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Lake Malawi Retreats

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 -1:00:00 GMT

Lake Malawi Retreats

As owners of The Responsible Safari Company we want to be able to recommend the very best lodges to our visitors. To do this we have to try them out...and what a wonderful job that is!

For further information about either of these lodges please email Kate and Dom

Nkwichi Lodge, Lake Niassa, Mozambique

14 hours drive from Malawi (7 hours on dirt roads), one border crossing, 5 cars passed, faded Portuguese architecture photographed, deserted streets navigated, incredible scenery, high speed boat trip and we were there. Nkwichi Lodge is a true wilderness experience and we have completely fallen in love with it!

The Nkwichi Feel: Goosebumps…walking across the white sand beach, swimming in the clear lake waters, the utter silence at nighttime, waking up to the sun rising at the end of our bed…Nkwichi has it's own unqiue feel, miles from anywhere this wilderness lodge has been remarkabaly designed to offer bare foot luxury in the middle of nowhere! Nkwichi takes it name from the squeaky sound of the fine white sand between your toes...

Rooms: Every room has a unique feel to it, with beautifully designed outdoor bathrooms, funky traditional artwork, private decks for romantic meals and steps down into the clear waters of the lake. The open air rooms are all original in their design and we quite wanted to spend each night in a different room just to test them out! We travelled with friends and chose to stay on the exclusive Songea beach- and had it all to ourselves!

Beach(es): The main beach at Nkwichi is idyllic picture perfect white sand gorgeous! The lake laps gently onto the shores moulding the beautifully coloured stones and creating a lovely sandy lake bottom ideal for playing frizbee or for families with children to play within their depth. Little sun shades have been cleverly positioned along the wide beach to offer private shade areas making it feel like you have your own private retreat! Some rooms even have their own little beaches and bays, very romantic and ideal for honeymooners.

Food: Before each meal one of the Nkwichi staff ask you where you would like to eat and there are so may options! You can eat on your private terrace, at the main lodge, on the beach, on the decking, in the forest, on a private island….being so cut off from main food sources they do incredibly well to provide guests with delicious food. The menu is inventive and has it’s own unique twist to it! The homemade passion fruit ice cream was our favourite!

The Nkwichi Commitment: The lodge is part of The Manda Wilderness Project and an integral part of staying at Nkwichi is learning about the fantastic work that is going on within the surrounding communities. Their model is community led and appears to be both successful and sustainable with the lodge contributing through a percentage of their bed nights going into community funds. During our stay we took a boat ride to a nearby primary school and chatted at length to the staff about the different community initiatives taking place and how guests can spend the morning walking to local communities, visit schools and healthcare projects and see first hand the impact the project is having.

After a farewell dinner with local singing and dancing we had one final night sleeping under the stars before waking early to take the boat trip back to Cobue. The sun was rising as we left the lodge and sleepily we all watched as the lodge disappeared back in to the hillside and this slice of wilderness remained hidden and untouched as I am sure it still will be when we next return.

Pumulani Lodge, Lake Malawi, Southern Lakeshore.

Tucked into a small bay just round from the popular Cape Maclear sits the unique design of Malawi’s newest lakeside lodge, Pumulani. Expertly designed and built by Robin Pope Safaris, Pumulani is reached by a bumpy track winding its way up the hillside to the grand reception of the lodge. A wonderful welcome both by the staff and the truly outstanding views down over Lake Malawi immediately offer the wow factor.

The Rooms: Stunning views, luxurious designs, romantic romantic romantic! Each room at Pumulani has a unique design and the space created makes it feel as though you have your own private apartment with large open plan bathroom, living area and bedroom. Each area of your ‘room’ has been well thought out from a large power shower/wet-room area to the clever use of space and building design to create that feeling of privacy and romance!

Infinity Pool and The Beach: Teetering on the edge of the hillside is the lodge infinity pool, purely designed for sipping cocktails and watching the setting sun! After our blissful dip in the pool we ate lunch on the terrace and took a walk down past the rooms to the beach. Quite a walk! But completely worth it! Lake Malawi laps onto the shores and idyllically placed sun loungers invite visitors to while away the hours, watch the local fishermen and soak up the rays.

