The Shire Highlands, Liwonde and Lake Malawi

Huntingdon House
Huntingdon House is a charming colonial-era country home dating back to 1928. In the same family for generations, the house was converted into a 5-room guesthouse (accommodating up to 12), but still retains much of its original charm and style, with its wrap-around verandah, silver service dining room, and grand lounge with wooden fireplace redolent of an earlier era.

Each of Huntingdon's five suites is uniquely styled and furnished, and all take after their function in the original house - the Nursery, for instance, has been converted into a family room with two single beds and one double, and French doors that open onto the patio. The old Chapel and priest’s quarters, a separate annex to the main house, have been converted into a superb honeymoon suite, with high beamed ceiling and private patio.

Huntingdon House occupies a large estate and is a wonderful place to relax, surrounded by verdant gardens with quiet patios and terraces. It's perfect for a peaceful start to your holiday, the cool climate and beautiful highland scenery is particularly! There are lovely walks to be had around the estate and surrounding hills, and guests at Huntingdon have free use of bikes to explore. Guided tours of the tea and coffee estate can be arranged, including tastings.

Alternatively, you can choose to enjoy a picnic at a beautiful spot in the Shire Highlands with views of Mount Mulanje to the southeast and the Shire River to the west. The sunset from this idyllic spot must be seen! Other activities include mountain biking, guided birding walks through Thyolo Forest, tea tasting and coffee tours. Excursions to the Zomba Plateau and Lake Chirwa are also possible.

Mvuu Lodge
Mvuu Lodge is situated on the banks of the Shire River in Liwonde National Park. With just 8 chalets, it offers a relaxed setting for a safari in one of Africa's less-visited wilderness areas.

Mvuu, which means "hippo" in Tonga, is so-named because of the large pods of hippo that appear in in the Shire River, which the lodge overlooks. Other big game includes elephant and black rhinoceros, the latter introduced into the park from South Africa as part of a successful breeding program.

Activities at Mvuu revolve around boating trips on the Shire River and 4x4 game drives, with a special focus on black rhino tracking. Nature walks are also possible. Birding enthusiasts will be able to participate in non-stop birding around Mvuu. The birdlife is as varied as it is prolific, especially along the Shire River, where African fish eagles, kingfishers and Pel’s fishing owl are frequently sighted, as well as Bohm’s bee-eater and white-backed night heron.

Mvuu’s airy thatched lounge and bar looks out onto the Shire River where crocodile, hippo, elephant and warthog can often be seen. There's a boma where guests can enjoy an evening drink and a small swimming pool with deck chairs for relaxing between safari activities.

Mumbo Island Camp
Mumbo Island Camp is a beautiful eco-camp situated on an uninhabited island within Lake Malawi National Park.

Mumbo is decidedly rustic; the island is a tiny 1km wide and has no electricity – lighting is instead by paraffin lamps, and the water is solar heated. Accommodation is in simple reed-and-thatch chalets, each with its own porch and hammock with lake views.

This is a wonderful place to totally unwind and relax. Those who enjoy a more active beach break will also find plenty of ways to keep themselves occupied at Mumbo. The lake is crystal clear, and shoals of colourful fish can be found offshore – the lack of motor boats make this region perfect for snorkelling and kayaking. Birding is varied here, and the island has some marked trails for walkers.