Malawi accommodation, Viphya mountains
| country: | Malawi |
| location: | Viphya mountains, Northern Malawi |
| price: | From US $10 (bunkhouse) - US $70 (en-suite chalets full board) per person per night. B&B US $25 per person per night. Camping US $5 per person per night. Self catering cottage US $95 per night (sleeps 4/5). |
description
This lodge is situated deep in the Viphya mountains in Northern Malawi.
The lodge, situated at over 5000 ft above sea level and Malaria free, is nestled in an ideally situated area of the Viphya mountains, in one of the most tranquil and beautiful scenic locations that the North of Malawi can offer. There is something for everyone at the lodge whether you come for our teambuilding course, bird watching with one of our expert guides, or just the peace of this fine, rustic location. You will find it here at this forest lodge.
You will find opportunities to explore remote woodland paths and rural Malawi life on one of our wilderness safari walks or you may be interested in outdoor sporting activities. The lodge can offer you something different to the usual African experience! This lodge is dedicated to the protection of our environment, and the support of the local community in order to build for a better future.
We also offer exciting mountain bike challenges, again entirely up to your discretion. For the more adventurous, we offer rock climbing as well as abseiling. Water activities include fishing, sailing, kayaking and canoeing. We can also offer day trips out to places of historical interest and scenic beauty.
The lodge is also working in partnership with local villages and part of your experience could include a 24 hour cultural visit to an African village or a visit to a working open cast mine. We also have 4x4 adventure drives and training, which go through some of the most idyllic parts of the country.
Other activities include archery, squash, table tennis, volley ball, plenty of children's' activities in a safe environment. All our activities are carried out by our fully trained members of staff, who are there to make sure that your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
The lodge, situated at over 5000 ft above sea level and Malaria free, is nestled in an ideally situated area of the Viphya mountains, in one of the most tranquil and beautiful scenic locations that the North of Malawi can offer. There is something for everyone at the lodge whether you come for our teambuilding course, bird watching with one of our expert guides, or just the peace of this fine, rustic location. You will find it here at this forest lodge.
You will find opportunities to explore remote woodland paths and rural Malawi life on one of our wilderness safari walks or you may be interested in outdoor sporting activities. The lodge can offer you something different to the usual African experience! This lodge is dedicated to the protection of our environment, and the support of the local community in order to build for a better future.
special things to do and see here
There are plenty of activities that we can offer you at our forest lodge. As well as exciting corporate leadership courses, which are ideal for both business and school groups, we also offer walking, both long and short wilderness treks, two day wilderness trails and gorge walking and orienteering. We also offer exciting mountain bike challenges, again entirely up to your discretion. For the more adventurous, we offer rock climbing as well as abseiling. Water activities include fishing, sailing, kayaking and canoeing. We can also offer day trips out to places of historical interest and scenic beauty. The lodge is also working in partnership with local villages and part of your experience could include a 24 hour cultural visit to an African village or a visit to a working open cast mine. We also have 4x4 adventure drives and training, which go through some of the most idyllic parts of the country.
Other activities include archery, squash, table tennis, volley ball, plenty of children's' activities in a safe environment. All our activities are carried out by our fully trained members of staff, who are there to make sure that your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
rooms, food and facilities
There is a dining area at the lodge, with daily meals prepared by our staff members. There are self catering facilities at the lodge for those who prefer to do their own cooking for themselves. The lodge also contains a fully stocked kitchen, a lounge area famous for its Baobab fireplace, and a fully stocked bar, where guests tend to meet and exchange stories of the day over a few night caps.Special events can be arranged and hosted at the lodge, which have included in the past, evenings with some of Malawi's top musical entertainers!
how to find us
The lodge is situated 240 km north of Lilongwe 120km south of Mzuzu and 10 km east of the main M1 tar road.By road: Signs on the main M1 road point you in the right direction along all weather dirt roads to the lodge. All access roads are maintained and passable to vehicles. The lodge is situated overlooking the Luwawa dam.
By bus: If you are travelling by bus, you can be picked up at the Luwawa junction just give us a call or let us know when you will be arriving and we can come and get you.
On foot: From the main road there are signs directing you to the lodge. Walking takes around 2 hours and is best done in the daytime.
how this holiday makes a difference
 The lodge provides donations, loans and volunteer assistance to community project work and also asks tourists who are involved in community project work to contribute to development projects and the local Education Assistance Project. We have a sustainable Forest Management Programme. The lodge has set up an Environmental Trust to conserve the forests around the ten villages and to help local people with the sustainable use of the forest products and to assist local people with the setting up of income generating activities which are environmentally sustainable. The local lodge guides go into the local primary schools and deliver a programme of environmental education. The lodge has facilitated bee keeping training held at the lodge for each of the ten surrounding villages. Visitors are informed about cultural sensitivity document when visiting Donija. We have employed and educated guides / facilitators to assist tourists when visiting or getting involved with projects. By visiting our projects and possibly making pledges to support development projects which are environmentally sustainable tourists are supporting conservation and community initiatives. The lodge is currently working in a partnership with some of the members of surrounding villages some of the enterprise schemes that we are involved in include activities such as soap production using Aloe Vera, which is produced and grown locally, as well as peanut butter, bird baths, flower pots to name but a few. We all help to provide and sustain for a better economic future for all. All income generated from the community tourism project stays within the village. If you wish to help local communities why not buy some peanut butter, made by a craft co-operative, purchase some locally made pots or donate money to the trust. Our trust aims to assist local communities adjacent to the South Viphya and Perekezi Forest Reserve in collaborative management and benefit sharing from this protected area.  This holiday is part of the responsibletravel.com and Conservation International Community Based Tourism Programme to support and promote community based tourism ventures that offer significant conservation and development benefits to local communities. To see other community based tourism holidays and find out more about the programme click here. |
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