Dinner Under The Stars: A truly stunning Lake Malawi sunset completed our first day and Emma cooked up a magnificent meal for us that we ate on the terrace complete with a sky brimming full of stars. The terrace is ideal for a romantic dinner for two and the food, wine and excellent service left us idyllically happy as we sauntered back through the forested paths to our welcoming room.

Activities: Up early to the sunrise and an early morning guided walk through the forest following the lakeshore round to a small bay where our kayaks were waiting. Ideal way to wake up, stunning birdlife and such a treat to be able to walk one way and then get a kayak back to the lodge. After a laid back paddle we made it back to the beach and after a quick change we set off on our morning dhow sailing breakfast- what a treat! It was incredibly spoiling and very romantic to sail on the traditional wooden dhow with regular stops for swimming and snorkeling on route. It was brilliant fun diving off the boat and especially because the Pumulani staff all joined in and we ended up having a diving and jumping competition! With so many activities on offer we opted for one final boat ride, this time at high speed with Kate skiing along behind!

A truly wonderful stay and we would highly recommend anyone wanting a bit of lakeside luxury to come and stay at Pumulani Lodge!

Kate answers some tough questions!

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 -1:00:00 GMT

Firstly a huge congratulations to Jayme for being the first woman to trek across the West Bank of the Palestinian Territories, a fantastic achievement!

I read Jayme’s article to our small team here in Malawi and, before long, phones rang unanswered, emails were put aside, and we all let ourselves heatedly debate issues her column brought up and questions she asked. This is not an unusual scene in our office! As an emerging sustainable travel company working in Malawi, we are constantly questioning the global perspectives of responsible travel, the ecotourism industry, and our own company’s practices. We believe we have a responsibility to our visitors and Malawi to offer sustainable travel experiences. When asked if I would like to respond to some of the important issues Jayme’s article raised, I jumped at the chance to join the debate.

Rebelling from working within the ‘mass-tourism’ industry, we came to Africa very idealistic about what we wanted to achieve. Shouldering out backpacks and grand ideas, we worked in an ‘eco-lodge’ spent time with ‘eco-tourists’ and felt very proud to be living such an ‘ecofriendly’ lifestyle in rural Kenya. The terminology certainly suggests a utopia of travel ideals, the ideal solution to those bad tourism footprints, but—as Jayme suggests—it is far from perfect, and we are all still ‘tourists’ at the end of the day.

However, if we take away all the jargon, remove the large fluffy ‘green’ terminology, and extend ourselves away from separating ‘good’ from ‘bad’ tourism, then is there something in the middle that has potential. We believe there is a spark that, if harnessed correctly, can lead to economic development alongside the protection of cultures and landscapes; we believe tourism does have a place within the development and conservation field.

Furthermore, I think there are a huge number of ‘tourists/travelers/adventure seekers’ who want to be part of it, and I think they will be the ones perhaps to follow in Jayme’s footsteps. They will be the ones who will research before they depart, accept advice from local operators, learn a few words of the local language, and sample local food. They will not be the ones simply buying T-shirts to prove they have visited. In contrast, the T-shirt wearers will forever be lapping up the sun and sipping cocktails not far from their large package hotel a few hours’ plane ride from home. To me, the joy of living in this existential society is that we all want very different things, and, in terms of tourism, I think this is perhaps where the answer might just lie.

In Jayme’s article, she wishes she hadn’t visited Nahla Awwad’s small community and suggests some of the deeply exploitative sides often caused by mass tourism and uncontrolled large-scale development of an area. It sometimes seems very ironic to me that people in the responsible tourism industry are selling some of the most stunning ‘tourist free’ areas of the world and steering these hidden gems toward becoming just the opposite! I have struggled with this conundrum while living and working in a beautiful ‘un spolit’ country with tourism in its infancy; however, I have realized that the number of tourists trekking across it is out of my control, and other untouched parts of the world are certainly not mine to cultivate or protect from future development.

People will come seeking the unfound areas, and the stunning rural villages high in mountains of Malawi will change, just as Nahla’s village will develop. Is it our decision to say this change should be in a way that keeps the area looking beautiful, keeps the villagers in their immaculately built mud huts, holds thousands of people in the cycle of poverty so the odd ‘adventurer’ can pass through and wonder at this ‘un- westernised’ community?

