Malawi Safari Camps

Palm-fringed beaches and soaring mountains with warm crystal clear waters and fishing villages unchanged for thousands of years are the setting for Chintheche Inn. Lake Malawi's central lakeshore has some of the finest beaches, remnant patches of lowland tropical forest nearby and the Viphya Mountains as dramatic backdrop.

Chintheche Inn is set on the western shores of central Lake Malawi, considered the most verdant region of the country with endless sandy beaches and many beautiful trees. Ten comfortably furnished ensuite rooms each with beach view balconies face directly onto the lake. There is a central dining area and bar, although dining usually takes place — weather permitting — under the stars. Each room opens out onto the beach and all are brightly furnished using local crafts. The inn has a large pool.

The inn is an ideal spot for families and for those wanting a comfortable base from which to explore the surrounding area. The nearby Bandawe Mission offers a fascinating peek into the country's colonial past. The beach offers excellent swimming, windsurfing, sailing and beach barbecues. Other activities include mountain bike trails, hiking, fishing, snorkeling and visits to the local village. Lake Malawi is famous for the abundance of its fish life and holds a greater array of freshwater fish species than any other lake on earth and more than all of Europe and North America combined. It harbors a wide range of underwater habitats including sandy, weedy, rock-sand interface and reed beds. Over a hundred bird species are found, particularly water birds such as African fish eagle and large colonies of white-breasted cormorant.

Kaya Mawa Lodge has the stunning natural surroundings of beach, rock, island and lake. Rated by Condé Nast Magazine as one of the planet's ten most romantic destinations, the lodge is on the southwestern tip of the island, surrounded by mango trees and ancient baobabs, and with unique character and very special ambiance.

Ten stone and teak-framed thatched cottages — including two family cottages and one honeymoon chalet — have a panoramic view of the lake and private terraces with direct access to the water. Each one has a private bathroom and a four-poster bed. The honeymoon chalet with its incredible views is tucked away on its own private island. The stunning setting of the lodge and the unique comfort of the rooms means that many guests choose to make relaxation their main activity but there are enough activities to keep guests busy. The lodge has a swimming pool.

The local population is legendary both for its friendliness and a simple stroll around the island is a wonderful experience where one can stop off to swim, engage the locals in conversation and visit the cathedral and the lively market nearby. The waters around the lodge are both safe and clear and some of the best snorkeling on the island is right at the lodge. The lodge has its own dive shop, with quality rental gear and a range of dive classes. Waterskiing, tube riding and wake snaking are offered as well as fishing trips and the lodge has a small wooden skip for sailing journeys around the island. Overnight trips to Nkwichi Lodge and the Manda Wilderness area can also be arranged.

Mumbo Island is a pristine and deserted tropical island floating on the blue waters of Lake Malawi National Park, the first park in the world set aside for the protection of freshwater fish. With crystal clear waters and innumerable species of cichlid fish, the park offers what is often considered the best freshwater scuba diving in the world and the best snorkeling on the lake.

The intimate tented camp has seven tastefully furnished and comfortable tents with hot bucket showers and 'eco-loos'. The camp is perched on rocks high above the water and blends in perfectly to create a place of rustic charm and minimal impact. Tucked into the lush foliage, each tent is fully furnished with its own shaded deck and a hammock. There is a dining area, bar and watersports gazebo, all of timber, thatch and canvas, and all adhering to the principles of eco-architecture. Unlike most island destinations in the region, Mumbo Island has never been populated by humans and is still in its natural state. This, together with the focus on non-motorized watersports, makes Mumbo Island ideal for the active outdoors enthusiast.

The most popular activities here are snorkeling through the crystal-clear water and lazing in a hammock and contemplating the stunning scenery. Other activities include diving — Mumbo’s PADI center offers rental gear and courses — and swimming, kayaking, and bird watching. Guests have the option of boating or paddling while exploring the granitic islands in the freshwater Rift Valley lake. Birders can enjoy the abundant African fish eagles among others and snorkelers and divers can view enormous numbers of fish species.

Mvuu Camp is situated on the banks of the Shire River in Liwonde National Park. A particularly rewarding way of arriving at Mvuu Camp is by boat from Liwonde town. This river trip takes guests thirty kilometers along the river, offering an excellent chance to see game and birds and the ever-changing scenery and vegetation along the banks.

The camp is a mix of stone and canvas chalets and special family tents, totaling twelve units. An impressive thatched dining and lounge area with river vistas is situated nearby. Dinners are sometimes held under the stars in a specially constructed boma. There is a new education and conference centre with facilities for up to forty delegates or smaller corporate and team building functions.

Mvuu Camp offers a wide range of options including camping, self-catering and full-board rates. The activities on offer are the same as those offered at Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, but the camp is better suited for families or for those on a budget. The area can be explored by activities such as boating trips, game drives, nature walks, bike rides and nonstop birding. The river harbors a dense population of hippo, flotillas of crocodiles and large numbers of elephant, the largest remaining population in the country. Sable occur in one of the greatest numbers in all of Africa and one of only two breeding groups of black rhino in Malawi reside in the park. Night drives can yield serval, civet, mongoose and genets.

Broad, languid and fringed by riverine forest, palms and inundated floodplains, the Shire River is the country's largest river and the stage for an awesome wilderness spectacle, the Liwonde National Park. Mvuu Wilderness Lodge is located in this intriguingly beautiful place. The lodge nestles on the banks of a lagoon with the main lounge building set high above the water for wonderful views.

Accommodation in this luxury camp comprises eight spacious tents, each with a private bathroom and a viewing platform looking out on the lagoon. Lodge facilities include a dining room, pub, lounge, an extensive wildlife library, a hide overlooking the river and a natural rock swimming pool.

The area can be explored by boating trips, game drives, nature walks, bike rides and nonstop birding. Liwonde, by its very nature, is about people as well, and no visit to Mvuu is complete without experiencing some of the sense of culture and community in one of the villages on its boundaries. Large number of hippo pods float in the river. In this lush and fertile area, an excellent diversity of animals, including elephant and sable antelope, impala and waterbuck, can be seen. Liwonde is home to the largest remaining elephant population in the country and one of only two breeding locations of black rhino in Malawi. The park also has large numbers of impala, reedbuck, waterbuck and warthog. Kudu and impala, together with sable herds, populate the woodlands beyond the floodplain, while yellow baboons entertain guests with their social antics.