South of Lake Malawi and Liwonde National Park lies a great upland plateau, called Zomba, and a very different face of Malawi. This is mountainous, forested country where monkeys, birds and butterflies enliven the forest with calls and colour. You pass scattered villages as you make your way up onto the plateau and to one of Malawi’s most unique accommodations, Zomba Forest Lodge, which is tucked away under trees at 1400 / 4 600 feet metres above sea level.

A long-serving rest house, Zomba Forest Lodge is a charming cottage has been lovingly remodelled and has four rooms for guests, each simple and elegant in design with an en suite bathroom and a wonderfully cosy and romantic atmosphere. Candles, lanterns and solar lamps provide the night-time illumination and the lack of Internet connectivity adds to the intimate and away-from-it-all atmosphere. Managed and lived in by its welcoming owners, the lodge lies in a fabulous garden and takes its food seriously: expect well-crafted dishes with plenty of local produce.

Less than an hour’s drive from the city of Blantyre, the regional capital, Zomba Forest Lodge offers a long list of activities. You can go hiking with a guide and learn about the landscape, visit local food markets and churches, go horse-riding or even search for orchids in the indigenous forests. Your hosts will be happy to arrange excursions and guides, and it is a short journey from Zomba to Malawi’s premier destinations: Lake Malawi, and the Majete and Liwonde National Parks.