Hiking Senga Hills (Senga Bay, Salima)
Basic Information about Senga Hills
Hiking Difficulty Scale:
Estimated Hiking Time: 1.5-5 Hours (depending on route)
Height: 500-600m above sea level
Best Season to Hike: May-August (Dry and Clear)
Views from the Top: 1. Lake Malawi, 2. Salima Township
Going up the Mountain
Senga Hills is located on the lakeshore of Senga Bay, Salima District, approximately 120 km east of Lilongwe.
It is within the Senga Hills Forest Reserve and is estimated to be 500-600 meters above sea level.
It consists of seven hills, all of which offer spectacular views of Lake Malawi and the town of Salima.
Malawi has many attractive mountains and hills for hiking, but not many places offer a panoramic view of Lake Malawi from the top of a mountain like the Senga Hills.
This article introduces the most popular trail that takes about 5 hours to hike to the top of all seven hills including the highest point in the Senga Hills.
If you are short on time or not confident about your stamina, a 90-minute round trip to the top of the first hill will also be a great experience.
The starting point is just before the entrance to the Sunbird Livingstonia Hotel, turn left.
Some of the hills are a bit steep, but if you wear good hiking shoes and are in good physical condition, you should have no problem.
However, Senga Bay is very sunny and gets very hot during the day, so be sure to bring plenty of water and wear a hat to protect heat stroke.
It is also recommended to start hiking early in the morning, when it is cooler.
First-time hikers should always take a guide, as it can be difficult to find the route.
Guides can easily be found at the lodge in Senga Bay or by asking at the Sunset Souvenir Market on the way to Senga Bay from Lilongwe.
Senga Bay is popular as the closest beach resort from Lilongwe, but it is also nice to see the lake from the top of the mountain once in a while.
Hiking Course
1. Hike begins from Sunbird Livingstonia Hotel.
2. Turn left before the entrance of Sunbird Livingstonia.
3. There is a ladder on a large rock that goes to the top of the first hill.
4. View of Lake Malawi from the first hill
5. Head for the second hill.
6. View of Lake Malawi from the second hill
7. Head for the third hill.
8. View of Lake Malawi from the third hill
9. There is also a section where you climb up another ladder.
10. Arrival at the summit!
11. Beautiful scenery is also in front of you as you descend the mountain.
12. Back on S122, the main street of Senga Bay. You can take a share taxi or motorcycle taxi back to the starting point, or walk back while touring the lakeside villages.