Recently, we were approached by a large travel company that wanted to send a number of large groups to Malawi. Initially, we did not apply to run the trips; it was mass tourism, horrendous—no way we would get involved. But then, we took our idealistic hats off and realized these trips were going to come to Malawi anyway. They would just be run by another operator with a different itinerary and a different experience. So, we applied and got the contract. Now travelers are coming, and their itinerary is packed with stops at various sustainably operated community ecotourism initiatives. They are given extensive pre-travel packs to read up on the history, culture and places they will visit. Plus, 1.5% of each tour goes to a small environmental project in Northern Malawi.

My point: It is not our job or our right to stop tourists, to say where people can or cannot travel; they will come anyway. Perhaps, we should be concentrating on how they travel once they are here, what positive affect they can have, and how tourism-generated income can have a lasting sustainable effect on some of the world’s poorest communities. I am not meaning to suggest that Nahla should put all her hopes in tourism, leave her teaching job, and see her village flourish under the dreams of large hotels and an influx of tourists, but I am suggesting that tourism does have the ability and the potential to be an avenue for sustainable development, an avenue that is separate from the handouts of aid dependency, an opportunity for economic and social development. But, it cannot stand alone; it needs to be modeled specifically for each country and each district, controlled by the government, advised by the tourism industry, and fulfilled hand-in-hand with each community.

When studying for my Masters in International Development and Education, our tutor told us in my first seminar that we were the future of development. It was our job to ensure we did not repeat mistakes and learn from those who came before us. Jayme’s article points out mistakes that governments, the tourism industry, and travelers themselves have made in the past, but I believe this does not have to be the future. Just recently, the United Nations World Tourism Organization announced that tourism has been identified by more than half of the world’s poorest countries as an effective means to take part in the global economy and reduce poverty.

Is it perhaps time to give us future travelers a chance? Is it not time to look forward and hope we learn from the devastation caused by mass tourism, the communities struggling to conserve their cultures, the last trees standing among large hotels and tarmac roads? It seems enormously positive that we are now asking questions before we travel, that we want to be involved in these debates, that we consider what effect we are having before we travel to remote areas. It should be seen as positive that we live in an age where we have created terminology like ‘traveling green’ and that companies like mine are being set up within fragile countries to steer tourism down the right route so communities benefit and become involved in this wave of tourism. Our company flourishes because these questions are being asked and travelers are demanding more answers.

It’s true; not everyone is benefiting and ‘eco-touism models’ are far from perfect, but there is discussion, a sharing of best practices, and more involvement from communities. We do truly need you ‘wanderlusts’ to keep traveling. We need you to support the Nahla’s of this world, buy honey from our bee keepers, provide stories around the campfire of rural villages, and keep telling people about your favorite hidden spots so well-managed tourism can truly benefit some of the world’s poorest people. And I promise, as a local tour operator, I will continue to advise local communities on the best tourism practices. I will continue teaching local Malawians how to handle the increase of tourism, and I will continue to ensure my visitors protect the culture and respect the land they trek across.

Responsible Safari Company and Geotourism Development Fund

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 -1:00:00 GMT

Written By Will Turner, The Responsible Safari Company, 18th April 2011

This article was first published by The Travel Word, who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article on their blog.

My time in Maputo, Mozambique, was coming to an end. I had been based there for several months to work toward the launch of the Geotourism Development Foundation (GDF), a not-for-profit organisation committed to elevating travel as a force for good. Then I was due to travel by motorbike to Malawi via Swaziland, South Africa and Zimbabwe. My purpose was, in two weeks time, to meet with The Responsible Safari Company (RSC), a local tour operator in Malawi with which I had become well acquainted due to their active engagement with and strong advocacy of community-based tourism in Malawi.

I would spend a day with them, to experience firsthand three of four initiatives that would benefit from a tourism development project, to be supported by the GDF, that would improve the RSC’s ability to guide visitors to community initiatives. This in turn would aid local community groups by bringing in additional revenue through tourism.

In collaboration with the RSC, each grassroots community initiative had recognised that tourism could be a beneficial source of income that did not involve forsaking the needs of their local communities. The RSC, with their thoughtful and considerate approach, would provide a critical support: connecting these interesting and diverse local initiatives with the global travel market.

The ‘win-win-win’ benefits were evident: The local groups would enjoy a new way of making ends meet and forging meaningful bonds with discerning travellers; visitors would gain the kinds of unique insights that can only come from meeting with a local community and learning about their lives; and the RSC could expand their operations in line with their sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

Recycling paper at the Nchima Paper Recycling Trust is a careful and skilled process. Photo courtesy of Will Turner.

