Sapitwa, Mountain peak in the Mulanje massif, Malawi

Sapitwa is the highest peak of the Mulanje massif, rising steeply from the surrounding plain with prominent granite rock formations defining its appearance. The mountain displays distinct zones of vegetation and terrain that change as elevation increases.

Sapitwa is the summit of the Mulanje massif, near Malawi's border with Mozambique, and at 3,002 m the highest point in the country. In 2003 three tourists without a guide disappeared near the peak in unexplained circumstances. In 2009 the French-Brazilian Gabriel Buchmann died of hypothermia while descending the mountain; part of Fellipe Barbosa's film Gabriel and the Mountain was shot on the summit and slopes.

In Chichewa, sapitwa means "don't go there", a name that reflects local caution about the summit rather than reverence. The peak lies in the Mulanje massif, and the name is the main cultural marker recorded for it; the surrounding area is heavily visited by tourists despite its reputation for sudden weather changes.

Visitors should prepare for multi-day hikes that demand good fitness and endurance to handle the various elevation changes and steep sections. Local guides know the routes well and can help with navigation and safety, making their company highly recommended for the climb.

In Chichewa, Sapitwa means "don't go there". Three tourists without a guide disappeared near the summit in unexplained circumstances in 2003, and the Franco-Brazilian Gabriel Buchmann died of hypothermia there in 2009; the end of Fellipe Barbosa's film Gabriel and the Mountain was partly shot on the summit and slopes.