Discover Kasungu

In Kasungu, a protected landscape and an unusual cultural and historical site come together. Kasungu National Park covers 2,316 square kilometres and was established in 1970. Its woodlands, open dambo systems and traditional iron smelting site give the destination several dimensions: nature and history can be considered as distinct focuses when planning a trip.

Landscape between woodland and open dambos

The national park is located on the Central African Plateau. Its protected landscapes include Miombo, or Brachystegia, woodlands as well as open, grass-covered dambo drainage systems. The contrast between woodland and open terrain shapes the character of the area; the park is therefore not defined by just one type of landscape. Anyone interested in protected areas and their different habitats will find specific points of interest here to help plan a trip.

One striking landscape feature is Wang’ombe Rumen. The inselberg is part of a group of inselbergs near the park’s western boundary and is one of its tourist attractions. Its location near this boundary and its place within the inselberg group give it a distinctive landscape context. The park is also part of the cross-border Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Areas.

A distinctive cultural and historical connection

Malawi’s only preserved original traditional iron smelting site is located in Kasungu National Park. It is intact and well preserved. This site adds a cultural and historical dimension to the protected area, alongside its Miombo woodlands and dambos. It offers a separate focus when choosing what to explore on your trip: Kasungu combines a national park with evidence of traditional iron smelting, rather than being defined solely by its natural environment.

The park’s history also stretches back to its establishment in 1970. Together with the preserved smelting site, this offers a way to distinguish landscape and history when learning about Kasungu, while also considering them as themes of the same trip.

Plan your journey to the national park

A government development proposal from 2022 describes Lisitu Gate on the southeastern boundary as the only vehicle access point to Kasungu National Park. From Kasungu Boma, the gate can be reached via the unpaved D187 road. Check current road and gate conditions before travelling. These details can help you account for access as a separate planning consideration, without conflating the park’s landscape and cultural and historical interests.

If the national park is to be an important part of your trip, you can choose where to stay based on how you plan to arrange access as described. The route details mention Kasungu Boma and the D187, providing a specific starting point for further planning. For other interests, the landscape, Wang’ombe Rumen or the iron smelting site may be more important.

More cultural themes in the wider destination of the Central Region

As a separate regional context, the wider destination of the Central Region offers additional cultural themes. The Chamare Museum displays Gule Wamkulu masks and structures, which serve the Chewa as carriers of their ancestors’ moral teachings. It also presents the history of the Mua Mission and explores the relationship between faith and culture, known as inculturation. The collection also includes cultural artefacts of the Ngoni and Yao; photographs and explanations by Claude Boucher Chisale supplement the exhibition on the Chewa, Ngoni and Yao.

Another focus in the Central Region is the Chongoni Rock-Art Area, with 127 sites in wooded granite hills on the high plateau of central Malawi. Chewa farmers practised rock painting there until well into the 20th century. The sites remain connected to Chewa ceremonies and rituals. These regional examples are distinct from Kasungu National Park: they offer additional cultural themes within the wider destination of the Central Region, while Kasungu stands on its own with its national park, landscape and preserved iron smelting site.

Discover more destinations: Linyangwa, Nkhotakota, Salima.

Return to the wider travel overview: Central Region.