Dedza District

Dedza District is a large area in Malawi’s Central Region, best known for its four forest reserves. Of these, the most exceptional is Chongoni, which encompasses an archaeological area featuring over 100 ancient rock art sites. Scientists believe these were made in the Stone and Iron Ages, constituting the most significant collection of cave paintings in Central Africa. Dedza Mountain is a popular hiking spot - it stands at over 2 000 metres and takes about two hours to reach the top. At the base of the mountain lies the capital of the region, Dedza City, surrounded by forested hills. It is a convenient place to stock up on essentials and buy local pottery, for which the area is famous.