About Kawandama Hills Plantation

Established in 2009, Kawandama Hills Plantation is an 8,000-hectare essential oil estate located in the heart of the scenic Viphya Forest Reserve in Northern Malawi. It is the largest plantation of its kind in Southern Africa.

The company has reforested large areas while preserving thousands of hectares of indigenous woodland, home to a range of wildlife including hyena, small wild cats, wild pigs, honey badgers, and diverse endemic bird species. We have built a distillation facility on site and currently employ over 200 people.

To date, we have planted nearly 7 million trees across nearly 3,000 hectares. Our primary crop is Corymbia citriodora, which is harvested annually to produce lemon eucalyptus essential oil. This oil is exported and refined for use in natural insect repellents, cosmetics, perfumes, and the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to Corymbia, we grow hardwoods, pine for timber, and other essential oil-producing plants.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched our own brand, Virisafe, in 2020—a locally manufactured, natural sanitiser range. We also produce a natural mosquito and insect repellent made from PMD-rich oil extracted from our plantation.

Sustainability is central to our operations. Corymbia citriodora trees are coppiced every four years, with the ability to regenerate for over three decades. Each year, we aim to produce over 2,000 tons of sustainable charcoal, offering a viable alternative to destructive wood harvesting and contributing to Malawi’s energy security.

Kawandama Hills was the first company in Malawi to be licensed for legal charcoal production in October 2015.

As an exporter, our essential oils generate valuable foreign exchange at a time when Malawi's traditional exports, such as tobacco, are in significant decline.