Hotels in Lake Malawi | Timbuktu Travel

Kaya Mawa

Lake Malawi

Popular |

10 Rooms

From $610 per person/night

An intriguing and utterly romantic beach hideaway with bucket loads of character.

From the moment you fly onto Likoma Island in your tiny, five-seater Cessna, you’ll be entranced by the laidback rhythm of island life. And then you’ll reach Kaya Mawa, tucked away on a cotton-candy beach overlooking the lake, and life just gets better and better. One of those fabulous lodges that has effortlessly-relaxed, beach-chic style down to a T, Kaya is truly a slice of heaven. Think immaculately decorated rooms built into the granite rocks, chilled-out water activities, and gourmet food, all mixed with incredible views and even better cocktails. In the local Nyanja language, Kaya Mawa actually means ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ – and relaxation is most certainly the order of the day here.

Ndomo House

Lake Malawi

4 Rooms

From $1.1K per person/night

Soak up the magic of the lake in this private house with exceptional views.

Located in the southwest corner of beautiful Likoma Island in Lake Malawi, Ndomo House is a bright, breezy and very funky four-bedroom family house. It's part of nearby boutique hotel, Kaya Mawa, but remains perfectly private, and you'll find everything you could possibly need (including a chef, nanny, guide, and gardener!) at the house itself. Stretched over three levels, the house is tucked into the rocks and indigenous trees, metres away from a private beach and the lapping waves of the lake. When you're not lounging in the swimming pool or reading in the hammock, head to the lake for a spot of fishing, sailing or snorkelling. Whatever takes your fancy, you'll probably find it here.

Mumbo Island Camp

Lake Malawi

Popular |

6 Rooms

From $510 per person/night

An eco-retreat with picture-perfect views over the boulder-strewn tropical waters.

Situated on a rocky outcrop on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Malawi, guests can get away from it all and live off the grid for a few nights in this watery retreat. The lodge is private and quiet, situated on an exclusive island concession within Lake Malawi National Park. Six eco-friendly thatch bungalows are perched over the freshwater paradise. Enjoy freshly prepared meals, the breathtaking view from your hammock or getting closer to the myriad of fish who dart about on a snorkelling expedition.

Pumulani Lodge

Lake Malawi

10 Rooms

From $360 per person/night

A clifftop retreat with epic views of the lake and fabulous water activities.

Mother Nature may have given Lake Malawi turquoise sparkling waters, rolling green hills and crescents of powder-white sand, but it was owners Jo & Robin Pope who gave Pumulani an infinity pool, 10 stunning eco-friendly villas and a host of water based activities to keep you busy. Find this chic retreat at the top of a winding track in the forested hills of the Nankumba Peninsula on the southern shore of Lake Malawi and visit for a spot of post-safari indulgence, interspersed with a little snorkelling or kayaking should it take your fancy.

Lukwe Eco Camp

Lake Malawi

4 Rooms

From $10 per person/night

Located between the lake and the highlands, this is a gem in the forests.

In the northern reaches of Malawi, sandwiched between the lake and the Nyika Plateau, Lukwe Eco Camp sits perched on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. Meaning "a place of natural beauty", it certainly lives up to its name. And not only that - it really is an eco camp, built with sustainably sourced local timber, solar energy and water-free toilets that provide fertiliser for the on-site veggie garden. The idyllic spot boasts an 80-metre waterfall that plunges into an untamed, forested gorge and simply begs to be explored. Between the hiking and swimming, Lukwe provides the perfect spot to relax, soak up some extraordinary views and watch nature unfold around you.

Ngala Beach Lodge

Lake Malawi

10 Rooms

From $230 per person/night

Beach-side bliss.

Be mesmerised by Lake Malawi at this chilled out spot on the lake shore. Book a bungalow on the beach and spend your days with your toes in the sand, soaking up the sun and enjoying languid swims in the cool turquoise water. Step off the beach into a tropical garden paradise with a vibrant birdlife. There’s an infinity swimming pool and restaurant serving unfussy fresh seafood, some of the best ribs south of the Sahara and they do pizza nights – we like!

Blue Zebra Island Lodge

Lake Malawi

10 Rooms

From $320 per person/night

A sleepy, charming lodge on a wild island paradise in Lake Malawi National Park.

It takes a twenty-minute boat ride across the lake to get to this remote and beautiful island paradise. Forested Nankoma Island, part of Lake Malawi National Park, offers spacious and secluded tented chalets amongst the trees or on the beach. It will be hard to leave the infinity pool with its uninterrupted view over the lake, or the welcoming Fig Tree Bar but there’s an underwater oasis to explore, indigenous forests and unique wildlife to distract you.

Danforth Lodge

Lake Malawi

8 Rooms

Malawi’s water-sporting hotspot.

(This property has been privatised and no longer takes bookings ) Life at this pretty guesthouse in Cape Maclear on the shore of Lake Malawi is all about watersports, and once you’re gliding across the shimmering lake atop a pair of water-skis (or better still, on a private yacht), we guarantee that the troubles of life will be forgotten and you’ll never want to leave. And of course, if a bit of R&R is what you’re after, hosts Michelle and Howard will ensure a sun-lounger is always waiting and an exquisite 5-star culinary creation is never far away. Malawi is, after all, famous for its remarkable hospitality.

