taking public transport from tanzania...

Most guests coming from Tanzania find the trip from Mbeya to the Mushroom Farm on public transport to take between 5-8 hours depending on the time spent crossing the border. 
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When you reach the Songwe Tanzanian border, hop on a minibus headed to the city of Karonga. In the Karonga bus depot you will transfer to another a minibus headed south towards Chitimba. From Karonga to Chitimba takes roughly two hours. Once you make it to Chitimba follow the directions below on how to get up the mountain.

If you're interested in a private hire to take you from the border to Mushroom Farm, below is the phone number for a taxi driver based in Livingstonia. Please make sure to book ahead.
Mike: +265 888 573 097   /   +265 991 477 990

directions from the south...

If you're coming from Lilongwe by public transport we recommend breaking up the journey into two days, as it can take more than 10 hours to reach Mushroom Farm. Many guests do this by staying a night in Malawi's northern city of Mzuzu. To get to Mzuzu, you can either take a bus from the Lilongwe bus depot in Area 2 or book a ticket with the Axa or Sososo. If you decide to take the Axa bus or Sososo bus we advise going to their office at least a day in advance and booking a ticket, as these buses do fill up.

Getting from Mzuzu to Chitimba by minibus takes roughly 2.5 hours. There is a minibus station not too far from Shoprite, near the market in the center of town. Once there, hop on a bus headed north on the M1 to Karonga. If you have any doubts talk to the minibus conductors and they will help you get on the correct bus. When the bus is full you will begin the beautiful journey north. Ask the driver to drop you off at Chitimba, and from there follow our instructions below on how to get up the mountain.

If public transport isn't your thing, and you're interested in booking a private hire to get from Lilongwe to Mzuzu or from Mzuzu to Chitimba, below are a few contacts of Mzuzu taxi drivers you can call. Make sure to call a few days in advance so the guys can schedule your trip.
Phillip: +265 993 530 701 / +265 888 369 938
Frank: +265 999 579 120 / +265 887 305 985

Driving yourself from Lilongwe is of course another option, and will take you around 8 hours in total. The journey to Mzuzu usually takes around 5 hours, and then it's another 2.5-3 to get to Mushroom Farm. We've had many guests do the trip in one day, while others like to break it up and stay a night in Mzuzu. There are 2 different ways to reach us from Mzuzu if you have your own vehicle. The first way is the same route that's listed above; to take the M1 from Mzuzu to Chitimba, and then take the very windy Gorode Road (S103) up to Mushroom Farm. If you plan to take this route, you will need a vehicle with high clearance as the Gorode Road is very rocky. The other option is to take the scenic back road from the turn off at Phwezi (about 1-1.5 hours north of Mzuzu). This almost entirely dirt road is still under construction, and during the rainy season it is necessary to have a 4x4 vehicle. However, during the dry season this is the road we prefer and take ourselves. It's a beautiful drive!

getting up the mountain...

If you've heard of Mushroom Farm, then it's likely that you've also heard of the famous, windy, rocky, Gorode Road that you need to take up the mountain to reach us. Luckily for everyone the road has improved over the last couple of years, as have the options for transportation. Mushroom Farm also now has an office in Chitimba - ran by a guy named Stanley - who is ready to help with organizing transport, hiring a guide, negotiating fees, pointing you in the direction of restaurants in Chitimba, and answering any other questions you may have. 

Public transport options up the mountain include the back of a truck, or a motorcycle. Right where the pavement meets the dirt, there are normally shared pick-up trucks that take passengers up the mountain when the truck is full. Waiting time is variable and can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours. Once you're on your way the drive up is between 45 minutes and 1 hour. Let the driver know you are headed to Mushroom Farm and they will stop when it's time for you to get off. The walk from the Mushroom Farm sign post down the driveway takes about 10 minutes. If you want to hire a motorcycle, Stanley can help you arrange one. 

It is also possible to hike up the mountain. This takes anywhere from 2-3 hours and is a beautiful hike. There's an option to send your luggage up with the truck for a small fee. We recommend hiking with a guide, which Stanley can arrange for you.

For any travel inquiries at the base of the mountain please stop by the Mushroom Farm Chitimba Office from 9:00am-5:00pm or give Stanley a call.
Stanley:​ +265 881 539 495
The office is closed on Wednesdays.