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Mark Horrell CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Mafinga Hills

Mountains

A high range on Malawi's northern border, the Mafinga Hills feature grassy plateaus and ridges. Walkers use rough trails for multi-day treks, ridge views and cross-border routes into Zambia.

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In this guide

Mafinga Hills essentials

Address: Mafinga Hills, northern Malawi (Mafinga Hill range on the Malawi-Zambia border)
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About Mafinga Hills

The Mafinga Hills are a mountain range on Malawi’s northern border region that include the country’s highest ground. They form part of the highland frontier between Malawi and Zambia.

The range has long provided a natural boundary and traditional grazing and upland farming for local communities; it is not a heavily developed tourist area.

The Mafinga Hills lie along the Malawi-Zambia border in northern Malawi and form the highest uplands of the country.

  • Highest point of Malawi: Contains Malawi’s highest elevations, with peaks in the range of roughly 2,000 to 2,300 metres and the summit area known as Mafinga Central representing the country’s highest point.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Mafinga Hills

Visit during the dry season (May-October) for the most reliable weather and best hiking conditions.

Dry season (best for hiking)
May-October · ~10-22°C (higher daytime, cooler nights)
Cooler, drier conditions on the highlands make trails easier and visibility better for views and camping.
Wet season
November-April · ~15-25°C
Warm, humid and often rainy; trails can be muddy and access may be difficult due to heavy showers.

Weather & Climate near Mafinga Hills

Climate

Mafinga Hills's climate is classified as Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) - Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) climate with mild summers (peaking in November) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 6°C to 24°C. Abundant rainfall (1179 mm/year), wettest in March with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 58 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
OctoberSeptemberAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
38°
Warmest Month
7°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 12° - 20° 16° 236 mm overcast 82% 2.3 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.5h
February Acceptable 12° - 21° 16° 217 mm overcast 82% 2.0 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.3h
March Acceptable 11° - 21° 16° 239 mm overcast 83% 2.0 m/s 2.4 extreme 12.0h
April Good 11° - 20° 15° 123 mm partly cloudy 83% 2.1 m/s 2.2 extreme 11.8h
May Very Good 9° - 19° 14° 16 mm some cloud 78% 2.8 m/s 2.0 very high 11.5h
June Excellent 7° - 18° 13° 1 mm mostly sunny 74% 3.4 m/s 1.8 very high 11.4h
July Excellent 6° - 18° 12° 0 mm mostly sunny 68% 3.6 m/s 1.8 very high 11.5h
August Excellent 7° - 20° 13° 0 mm mostly sunny 59% 3.9 m/s 2.1 extreme 11.7h
September Excellent 9° - 22° 15° 4 mm mostly sunny 50% 4.1 m/s 2.4 extreme 11.9h
October Ideal 11° - 24° 17° 21 mm mostly sunny 47% 3.8 m/s 2.6 extreme 12.2h
November Very Good 11° - 24° 17° 110 mm partly cloudy 56% 2.7 m/s 2.6 extreme 12.5h
December Acceptable 11° - 21° 16° 212 mm overcast 75% 2.5 m/s 2.4 extreme 12.6h