The journey from Karonga to Chitimba, a distance of approximately 91 km, took us about 5.5 hours, largely due to the road’s poor condition. Although the M1 is fully paved, several sections—particularly around the Chiweta–Chitimba escarpment and near Uliwa—have deteriorated significantly, with deep potholes and severe washouts slowing traffic to a crawl.
This is especially surprising given the importance of the M1, which serves as one of Malawi’s main transport arteries and a vital trade corridor linking the country to Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam.
Parking location – Chitimba: 10.5822368S 34.1691153E (🚻,🅿️10,000 MKW/pax)