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Chintheche Inn, Lake Malawi, Malawi
At a Glance...
Style: A simple beach hotel that makes the most of its setting
Our opinion: Affordable 3 star hotel with a stunning setting. With the exception of Room 1 the rooms are bit on the small side
Accommodation: 24 beds total (10 en suite rooms with either twin or double beds and 1 x cottage with small lounge, shared toilet and shower and 2 x twin bedded rooms)
And the kids? All ages welcome
Activities: Relaxing, excellent swimming, snorkeling, mountain bike trails, hiking, great birding and visits to nearby fishing villages and Bandawe Mission
Season:
2011: Open from 22 Apr - 01 Dec
2012: Open from 05 May - 01 Dec
2013: Open from 05 May - 01 Dec
Highlights: Affordable; Stunning setting; Range of activities which makes it ideal for families; Can interact with the community at nearby fishing villages
Located on a 200 metre long white sandy beach on the northern lakeshore of Lake Malawi
Chintheche Inn has a stunning setting on the northern lakeshore of Lake Malawi. This area is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of the lake with wide sandy beaches occasionally broken by small rock outcrops, picturesque fishing villages and the forested lower slopes of the Viphya Mountains as a backdrop.
Chintheche Inn is best described as a fairly humble three star hotel with the atmosphere of a safari lodge. With views out towards the distant shores of Mozambique the rooms and main guest areas open out onto grass lawns that gently slope down to the lake about 70 meters away.
There are just ten bedrooms and one double family cottage each with en-suite shower and toilet. Simply furnished the rooms are clean and comfortable and don't pretend to be something they are not. There is a central reception, lounge, restaurant and public bar where local fishermen or farmers enjoy a drink. On weekends the restaurant may be busy as people come from afar afield as the fast growing town of Mzuzu, the capital of the northern region, to enjoy a good meal.
Making the most of the warm, sunny weather well prepared, tasty meals are usually taken al fresco in a shady corner of the garden or on the beach under the stars. July and August tend to be windy which means meals are served in the dining room. To the left of the hotel next to the beach is a large swimming pool and at the far end of the extensive gardens there is a popular campsite.
Chintheche Inn is perfect for families and those who enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle as there are loads of activities to keep guests occupied. It is also an ideal spot for those wanting an affordable, comfortable base to do nothing more than lie by the pool or take a stroll along the beach before settling down under the shade of a mango tree with a good book. In other words you can be as active or as lazy as you want!
Lake activities include various watersports, excellent swimming and snorkeling in the clear warm waters where 2000 species of freshwater fish are found. Land based activities include mountain biking along winding lakeside trials and through pretty fishing villages, hiking trails and a day trip to Nkhata Bay or Bandawe Mission, which offers a peek into the country's colonial past. Keen birders will appreciate exploring the nearby lowland forest in the company of a knowledgeable local guide. With over 100 species bird life is abundant, particularly water birds along the lakeshore.
Much of the land surrounding Chintheche Inn has been the victim of traditional slash-and-burn agricultural practices, wiping out large tracts of indigenous flora. As a local community initiative to promote reforestation Chintheche Inn has begun an indigenous nursery in an effort to provide replacement saplings. To date approximately 10,000 indigenous seedlings as well as various fruit trees have been planted.
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