19-Nov-2017 -- This is the first out of 4 reports reaching confluence points (one of them unvisited) during a one-week trip through Malawi.
Our Jeep trip began at the airport of the capital city Lilongwe. We reached this confluence in the evening of the second day. After visiting the Ekwendeni mission church, we continued northwards and left the main highway M1 at about 10 km distance to the confluence point. The unsealed road towards Jentha Jembe allowed us to reach a distance of 1.5 km, where we parked our Jeep.
Further approach was on foot. While Elionora stayed near the car, I ran through a tiny village, through a valley, and then into the mountains. I was able to follow farmers’ footpaths. Only the last 100 m were a bit of a climb.
The confluence is half way up a mountain on a slope. The vegetation must have burnt recently due to the missing underwood. The trees have survived, but are now without leaves due to the time of the year (end of dry season). There is a great view to the south from the confluence point.
After 40 minutes I was back to the car. We spent the night in the nearby town Rumphi and visited the Vwaza Wildlive Reserve the next morning.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance of car parking: 1.5 km
- Time to reach the CP from the road: 20 minutes
- Time at the CP: 4:00 PM
- Measured height: 1281 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
- Position accuracy: 3 m
- Topography: steep mountain grade
- Vegetation: scattered leafless trees
- Weather: sunny, 27° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Farmers’ Footpaths Confluence
More pictures of our trip are here. The story continues at 12°S 34°E.