Malawi Newsletter: December 2015

The Adventure Travel Show and the Destinations holiday & travel show are the UKs top two travel exhibitions dedicated to giving visitors the chance to discover brilliant new parts of the world!
Malawi will be present at both these shows. You will have the opportunity to find out about all of its natural wonders – from its stunning landscape, crystal clear lake, huge variety of wildlife (including the big five), as well as giving you chance to find out why they call it “The Warm Heart of Africa”. Come and see us there to find out more about your holiday options and to uncover more about this unique and fascinating destination face to face with experts! Read More

Malawi’s first ever 5 star hotel has celebrated 6 months of welcoming guests. Officially opened on 1 May 2015, the Umodzi Park business precinct in the heart of Malawi’s capital of Lilongwe, includes the world-class Bingu Wa Mutharika International Convention Centre (BICC), the five-star 130-key President Walmont hotel and nearby, is the private estate featuring 14 Presidential Villas for dignitaries and long-term stays. This multi-faceted development forms a vital part of Malawi’s plans to boost the tourism sector and is managed by Peermont Hotels, Casinos and Resorts. Peermont was awarded the management contract by the Umodzi Holdings Board in October 2014. Read More

In April 2016, Tremendous Horse Trails will be setting up business close to Luwawa Forest Lodge in northern Malawi. They will be open for day rides on May 1st, 2016. The intention is to create a trail about 75 km in length with simple log cabins placed about 25 km apart. A guide will accompany all rides, with the emphasis on slow, careful riding that allows the rider to take in the beauty of the flora and fauna. Each log cabin will have hot water, a shower, toilet, solar powered lighting, running water and a wood fired stove for cooking and heating as well as having beds for four people. For family and friends that don’t ride, transport to the cabins can be provided at an extra charge. Read More

Makuzi Beach Lodge, on the northern shore of Lake Malawi, have been hard at work upgrading some of their Standard Chalets. They’ve recently completed upgrades to one standard chalet up to a Superior and will have finished another 3 by January. Superior Chalets have full bathrooms, a large living space and a mini-bar fridge. Also by February they will have completed 2 new family chalets which have 2 rooms that are inter linked by a lounge and small verandah and set individually in the gardens with a lake facing view close to the beach. Makuzi Beach Lodge is located along the northern shores of Lake Malawi, 5km south of Chintheche and 7km north of Kande Beach. Read More

150 volunteers have visited Fisherman’s Rest in southern Malawi this summer helping to rebuild houses damaged in the January floods and running project my girl training sessions in 4 schools.  Read More

A lot has gone on in the past month for Fisherman’s Rest. With November typically the start of Malawi’s first downpours in its rainy season, preparations have been underway and repairs have been made to buildings that were damaged after last season’s flood. There is also an update on their library project from Fisherman Rest Volunteers, Tina and Lynne, and news on the chick chick project. Read More

Robin Pope Safaris’ Mkulumadzi Lodge’s visitors were spoilt with a selection of spectacular sightings recently. Elephants and a lion entertained the recent Mkulumadzi guests and guide during a game drive in the magnificent Majete Widlife Reserve. Seeing these two of the Big Five was a topic of conversation in its own right, but the visitors also spotted a beautiful rhino and a gorgeous leopard during their stay in Malawi. Both rhino and leopard are very elusive and tend to hide away in their bushveld home so the Mkulumadzi guests count themselves extremely lucky to have witnessed these fantastic sightings. The Mkulumadzi team is excitedly anticipating more thrilling wildlife sightings in Majete. Read More

In early October the Tongole Wilderness Lodge team celebrated not only excellent guest reviews, but also a new Tongole record of the fastest time to the top of Kasukusuku Mountain and back. The new record time to the peak of the mountain now stands at 59 minutes and the decent at 52 minutes, making the length of the total trip less than two hours. Mr.Takuhashi from Japan, an assistant manager, Emmanuel Kandiero, and a staff member, Innocent Kalanga, were the fortunate group breaking the record. Tongole is known for their extensive hiking safaris. Guests can choose from one, two or three hour long guided walking trails or adventurous treks across the Nkhotakota wilderness to Lake Malawi. Read More

It’s true, Malawi really is home to Blue Zebras, not quite like the one in the (retouched) picture above. You might have to look a little closer for these zebras, as they tend to be quite small. Nor do they have legs but gills instead, as they’re stunning little fish that live within the sparkling waters of Lake Malawi. The Blue Zebra originated in deep rocky waters of Lake Malawi in Africa and is one of the cichlid species. It is also known as the Mbuna Cichlid. The word “Mbuna” means “rock fish”, which refers to its habitat. Blue Zebras can be as small as 2.5cm in length, with larger species approaching nearly 15cm in length. They are endemic to Lake Malawi, where they are most commonly found living in the north and north-eastern areas of the lake. Read More

Malawi is a hidden gem. It is the unique combination of Landscape, Wildlife, Lake and, the People which makes this one of Africa’s most amazing countries. Safe and friendly, Malawi offers visitors a fascinating variety of sights and experiences. The diversity of landscapes, the huge lake and the national parks and reserves provide the foundation for the unrivalled choice of safaris, water sports and outdoor activities on offer.