Nchima Paper Making Trust
I was warmly greeted by Chimwemwe and Andrew of the RSC, in whose company I left Blantyre, Malawi’s second largest city. Our first stop was the Nchima Paper Making Trust, where Dickson Chaona and his team have developed an inventive means of raising funds for their local community: They collect waste paper and recycle it by hand, and the new paper they create is then sold for arts and crafts at the local market. Cardboard is recycled too and used to make fire briquettes, a welcome alternative to charcoal for cooking.

When we arrived, Dickson was stirring a thick, sloppy soup of broken-down paper, water and starch. He explained to me the benefit of RSC’s visits. “It is great that they bring foreign visitors to come and see us. Raising money from these visits means that we can support more and more children in the community. These are children whose families can’t afford the school fees and without our support would not have access to any education.”

He then offered me the oversized pestle and asked if I’d like to have a go at mixing. “Our guests always enjoy giving it a try and they always buy our gift cards after our demonstration as well. A portion of the proceeds come to us, so that we make a small living too.”

The FOMO health clinic plays a vital role in the community in Malawi, where access to medical care is limited. Photo courtesy of Will Turner.

FOMO Orphan Daycare Centre
Next we headed further south into the countryside, infamous for its mountainous outcrops and exquisite patchwork quilt of tea fields. It looked divine as the sun glistened on the silvery leaves. We were heading to FOMO, an orphan daycare centre in the Mulanje district. As we arrived at one of the 13 centres, we were met by a flurry of feet as all the children rushed together and broke into huge smiles and song. It was quite a welcome, one that I doubt I’ll ever forget!

We then moved inside for a display of traditional song and dance. I was thoroughly enjoying the performance; the kids’ agility and rhythm was breathtaking. But I couldn’t help thinking that some visitors might feel a little uncomfortable with the display.

“Do you think this might be regarded as a little exploitative?” I asked FOMO manager Zoe Nthala. “Well you should ask the kids. The fact is, this is what they love to do and practice for fun, every day. Traditional song and dance is a big part of Malawian culture, and the children just love having people to perform to!”

A warm welcome is always guaranteed at FOMO Orphan Daycare Centre, Mulanje, Malawi. Photo courtesy of The Resonsible Safari Company

Our FOMO tour then moved on to a health centre, driving school, tailoring school and computer lab. All of these facilities are available to the disadvantaged children in the region, a staggering total of 4000 of them. Each child can receive a basic daily meal, enough clothes to cover their back and a scholarship covering the cost of their school fees.

“How do you manage to do so much?” I asked. “We do a lot with very little and it’s a real community effort. We help each other, grow our own maize to feed ourselves and we waste nothing,” said Zoe. “We rely solely on private donations and we are so grateful for the support of RSC. Not only do they bring paying visitors to us, whose contributions go a long way, but they also arrange for their guests to bring clothes, school equipment, toys, etc. We all like having visitors come and meet us, and they always seem to have a good time too.”

Nancholi Youth Organisation
Our last stop was at a community tourism initiative on the outskirts of Blantyre recently established by local nongovernmental organisation, the NAYO (Nancholi Youth Organisation) centre, and made possible with guidance from both the RSC and the NAYO centre. I met the management team, who provided an informative introduction to the work that they were undertaking to help the community and area’s most vulnerable residents, particularly those suffering from health problems. They shared their ambitious plans, noting that financing was, as usual, the principal problem. The appeal of sustainable revenue from tourism was a welcome alternative to hit-and-miss grant funding.

The local secondary school at Nancholi awaits funds to continue its construction. The school's management hope to receive some funding support from NAYO. Photo courtesy of The Resonsible Safari Company

I was accompanied on a visit of the facility by a trained volunteer, who invited me to meet some of the program’s beneficiaries. This included a chat with an HIV patient who was benefitting from some home-based care. She explained to me the difficulties of coping with the disease that affects so many people in Malawi as well as the wider region. The help she was receiving from NAYO was vital, as she could not afford to travel to the hospital; in addition, as a widow, she struggled to look after her family.

It was a powerful and moving moment for me. Despite such a heart-wrenching encounter, it was reassuring to know that she and others in the neighbourhood in a similar position might be receiving some assistance. But how many others go without? How many more people could be helped if more travellers visited the project? It put into perspective just how beneficial a $25 tour fee can really be.

