Horseriding On The Zomba & Nyika Plateau

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The Zomba Plateau is arguably Zomba's most famous feature. It is a spectacular table-top mountain overshadowing Zomba Town, 2,500ft below, at the bottom of a steep face. There are actually two plateaux here, Zomba and Malosa, which are split by the Domasi River. The plateau has a slight depression in the middle with peaks and higher ground surrounding it. There are scarp-like edges on three sides and there are lots of streams running through the trees over small waterfalls and rapids.

The southern section of Zomba is what draws the many tourists who visit the region. This is a lovely area but its ‘drive-by’ beauty is limited: to really appreciate it and get a proper feel for your surroundings, you need to head off and explore. A variety of pleasant walks through the forests, beside streams or across open grassland are on offer and due to the higher altitude the plateau often feels pleasantly cool compared to other parts of the country.

Horse riding, already a specialty on the Nyika Plateau where safaris on horseback are popular, is increasingly been taking up on the Zomba Plateau, where there is a dressage school where one can learn how to ride a horse effectively. Exploring the region on horseback is therefore an effective way of enjoying what the Nyika and the Zomba, in particular, have to offer. The top of Zomba Plateau is criss-crossed by streams and is dotted with waterfalls and still lakes. A horseback trek to the top of the Plateau is a popular activity as the terrain makes traveling on horseback an uncomplicated activity. The two main viewpoints on the plateau are the Queen’s View (named after the Queen Mother on her visit to the area in 1957) and the Emperor’s View (named after Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia). Here, positioned comfortably atop your horse, you can look out over the vast Phalombe Plains South of the Zomba. On a clear day, Lake Chilwa and Mount Mulanje are also visible.