Must-see lake · Zomba, Malawi
Chilwa
Chilwa is a lake in Zomba, Malawi.
Chilwa: crowds and conditions
Typical pattern: heavy on weekends and holidays; arrive early morning. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.
Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.
Best time to visit Chilwa
Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.
Busiest days: Weekends, public holidays, Sankranti and Dasara breaks.
Crowd: Heavy on weekends and holidays; arrive early morning.
Typical week: Mon busy · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri busy · Sat packed · Sun packed.
How to reach Chilwa — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: -15.27125, 35.70475. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Chilwa
- Chisi Island · river spot · Zomba · ~15 km · Must-see
- Lake Shirwa · lake · Niassa Province · ~20 km · Must-see
- Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve · viewpoint · Zomba · ~54 km · Must-see
- Thongwe Island · river spot · Zomba · ~7 km
- Chikala · viewpoint · Machinga · ~35 km
- Chasni · viewpoint · Machinga · ~44 km
- Chifundi · viewpoint · Zomba · ~48 km
- Mwiri Rock · viewpoint · Zomba · ~50 km
- Emporer's View · viewpoint · Zomba · ~51 km
- Sanjika Hill · viewpoint · Zomba · ~52 km
- Mulunguzi · viewpoint · Zomba · ~52 km
- Mulungusi Buttess · viewpoint · Zomba · ~52 km
- Sayimoni Falls · waterfall · Zomba · ~53 km
- Changwa · viewpoint · Zomba · ~54 km
- Mulunguzu Dam · lake · Zomba · ~54 km
- Mandala Falls · waterfall · Zomba · ~55 km
- Ulumba · viewpoint · Zomba · ~55 km
- William's Falls · waterfall · Zomba · ~55 km
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Chilwa
- Lake Shirwa · lake · Niassa Province · ~20 km · Must-see
- Lake Malombe · lake · Mangochi · ~105 km · Must-see
- Lake Amaramba · lake · Niassa Province · ~128 km · Must-see
- Mulunguzu Dam · lake · Zomba · ~54 km
- Chiuta · lake · Machinga · ~63 km
- Chagwa dam · lake · Zomba · ~53 km
- Mango Drift, Likoma Islands, Lake Malawi · lake · Zomba · ~54 km
- JORDAN DAM · lake · Chiradzulu · ~95 km
- Lago Amaramba · lake · Niassa Province · ~111 km
- Lake Malawi · lake · Blantyre · ~113 km
Wikipedia · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · © GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) · Wikidata (CC0) · Overture Maps Foundation (CDLA-Permissive-2.0)
Frequently asked
Is Chilwa full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Chilwa yet. Typical pattern: heavy on weekends and holidays; arrive early morning. Busiest: Weekends, public holidays, Sankranti and Dasara breaks.
What is the best time to visit Chilwa?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Heavy on weekends and holidays; arrive early morning.
What are the places to visit near Chilwa?
Nearby: Chisi Island (river spot, 15 km), Lake Shirwa (lake, 20 km), Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve (viewpoint, 54 km), Thongwe Island (river spot, 7 km), Chikala (viewpoint, 35 km), Chasni (viewpoint, 44 km).
Is Chilwa worth visiting?
Chilwa is listed as a must-see lake in Malawi on Spotwander.