Looking Back to Look Ahead
As we made our return journey after a fascinating and inspiring day, I continued to pepper my hosts, Chimwemwe and Andrew, with questions. Their enthusiastic and informed responses never faltered.

The exuberant children at FOMO Orphan Daycare Centre are always keen to play and perform for visitors. Photo courtesy of The Responsible Safari Company

“We are very passionate about working with these communities. It is vital that the benefits of tourism reach the people of Malawi and we can directly achieve this by running tourism initiatives with grassroots organisations,” commented Chimwemwe. “It’s fantastic to share this unique side of Malawi with visitors. We are very excited about starting our GDF project because this will allow us to share the benefits even further.”

I couldn’t agree more. Looking forward, more than ever, to the launch of the GDF, I also anticipate hearing from others about what I know will be their most memorable day in Malawi.

Kate's Malawi Guide- Much Better Adventures

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 -1:00:00 GMT

By Kate Webb, The Responsible Safari Company, March 2011.

Kate's Malawi Guide- Much Better Adventures

Why do I love Malawi

I love the extreme diversity of Malawi. Morning dive in Lake Malawi and evening safari in Liwonde National Park. Morning Mulanje Mountain and afternoon biking in Zomba. It constantly surprises me!

Highlights in Malawi

Southern Malawi Tea Estates: The scenery is stunning, the lodges small and romantic, the activities chilled but endless, the atmosphere incredible. Hiking, biking, quadbiking around Satemwa Tea Estate- idyllic holiday adventure travel!

Diving Lake Malawi: Apart from it being the cheapest place in the world to gain your PADI open water diving certificate it is also one of the most beautiful. The fresh waters of Lake Malawi are teeming with fish, most famous are the hundreds of species of brightly coloured Cyclid Fish. Best spots for diving are Cape Maclear (Southern) and Nkhata Bay (Northern).

Domwe Island Lake Malawi: Kayaking to Domwe is awesome. You can’t spot the tiny beach and stilted rooms until you round the final rock and it all comes into sight. Domwe is Malawi’s robinson crusoe island. The kayak trip there is short (about 45minutes) but great fun with a group and if you hold onto to your kayaks for your stay at Domwe there are other islands to kayak to and fantastic snorkelling around Domwe.

Livingstonia: There is a tiny little place called Lukwe Eco-Camp tucked into the side of Livingstonia in Northern Malawi. It is basic but the charm and views are unbeatable. Views down over Lake Malawi and nights spent in little wooden cabins perched on the edge of the hillside. The area is ideal for keen hikers and there are some fantastic waterfalls close by. We love Lukwe because it is simple and the environment up at Livingstonia asks for just that.

Ntchisi District: Mountain biking, hiking, strolling through the rural villages of Ntchisi must be a huge Malawi highlight. The views are magnificent the tracks and adjacent rainforest an adventure enthusiasts dream and the hospitality and food at Ntchisi Forest Lodge are unbeatable!

Favorite spot for kayaking in Malawi?*

Lake Malawi- Domwe and Mumbo Island. The clear blue waters make diving in after a long paddle so rewarding and stopping near the rocks for a snorkel and not worrying about the tide washing the kayak away- perfect! Paddling out to the islands is such an adventure and makes the first cold beer well worth it!

Favorite places to grab some food in Blantyre, Malawi?

Hidden gem, ‘Veggie Delight’ on Glynn Jones Road in Blantyre. Only locals really know about this haunt. Cheap cheap vegetarian Indian food in cool little café- and they do takeaways!

Favorite places for a drink in Blantyre, Malawi?

Has to be Doogles, in Blantyre, just had a facelift and much nicer now!

What’s the best time of year to come to ?

Hottest is November time. We love September because of blossom and scenery stunning. But cooler months of June/July when everything is still green but rains have finished is also great time of year to come. Note: December to March many tracks are not passable because of the rains.

Anything else you need to share for people planning a muchbetter adventure to?

Malawi is difficult to get to with no direct flights but it is so so worth it- if you want something different, and want to leave inspired and invigorated then come to Malawi!

To read the original article, click HERE

Responsible Tourism Week - A better answer to some tough questions

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 -1:00:00 GMT

By Kate Webb, The Responsible Safari Company. March 28th 2011

We at The Responsible Safari Company were excited to celebrate Responsible Tourism Week, but it also sparked some heated discussions and questions in the office about how responsible we are.

