A hike on the Mulanje Massif
The Mulanje Massif is located about 65 km east of Blantyre, close to the border with Mozambique. The Mulanje mountain range is a unique ecosystem and is extremely popular with hikers and climbers. There are many mountains to climb in the range, with Sapitwa being the largest peak in Malawi at 3,002 metres. Other well-known peaks include Thuchila (2,750m), Chambe (2,650m), Mt Soche (2,550m) and Mt Likabula (2,450m). The mountain range is perfect for hiking and you can take up to two-week tours (but even 2 or 3 night-trips are also nice) and enjoy the most varied and beautiful views, visit waterfalls, swim in rivers or watch wildlife. The whole thing is also made very easy, as there are a total of 10 huts to stay in. A night in a hut costs USD 1 per person per night and has to be paid at the beginning with the entrance fee to the national park. There are open fireplaces for cooking and the huts are always kept in top condition by a person from the nearby villages. They spend the night separately in a building next to the hut, as the huts are only for hikers. They are the first point of contact on site, boil you hot water for a shower and light the fire if you want something to eat. After a night in a hut, it is customary to tip the maintenance man 1 to 2 USD. I myself did a 5-day tour there and the Mulanje Massif is definitely one of my highlights.
It is recommended to book a guide for the tour. You can do this on the spot or you can support trained trekking guides like Vincent and Fanuel. Both come from a village around the Mulanje massif and are involved in a social project. They use the income from the treks to support orphans. At the moment they take care of about 10 orphans and support them by paying school fees, school material, food and if necessary share the house with them. During the school holidays, they take them on hikes or teach them useful handicraft skills such as carpentry or sewing. I myself stayed with them for 3 nights and had a look at their project on site and can only recommend contacting them if you have an upcoming trek. You can get more information about them here.