Chitipa District – Malawi's far north, once known as Fort Hill
Chitipa District is the northernmost district of Malawi, bordering Tanzania and Zambia. Its capital, Chitipa, was formerly known as Fort Hill, a name that recalls the colonial era when the town served as an outpost in this remote highland region. The district is traditionally divided into five areas – Misuku in the east, Kameme in the north, Bulambia in the centre, and Wenya and Nthalire in the south – each with its own communities and traditions.
Today Chitipa covers 4,288 km² and has around 235,000 inhabitants, most of them speaking Chitumbuka and living from farming in the green hills. Do you have stories or photos from Chitipa? Share them with our community!