Should we be shouting it from the rooftops or just quietly getting on with what we do? Are there guidelines on how to be a responsible tourism company? Do you need to make a huge impact through your actions? And, most importantly, do you need to be awarded certificates and spend money on marketing your ‘greenness’ to be accepted into the responsible tourism club?

Is it about which list you make, which award you win, how many stars you have or green flags you wave? Do we need the above to call ourselves a responsible tourism company and will you get more green travellers because of this? We are not so sure.

Does being ‘green’ have to start with the colour of money?
Over the last few weeks we have been trying to find ways to market ourselves as a green tourism provider. Recently, we started with a Google search and were bombarded by results covering everything from sustainable travel to green products to environmental marketing companies. They were different names but all seemed to offer the same thing: boxes needed to be ticked, documents submitted and money transferred.

We are passionate about ensuring our company offers sustainable travel experiences. We love writing articles and actually enjoy the box-filling and submission policies. However, what we lack is the wads of money.

I must admit I feel a little lost as to what is worth spending money on and what isn’t. What does the industry recognise as a fantastic company to be associated with? Which stars and awards should we apply for? Which organisations can help us move forward and come up with new ways to ensure we protect our brand as a responsible tourism company? Perhaps most importantly, which companies do travellers want to see us associated with?

Reality check: responsible tourism by what standards?
I find it amusing sitting here in the dark as our electricity has once more been cut while I was trying to complete another form that asks how much power our company uses. As the printer grinds to a halt halfway through a document printed on non-recycled paper, I laugh. We use hardly any electricity since it is switched off every few days and we can’t buy recycled paper here! I don’t know whether to tick the box or cross it out.

Yes we recycle, but no we don’t recycle our glass or our plastic because there is no such facility in Malawi. Instead, every month we diligently collect our office paper waste, our plastic water containers and our kitchen tins and take them to local community projects for the children to make crafts with and for a local women’s group to make paper products with. Our plastic goes to our house staff, who take it down to the local market and resell it.

Is that the recycling policy that will get me points? Can we do more from a country like Malawi? Are we banging our heads against a brick wall about all the things we can’t do and ignoring the things we can and are doing? Can we shout about these please!?

Simply doing what we care about
The Responsible Safari Company is built out of passion in the belief that tourism can and should benefit local communities. We celebrated responsible tourism week without green-coloured flags and endorsements, but instead with a team of dedicated Malawians who are passionate about our belief in what we are doing.

Yes it is small. Yes we have a long way to go. Yes perhaps we will find we need to fork out money to show the industry all the good things we are doing. But for now, we will continue to support the communities with which we work, continue to train our staff, and continue to try and inspire our visitors to truly see Malawi! This makes us very happy to have been part of Responsible Tourism Week!

Malawi in the Press

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

Malawi has never been a country to attract masses of media coverage, and the comment "you never hear much about it" was one often made in the past. But times are changing, and little Malawi's starting to be noticed at last!

The general lack of coverage of Malawi has generally not been viewed as such a bad thing. For one, it indicates that all is safe, well and stable in Malawi since most African news stories (well most news stories from anywhere really) tend to focus on negatives - wars, political unrest, famine. For another, we don't want tooo many people finding out about our hidden gem and spoiling it! But the charms of Malawi really do deserve to be better known.

Of course, Madonna's visits in recent years have brought the eyes of the world on to Malawi, but the global media's obsession with the world's biggest pop star isn't actually quite as deep as it once was and her more recent visits have received fairly limited attention.

What's encouraging, is that Malawi is now receiving coverage in the travel press, who are reporting on its varied and unspoilt charms as a holiday destination.

MSN Travel has had a Malawi feature on it's homepage main menu for a month or more.

Travel Africa Magazine's latest Autumn edition has a full feature on Malawi's unique Nyika National Park, where Chelinda Lodge has just re-opened

In the couple of months, there have been full length Malawi features in Real Travel (Malawi was the cover story) and Adventure Travel magazines, and another is imminent in the Daily Mail. A journalist with a Daily Telegraph commission, and one from Wanderlust magazine are due out to Malawi soon. Throw in a couple of regional newspapers and a BBC Radio 4 documentary, and its clear that both coverage and awareness are definitely growing.

