External Reviews
The Guardian, UK: Nkwichi, means "squeaking sand" in the local dialect and it is the beach that first draws attention. It is pure powdery white, like caster sugar, and when you walk on it, it really squeaks. Just off the shoreline, you may see a ragged Arab dhow passing, the local form of transport here since the 19th century. Inside each of the seven lodges, you'll find minimalist luxury, with bedposts carved out of old tree trunks, lanterns, and an expansive mosquito net. The outdoor bathroom is an experience in itself: while brushing my teeth that night, I saw a Pel's fishing owl (one of the largest and rarest owls in the world), watching me sagely from a branch.What's particularly memorable about Nkwichi, though, is the way it feeds back into the local community. If the idea of living the life of Riley in a third-world country sits as uneasily with you as it does me, then look no further. Staying at the lodge provides wages for up to 50 local members of staff. Their salaries each 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. More than that, the lodge has built two schools and runs a farming project teaching permaculture to the local community. As Malawi faces regular famines, projects like the Manda Horticultural Project are making a tangible difference.
The Observer:
"Nkwichi Lodge was built using sustainable local materials in a faintly Flintstones-esque style, with boulders and branches protruding into rooms and four-posters fashioned from chunky logs. Which is not to say it lacks elegance or comfort: there are just seven secluded chalets, each with its own outdoor en suite, where you shower under the stars or with a view of the lake. Fourteen surrounding villages have set up the 100,000-hectare community-owned reserve, where wildlife populations decimated during the wars are now reviving."