Located in Lilongwe District, Dzalanyama Forest Reserve is a breathtaking forest that leaves tourists with lasting memories.
The forest, located approximately 60 kilometres south-west of the district, has several streams and rivers with breathtaking waterfalls.
Formerly, known as the Central Angoni Highlands Game Reserve, the then government changed its status to a protected forest reserve in 1922.
Over the years, the 989 square kilometre-reserve has proved to be not only a tourist attraction site, but also an important natural resource for residents of Lilongwe, providing its city with water through the Lilongwe River.
Environmental activist and dedicated member of the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ), Maxwell Kachere has described the forest as a place where tranquility reigns supreme.
Kachere has told ProjectM in an interview that a swim in some of the forest’s rivers soothes the body.
“As a resident of Lilongwe City and an environmental activist, I would describe Dzalanyama Forest Reserve as our garden of Eden because it has all the qualities a nature enthusiast needs,” he said.
Among others, the forest is also an important habitat for birdlife, rare natural trees and epiphytic orchids.
“It generally answers the question why the reserve was included in the top ten of best tourist destinations in Malawi, by a survey conducted by Design and Printing Plus limited in 2023, it’s phenomenal,” said Kachere.
The Dzalanyama Forest reserve is also characterised by steep range of hills bearing the same name.5
Village Headman Chimaimba, whose village is located close to the site, has described the forest as amazing, saying it provides his subjects with a means for survival.
“This forest provides us food, firewood and source of income through tour guiding activities youths of my village provide to tourists,” said Chimaimba.
One thing, which is clear, is that the forest is full of opportunities.