And it's not just the UK - a prolific freelance travel journalist from Germany has visited recently, and Malawi has received coverage as far afield as Brazil!

Maybe at last, Malawi is starting to get the attention it deserves, and "I saw something about Malawi the other day" will become the new regular comment!

The Warm Heart of Africa

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

Malawi has claimed to be 'The Warm Heart of Africa' for decades now. These marketing slogans can sometimes be stretching the truth, but in Malawi's case, this is a title that it well and truly continues to deserve.

People travel to Malawi for a variety of reasons - the Lake, the Wildlife, the Landscape (usually a combination of all 3), but there's little doubt that the overwhelming memory from their time in Malawi will be the People they've met. The Malawians greet all visitors with a beaming smile, and with a genuine, disarming warmth. They will go out of their way to be friendly and helpful to anyone who has done them the honour of visiting their country.

It came as no surprise that Malawi was listed as the 'Happiest' Country in Africa by Forbes recently. For more, click here We didn't need a report to know that!

There was a wonderful example recently of Malawians, and the Malawi tourist industry, rallying round to help a visitor in need. We were alerted to a 'missing person' in Malawi who had travelled up from South Africa but not been heard from by his family for a week or more. A quick message round the industry spread the word across the country and the search was on (including Air Malawi checking all their passenger lists). Within hours, he had been found and put back in touch with his family. He'd been laid low with malaria in a remote hospital bed.

Lodge developments are continuing apace in Malawi

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

Lodge developments are continuing apace in Malawi.

Down in the far south of the country, Robin Pope Safaris have begun work on their lodge in Majete Wildlife Reserve. Set at the confluence of two rivers and accessed via a footbridge, this promises to be a VERY special lodge and a fabulous addition to the Malawi portfolio. The site is stunning, though not without some problems when it comes to actually building a lodge there! For an update, see the recent news item.

Meanwhile, work on the second lodge in Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Tongole, is coming along well. It’s had its ups and downs, but that’s to be expected when building in the African wilderness. Progress is being made and spirits are still very high, buoyed by a recent party for all the construction workers! A container has left the UK stacked full of items to make your stay something special when you go and visit. And they are currently sourcing their vehicles and thrashing out the usual Land Rover vs Japanese arguments! A mix of the two seems to be the happy compromise – test them out and see which ones take to the rugged landscapes of Nkhotakota best! A September opening is still on track. Meanwhile, new scout camps and an impressive gate entry into the Reserve are being built by the Department of National Parks & Wildlife.

Weddings in Malawi

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

The question 'can we get married in Malawi' is an increasingly asked one. It's a very easy answer - YES! The paperwork and technicalities are relatively straightforward and can all be organised by any lodge that offers to be the venue for your wedding.

If a beach wedding is what you fancy, then there's nowhere better than Lake Malawi's stunning beaches and crystal clear waters. But here, as well as the beaches, there's the added advantage of being able to go on safari as part of your honeymoon, or explore some of Malawi's beautiful scenery.

And the weddings don't have to be restricted to the beaches. 'Local churches' don't come any more impressive than the 19th Century, missionary-built St Paul's on Likoma - a cathedral the size of Winchester's on an island in the middle of lake Malawi! Or how about on an historic, colonial tea estate overlooked by the highest mountain in Central Africa?

With the main interest currently in the beaches, a number of Malawi's main lakeshore lodges now offer weddings packages. The latest to join this list is Ngala Beach Lodge.

On 1st May they hosted their first beach wedding which was a great success. The guest list totaled some 170 guests. so outside caterers were needed to help out in providing the wedding lunch - which proved to be excellent. The guests all had a great time. Ngala will now be marketing itself as a weddings venue and will shortly be updating their website with details and available packages.

Responsible tourism in action - Mumbo Island

Fri, 28 May 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

On Mumbo Island, responsible tourism has always been at the core of their operations. This month we have a couple of wonderful examples of how the local communities are supported by Kayak Africa.

Last month, Billy Bwanali, the local tailor at Cape Maclear, re-upholstered every cushion on Mumbo and Domwe islands. He completed this epic task in three long days, setting up his Singer treadle machine on the deck at basecamp and sewing all day. Everything now looks fresh and gorgeous in the new chitenje colour scheme of green, blue and black. But (and this is the is the really good part), some of the old cushion covers were still in good condition, so Billy used them to make one hundred new dresses for the orphans in Chembe village. How is that for a great story of reducing, re-using, recycling and the support of local communities by tourism?

