Nkwichi Lodge

Nkwichi Lodge sits on the Mozambique shore of Lake Niassa — the lake that Malawians call Lake Malawi — at a point where the beach is wide, white-sand, and largely empty. The lodge takes a maximum of fourteen guests at a time across two chalet types and a private house, which is the reason the beach stays that way.

The chalets — Standard and upper-grade — are thatched and built close to the water. Each has a four-poster bed under a mosquito net, indoor seating, a verandah, and an outdoor bathroom with a rock-pool bath: the bath is set into natural rock and is open to the sky. The private Makolo House is designed for families or groups travelling together and comes with a dedicated chef and guest-services team, its own lake access, and a private beach area.

On the water you can kayak, take a mokoro (a dugout canoe), snorkel, or fish catch-and-release. Scuba diving is available off-site. On land, both guided and self-guided walks go into the surrounding area, and the lodge organises gourmet picnics. Over two hundred species of cichlid fish are endemic to the lake, and the birdlife along the shore is substantial.

The lodge runs on responsible-tourism principles, with community development linked directly to the operation. An airport shuttle is available, and the lodge has twenty-four-hour security and a bar and restaurant on site.