The ‘Hikers Alliance on 18th September 2009 made history when they saw themselves stepping at the apexof the highest peak in the Central Africa Sapitwa which is found at the magnificent Mulanje Mountain the 3rd largest Mountain in Africa.
Fourteen members arrived at Info Mulanje (Chitakale Trading Centre) at about 12:30 in the afternoon; there they had to spend almost an hour for some logistics and tips to the mountain. Emmie Suliwa who is working with the Info Mulanje could not hide her words to the group by stressing that the mountain is beautiful but it has some mysterious stories so there is need for the group to take care to arrive safely.
From Info Mulanje the Hikers had to spend another hour also at the Likhubula Forest Office for registration and sorting some of the important things to the mountain. We killed a lot of hours at the forest office because there were a lot of things to be cleared. At Exactly 3:10 pm we set up into the Forest of Mulanje Mountain using Sky line path. Slowly but sure the group had passion to reach the destination (Chisepo). Hours couldn’t be on side at about 6:00pm the hikers were at Chambe Basin. The sun say buy to us at the basin but with the courage the group had the journey couldn’t stop there but to walk on. The time the group depart the porters left behind and the time we were passing Chambe basin the porters lost the path and take a path to Chambe Hut. The tour guide had to make an effort to know the whereabouts of the group so he left the group in search of the porters. We agreed to meet at the junction to Chisepo. The tour guide takes an hour before he turns back and because of the darkness the group agreed not to walk on but to wait for the tour guide, indeed he made it and meet the group at the agreed place at about 8:00pm. There the communication was made that trip could not proceeded to Chisepo instead the group will slip at Chambe hut and proceed to Chisepo the next morning.
‘Guys we can not making it to Chisepo this time because it’s a long journey, we are have almost 3hrs to walk so we are sleeping at Chambe hut,' said the guide. The Hikers had to spend a night at Chambe hut. At exactly 6:10am the morning of Saturday (19/09/09) the group continued that tiresome journey to Chisepo hut. In the transit to Chisepo the group had to take pictures and also admire the forest of Cider tree which is also known as National tree. Honestly there was total commitment all the way to Chisepo Hut at around 8:37am every person put on a happy face when they saw that beautiful hut (Chisepo). ‘We are having thirty minutes here of rest and breakfast before start of to Sapitwa, said the tour guide’. Indeed the group had to keep time at exactly 9:05 the hikers were ready for that hectic and tiresome journey to Sapitwa. The weather was on the hikers’ side, sunny a bit hot. ‘We are now going to Sapitwa it’s a long distance and its hike and climb journey, communicated the guide. Remember to take a hot material because Sapitwa is cold always, he added. Every person was eager to see that highest peak so there was just a simple answer ‘we are making it’. Indeed it wasn’t all that simple for one to reach Sapitwa, games, laughter, singing, and all sorts of words had to be used to make the trip simple and fun. ‘Little had I known that its going to be difficult as this I could have left at Chisepo guys.’ Complained Patrick who is also commonly known as Digger by his fans. It was a 3002m hike from Chisepo. Journey to Sapitwa is very dangerous and easy for one to lose his life so the group had to walk in groups.
Noel Ntaba who find the journey so difficult because of the injury he was involved in could not forget his job of counting people every hour to making sure that every person is present. ‘Hey folks God is a real creator, look at these stones, said one of the girls Mandy, admiring the work of the Almighty father’. The group had to kill 5hrs to reach that Promised Land Sapitwa. Because of big and tall stones Noel and Patrick could not make it to the highest peak because of the injuries they were involved in, but still they made it because it was only 100m to the important place. The rest of the hikers step their foot at the top most place. Though they were told not to make a lot of noise the hikers couldn’t hide their happiness by producing jovial sound showing their achievement. There were tears of happiness, hugs, hand shakes and every sign that can display happiness. This place is too windy; no it’s beautiful, no! No! No! Even those people in Mzuzu are seeing as, choruses those happy people who labeled themselves HIKERS. Mandy couldn’t do otherwise but to advise his fellow friends to pray to the Almighty Father for the great job He has showed them to reach Sapitwa.
Kondwani Chamwala who is the president for the group who failed to make it because of some commitment was with the group in mind. He phoned one of the group members to find out the whereabouts, everyone shouted Sapitwa! Sapitwa! Sapitwa.
Pictures were taken to an extent of deleting the old pictures from the cameras with an aim of having the unique ones at the highest peak. To add source to already cooked food the hikers had to see a picture of the lost white man (Bushman) who got lost in the Mountain some two months ago. Every person wanted to have a picture with him. Hikers spent at least 15 minutes before start descending. The way down which was started at about 14:20pm wasn’t all that simple especially to people like Noel, Patrick and Ndagha who were involved in injuries and sickness respectively. Brethren, Raster man, Empress were some of the words used to make the descending process a bit simpler. At about 17:00 the hikers were at their dwelling place (Chisepo Hut).
One of the newly joined member who in is life just visited Bunda Mountain Angelina Tsinga could not hide his happiness that he has put a foot at Sapitwa. She had intention of joining the Hikers group until one of the group members forced her to do so. ‘I am not regretting to be in this group, the group is full of fun and I am an achiever, lamented Angelina who is in her 3rd year at Polytechnic doing Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
Mandy Pondani was the girl of the day who looked very strong though walked that long journey. ‘This is my second time to visit Mulanje Mountain, my first time I visited CCAP hut and I was just told that there is Sapitwa and I wanted one day to step on it. Now that I have seen Sapitwa and step my foot on it I have finished Mulanje mountain, she said calmly.’ Apart from Mulanje Mountain Mandy visited Zomba and Michiru Mountain and Nyika.
The morning of 20th September 2009, the hikers set off and say by to Mulanje Mountain at about 8:10am. The journey back was just but full of memories of Sapitwa. At Chambe Plateau Hikers changed the route and followed Chapaluka. They had a pass by visit to Dziwe la Nkhalamba falls before reached at Likhubula CCAP House at around 15hrs.
Many thanks to Man Kocha and leader of the delegate Madam Lydia for the effort and to the group big up folks!!!!! Get ready for SAPITWA I DID IT T-shirts 19.09.09
LONG LIVE HIKERS!!!!!
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