And it doesn't stop there. A local humanitarian, appropriately named Vision, looks after these vulnerable orphaned children on an entirely informal basis. He and his wife feed over two hundred children daily on money donated by a number of people in the village, including Kayak Africa. Vision has an admirable vegetable garden where he grows food for the orphans, teaches them gardening skills and sells this produce to the local lodges: some of Mumbo’s delicious salads come from this garden – food with a conscience!

The orphans aren't the only ones to benefit in Cape Maclear. On the 1st May, the larger than life “Grey Beard of African Adventure”, Kingsley Holgate, visited Cape Maclear. He and his entourage of volunteers are journeying north through Africa from South Africa to Uganda, taking in Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, as part of the United Against Malaria initiative, an umbrella partnership of many interested parties aiming to eradicate malaria in Africa. This is one of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. They were distributing mosquito nets, predominantly to pregnant women and to women with babies and toddlers, as they are most susceptible to the disease. Insecticide impregnated nets are shown to greatly reduce the incidence of malaria. Kingsley came to Chembe Village, Cape Maclear at the invitation of Kayak Africa, who arranged this visit and his previous visit in 2008.

Responsible Travel in Malawi

Thu, 27 May 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

'Responsible Travel' is a big buzz phrase these days with all and sundry trying to jump on the band wagon and claim to be responsible for the marketing benefits it brings. We're often asked if there is anyone practising responsible tourism in Malawi, but the operators in Malawi are generally bemused by this question. It's an absolute no-brainer to them - of course they are, always have been and always will be. They were doing it long before anyone came up with a term for it - it's just the way they've always been. The fact is that Malawi's lodges and safari operators didn't just spot a marketing opportunity and decide to badge themselves as responsible. No, the very reason they are running these business is from a love for Malawi and a strong desire to want to support local communities in Malawi, and conserve natural environments. You'd be hard pressed to find a lodge in Malawi that didn't have an active community support programme. And if they are based in a protected area (national park, wildlife reserve, or forest reserve) then work preserving the environment around them is what takes up much of their time and effort.

Do these lodges have carefully drafted 'Responsible Tourism' policies? Most don't.

Do these lodges use 'Responsible Tourism' as a prominent, slick marketing tool and make it immediately obvious that's how they operate? No.

Do these lodge support local communities and work hard to preserve the natural world around them? You bet!

Is this something they expect to be rewarded for, or to generate them more business? No, they do it because these are the very reasons they have chosen to set up in these locations.

For more information, we've a Responsible Travel section of the site and a Charities section. And keep your eyes on the News items and Blogs. Most of the news stories we get from the lodges in Malawi are about the success of their community projects - it's what they are most proud of.

Refurbs & Upgrades

Tue, 11 May 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

There's lots going on in Malawi this year, with new lodges being built, and current ones being refurbished and upgraded. Really, there hasn't been a year like it before. It's very exciting to see these new developments, and a real indication that Malawi's tourism is going from strength to strength. Nobody would build or re-furbish a lodge in Malawi if they didn't see a demand for it. the demand seems to be ever growing.

We'll keep you updated on all these developments as they happen - through the blog and news pages on this site, and through Twitter - so do keep coming back to check what's going on.

Already, if you look at the News page, you'll see various stories on upgrades and developments. An update on that comes from Kaya Mawa, which was closed for many months before re-opening in April, now with suites, private houses and plunge pools throughout! Their first month re-opened has been a great success, with fantastic feedback from their first guests. And they've just had a photographer visit, so expect some new pictures on their website soon: www.kayamawa.com

New Website!

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 -1:00:00 GMT

Our website has already established itself over the last 10 years as THE source of information on travel to and around Malawi, but it was beginning to look fairly old fashioned, and was falling behind in terms of functionality. After many months of hard work (by the guys at Pedalo Design, not by us!), we're really excited that the new site is about to launch!

There's a great new fresh design, it's easier to navigate and easier to manage. There is even more useful information for anyone planning a trip to Malawi, and brand new visuals to show you just how beautiful the country is. We'll soon even have video clips up on the site.

We'll be tweeting and blogging, and putting regular news items on the site, so you can keep fully up to date with what's happening as Malawi's tourism starts to take off!