Nkwichi Lodge - You are in Africa, sitting under the shade of a fig tree, looking out over one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes. To your right rock pools filled with crystal clear water, teem with fluorescent coloured fish darting amongst smooth ancient boulders. On your left lies a white sandy beach stretching away from you, backed by pristine green forest. All you can hear is the warm waters of this tropical lake lapping against the beach. Out on the lake the silhouette of a fisherman in his wooden canoe passes by as he paddles home with his day’s catch.

The Lodge:

Lake Niassa, the 9th largest lake in the world, provides the setting for the lodge. At 560km long, 80km wide and 700m deep, it forms most of the eastern border between Malawi and Mozambique. The lake’s fresh water is crystal clear and contains a greater variety of indigenous fish species of than any other lake in the world.
Nkwichi Lodge lies on the Mozambique shoreline at one of the most beautiful points on the lake. It has been carefully designed to provide comfort and privacy for guests. With a maximum of only 14 people staying at Nkwichi, the lodge can offer guests the highest levels of service in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.

The beach on the shores of the lake with its fine, white sand is the central feature around which the lodge has been built. The main lodge building has a dining room raised high on a platform providing views out over the lake. The fig tree platform built amongst the enormous granite boulders on the lakeshore provides another popular spot for guests to dine or relax.

Each of the 7 chalets is cleverly tucked into the trees along the lakeshore providing unique views across the crystal clear water. The chalets all vary in size and design depending on their setting but are all made of local wood, stone and grass thatch.

Nkwichi prides itself on practising responsible methods of tourism development. By coming to stay at the lodge guests are contributing to nature and the community development. Staying at the lodge provides wages for up to 50 local members of staff. Their salaries support up to 15 members of their direct families. This means that by staying at the lodge you will have an impact on the lives of 750 people.

Chalets:

When you arrive by boat from the lake you would never know there is human habitation here. Each Chalet has been carefully tucked away in the tree line so that the original lakeshore scenery is unspoiled. Once you walk up the sandy paths you will discover your ‘temporary home’ made of local stone, wood and thatch.

There are 7 chalets in total, allowing only 14 guests to sleep at the lodge at any one time. The chalets are located far enough apart to provide privacy. Each one is designed differently with their own unique characteristics. Some are built around rocks and trees surrounding the chalet. All of them are spacious attracting the breezes that blow from the lake under the shady thatched roofs.

The central feature in each chalet is the enormous, sturdy 4-poster bed, made of old tree trunks and covered in a beautifully crafted white mosquito net. The sheets are freshly pressed as are your beach and bathrooms towels. Alongside bedside tables with flowers are carefully arranged by the lodge’s staff. In the evenings there are electric lights in each room tastefully decorated with local lampshades.

Each chalet has its own en-suite bathroom which has been cleverly designed so that you can bathe outside under the tree canopy in complete privacy. All of the bathrooms have showers hung from overhanging branches with hot and cold running water. A few of them have bathtubs so that guests can lie back and relax as the sun goes down around them.

Out in front of the chalets is a veranda covered with a thatched roof to shade guests from the midday sun. Guests can either sit in the comfortable arm chairs or swing gently in a hammock reading a book or taking a siesta.

Food & Dining:

Meals are an important part of everyday life at Nkwichi. No 2 meals are ever the same with the chef’s delicious range of recipes and the numerous locations where guests can dine for different meals during the day.

The Lakeshore Deck is a popular place to have breakfast each morning, sitting under the shade of the enormous fig tree eating fresh mangos and homemade muesli whilst gazing out across the blue water.
Lunches vary depending on what you do each day. Guests often take part in activities which take them away from the lodge during the day.

One of the highlights of people’s stay is the walk to one of the largest baobab in Africa. It is estimated to be well over 2000 years old. Lunch is served under the shade of this spectacular living antique.

If you are feeling lazy and just want to relax on the beach, the main lodge dining room provides a raised view out over the lake. If you are away from the lodge walking, canoeing or visiting local community projects delicious picnics will be provided wherever your guide takes you.

Dinner is a moveable feast. The staff will make a point of asking each guest whether they would like to eat with everyone else in the lodge or prefer to dine with a companion or as a private party. There are a number of locations for dinner.

One of the guest’s favourite spots is down on the beach beside the lake under the stars. Alternatively dinner can be served at people’s chalets or on the lakeshore deck. Try a new place each evening.

Activities:

Swimming: there can’t be a more inviting place to swim than the Nkwichi beach. Mchenga Nkwichi means ‘the sand that squeaks’ - its true. The sand is so fine underfoot and as white as you can imagine. One of the drawbacks from swimming in the seas and oceans is the bitter taste of saltwater. This isn’t a problem at Nkwichi as Lake Niassa is one of the world’s cleanest lakes.

Snorkelling: Guests spend hours exploring the underwater world which opens up to them as they gaze below the surface and meander through the rock pools along the lakeshore. It’s an enormous natural aquarium with hundreds of beautifully coloured species of fish known as cichlids. Lake Niassa has over half the world’s cichlids swimming in its clear waters.

Sailing: the lodge has its own private catamaran for guests who want to take advantage of the daytime breezes that blow onshore. Miss Nkwichi is the aptly named lodge dhow. This can be used for day trips up and down the lake visiting local communities along the shoreline. There are several deserted sandy beaches where you can stop off for a quiet picnic and sunbathe.

Canoeing: this has to be one of the most peaceful ways of exploring the local lakeshores. The lodge has its own Canadian style canoes which are sturdy and comfortable. Either you can be paddled by one of the lodges guides or take out a canoe with a friend and try to spot a pair of otters playing around on the rocks or diving underwater. This is also the best way to see the lakes bird species. You are able to get far closer in a canoe especially whilst drifting at dawn or dusk.

Walking: the lodge is located at the foot of the escarpment in the Rift Valley. This means it only takes a few minutes to walk up behind the lodge, gain some height and look out over the lake towards Malawi. There are a number of walks with varying lengths according to your needs. A guide who is able to identify the vast range of bird species can either accompany guests or you can take a map and explore the local area on your own.

Bird watching: the lake attracts a vast range of bird species. Some of these are indigenous to this part of Africa whilst numerous species pass through on their migration flights north and south each year. The lodge has several guides who are highly knowledgeable about finding and identifying the local bird species.

Likoma Island Tour: after breakfast guests take a launch or dhow across to Likoma Island which remains part of Malawi despite being on the Mozambique side of the lake. A guide will lead you around this interesting community showing you several places of local importance. This includes the historic St Peter’s Cathedral which was built over 100 years ago and plays a central role in the people’s community life. Trips are planned as far as possible to coincide with services to allow guests the chance to enjoy the amazing atmosphere and hear the choir sing.

Relaxing:. There’s so much to do at Nkwichi you would have to stay a long time to fit all the activities in. However the atmosphere created at the lodge allows guests to slow down, take a ‘rain check’ and relax. After all it is your holiday. Nkwichi is the perfect place to chill out and recharge your batteries. It is one of those unique places where you feel comfortable to take your watch off, hide it and let nature’s clock take over. The only disappointment you will feel is the realisation that at some stage you will have to leave.

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