This tour can be taken either by eight seat jeep (three hours), mountain bike (four hours) or on foot (full day) Pass first through the trout farm, Williams and other scenic waterfalls.

On the way see wild orchids (December to March) also lilies, proteas, aloes, gladioli, and the prehistoric cycads and riverside tree ferns.

The views at Queen’s and Emperor’s View points are stunning on a clear day -one could see all the way to Mozambique.

The rolling open grassland of the north contrasts sharply with the fine pine forests of the south and the western Chingale valley.

The tour ends at Chingwe’s Hole, a mysterious cavern falling vertically by the edge of the plateau and surrounded by legend and superstition.

The first stop is the Memorial to the fallen of the Malawi battalions in the famed King’s African Rifles.

Then on, between magnificent roadside lining rows of African mahogany trees (mbawa) and past many old historical buildings, built in distinctive colonial style), to the very colorful Zomba market.

From there to the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College campus, then to the beautiful, well-tended Botanical Gardens, the oldest and largest botanical garden in the country, boasting both indigenous and exotic plants.

A few metres away are the old Parliament buildings and the National Archives.

Leading down to Zomba town is the path used by villagers from the other side of the plateau when taking their potatoes for sale in Zomba town.

Along the way, admire a huge variety of ground and epiphytic orchids (December to March, especially on seepage rocks), many of the satyrium, habenaria, disa and cynorkis families, butterflies and birds.

A transfer up the mountain is
easily arranged for a welcome tea back at the hotel.