Turn-off to Livingstonia | Warning

January 13th, 2023 by TETravels

We took this road coming down from mushroom farm. Try and avoid if it's been raining (we had no choice) and parts were very slippery. Its incredibly steep, rocky and bumpy with very tight hairpin turns. Big rigs or trailers would struggle, we were OK in our hilux. Need 4X4 in some parts but round the sharp corners we turned off (the steepest corners are mostly tarred). Friends of ours came up this way and came up in low 4x4 most of the way. Definitely better to come down than up!! Scary but beautiful views at least LOL

January 12th, 2023 by thurmability

For cyclists, it's not as fearsome as you might have heard - the gradients aren't terrible apart from a section in the 7th km. The surface is rubbish though, all big loose rocks, sand and bumpy tarmac. Personally I found it easier to push most of it, most of the time you're going at 4-5kph either way, and even when it was easily rideable you'd have to stop after 50m and push again. Once you get to the little waterfalls after about 8km, reward yourself with a refreshing splash because the worst is over. After that it's almost all rideable and a lot easier for the last 2km. Took me 2h15 from the turnoff to MF.

April 18th, 2022 by axelflodin

Road going up is a real tough one on the bicycle. Frequent 10+° inclinations on really rocky gravel. We we're three bicyclists going up this hill, pushing ourselves up for more than half of it. Took us 3-4 hours to mushroom farm from the junction.

Someone got robbed here recently but perpetrators were heavily punished. should be safe and we had no issues.

March 31st, 2022 by thehilltopadventures.com

The road is fine now. The steepest bits have been tarred. Could probably do it in a 2WD at a push - the locals do. But the hairpins are very tight so might be tricky with a trailer or big rig.

August 6th, 2019 by Ale.on.the.road

Vital Camp nice area in front of the lake ,they have bungalows on the beach 12.000 single and 15.000 double and option for camping for 2.500.
option to go with the car but the road is quiet steep so I think mainly for 4x4

July 2nd, 2019 by jude.walter

For cyclists: this road was totally rideable for us in July. A guy at the turn off told us we couldn't ride it, that it was too steep and that we would get robbed. We chose to ignore this as he was trying to charge 5000 each to go 10km up the hill. It is steep and rocky, and at times we pushed, but only maybe a hundred metres at a time. The hair pins take some of the steepness out of it and there are paved and flatter sections. Views are amazing and we only met friendly locals, no bandits wanting to rob us (although i think there have been isolated incidents of robbery of hikers).

February 6th, 2019 by Crocodileriver

Also doable in the rainy season! We went up when it was dry but at the top it started pouring! So the way down was a bit more exciting, some muddy sections but it’s mainly stones/sand and we managed just fine (in a 4x4).

September 30th, 2018 by unimogi.de

We did the track with our Unimog, we had no problems driving up and down, was fun! If you have a big truck be aware of the very sharp bends

October 23rd, 2017 by afrika-drimslar.de

Rough Track but as we did it in the Dry Season it was great Fun. 4x4 not necessarily needed but it just feels better to have some Traction upwards. High Clearance recommended.

August 27th, 2017 by CMSMJ

It took us 50 minutes to get up the 9.1km roa.....trail.
You don't need a 4x4: I was so focused I forgot to turn on my 4x4. It's a bumpy ride, some medium rocks when you start while the sharp turns are gravel. It is all first gear work with a couple of moments in second gear.
We made it with our Nissan X-Trail 2.2 SUV, with a ground clearance of 18cm.

June 30th, 2017 by giraffe13.de

As of June 30 the road is rough but fine with a 4x4. We were a group with a Land Rover, an oldtimer Jeep and a VW Synchro and neither had any difficulties.

April 1st, 2017 by h.merker

At the moment 1st april 2017, the road to livingstonia is impassable due to erosion. Check in Khondwe when you arrive.