Viphya Mountains pine forest reserve in northern Malawi, framing the road between Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay
Chikangawa Forest Reserve
Chikangawa Forest Reserve is a large state-managed protected forest in the Northern Region of Malawi, set on the Viphya Mountains between Mzuzu and the lakeshore. Established in 1948, it covers roughly 1,150 square kilometers of plantation pine interspersed with patches of native evergreen montane forest. The reserve protects uphill water sources and the indigenous forest cover of the Viphya range, while also hosting one of Africa's most extensive man-made pine forests, the Viphya Plantation, planted from the 1960s.
The reserve is more than a working timber landscape. It is a regionally important habitat block that supports native plant communities alongside plantations, sustains a range of bird and mammal species, and buffers the natural catchments that drain toward Lake Malawi. For visitors traveling between Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay, the Chikangawa forest road is one of the most distinctive scenic drives in northern Malawi, marked by steep slopes, pine-lined curves, and sweeping mountain vistas.
Beyond its landscape appeal, Chikangawa carries cultural and historical weight. It stands as an example of mid-twentieth century forest conservation in Malawi, balancing timber production, watershed protection, and biodiversity. The reserve also gained wider public attention in 2024, when a military aircraft crashed on its slopes in one of the country's deadliest aviation accidents.
