tourist Attractions in Chikwawa
Plan a Trip to Chikwawa