Tongole Wilderness Lodge

Lake Malawi

6 Rooms

From $710 per person/night

Luxury eco retreat in unspoilt Malawian wilderness

With no other lodges around for miles, Tongole Wilderness Lodge occupies a sensational place in the Miombo woodland of the 1,800 sqare km Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Based around eco principles of conservation and respect for the environment and community guests can expect to be enthralled by the wilderness of the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, the oldest and least-developed protected area from the Great Rift Valley in the west to Lake Malawi in the east. The setting along the Bau river, a view from every aspect of a lodge that blends effortlessly into its natural surrounds of rock, wood and forest.

Domwe Island Camp

Lake Malawi

5 Rooms

From $80 per person/night

A little slice of simple island tranquility, surrounded by beautiful tropical waters.

A small private beach cozied between granite rocks at the bottom of a wall of dense indigenous forest welcomes you to one of Lake Malawi's largest unpopulated islands. Domwe, just a mere 11km, is in the spectacular water wonderland of the Lake Malawi National Park. Hike up to take advantage of the mountains views with a picnic, lounge along the shore or in a hammock or get into the water and explore. With such a pristine part of the world you are hard pressed not to kick off your shoes and give in to the natural beauty in this refreshingly remote retreat.

Makuzi Beach Lodge

Lake Malawi

11 Rooms

From $210 per person/night

Tropical, beach-like paradise a stone's throw from the edge of Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is Africa's third largest lake, at 560km long and 80km wide. An extraordinary geographic phenomenon with azure waters and white sand beaches, it forms the core industrial centre of this landlocked country and a paradisal escape for tourists. Makuzi Beach Lodge sits on the north-west shore, tucked into a secluded cove, surrounded by lush indigenous forest. This intimate setting offers something for the max-out relaxer and the eager adventurer alike. Whether you're keen to snorkel, kayak, hike or stretch out with some beach yoga, there's enough to keep a busybody's interest. Or, if you're more horizontally inclined, the wide beachfront with scattered thatch umbrellas is an ideal spot for some tropical time-out.

Chintheche Inn

Lake Malawi

10 Rooms

From $290 per person/night

Laid back, family-friendly lodge on Lake Malawi's stunning north-west shore

Lake Malawi is regarded by many as the heart and soul of its tiny landlocked country - a boon to locals who subsist on its freshwater fish, and a magnet for tourists who seek deep tropical waters and white sand beaches. The lake is ocean-like - 560km long, 80km wide - fringed by indigenous forests, with the Viphya Mountains in the background. Chintheche Inn sits on the north-west edge, on a private stretch of sand, perfectly poised to take advantage of many activities - water sports, fishing, mountain trails and snorkelling off a nearby island. Its idyllic setting is enhanced only by the wonderful, warm-hearted hospitality of the lodge staff, legendary for their welcoming spirit.

Madzi Kuwala Lake Retreat

Lake Malawi

6 Rooms

From $90 per person/night

Self-catering comfort in idyllic seclusion on the shores of Lake Malawi

Malawi is a sliver of a country, humble but ablaze with scenic beauty and wide-smiled people. And with Lake Malawi stretching nearly 350 km from north to south, the country is a tropical paradise. Madzi Kuwala Lake Retreat is a fully equipped self-catering family home on the lake's southern shore. With six rooms, all the mod cons and private staff, the retreat is just the place to kick off your travelling shoes and feel the holiday vibe. The grounds are visited by baboons, vervet monkeys, monitor lizards and bush babies; and ospreys guard the private beach. Sheer bliss...

Norman Carr Cottage

Lake Malawi

6 Rooms

From $260 per person/night

Life on the idle side on the southern shores of Lake Malawi

Cloistered within the dense indigenous forest of tranquil Namakoma Bay, south-east of Cape Maclear at the southern end of Lake Malawi, this charming little getaway strikes just the right balance between organised and carefree. There's a real sense of being at home at Norman Carr Cottage, no matter how long you stay. The small team of staff, among whom is the amiable owner and host, demonstrate first-hand why Malawi is proclaimed "the warm heart of Africa". The cottage's simple, neat grounds open to the beach-front. Here, the tonics of unrivalled peace and epic adventures await, in whatever dose you require.

Livingstonia Beach Hotel

Lake Malawi

32 Rooms

From $330 per person/night

Island-style comfort, a sandy beach and the azure waters of Lake Malawi.

Malawi is well-loved for its massive ocean-like lake, which at 560 km long and 80 km wide forms the blue heart of the country – and for its warm culture of hospitality. On the lake's southwest shore is Livingstonia Beach Hotel, a colonial-esque estate with rambling terraces, tailored tropical gardens and a kilometre-long stretch of private beach. From the hotel, you can kayak the clear blue waters, snorkel and scuba dive to discover the fresh underwater life, and enjoy a sunset cruise with a crisp local brew. You'll discover exactly why Lake Malawi rates among our favourite destinations in Africa...

Zulunkhuni River Lodge

Lake Malawi

Imagine a cove so remote, so exquisitely untouched, that no road leads there… Between Nkhata Bay and Chitimba is the least developed stretch of coastline on the Malawi lake shore. This area is populated by tiny fishing communities, often cut off from the rest of the country with access only by boat. This is due to the unique topography of steep forested escarpments and roaring waterfalls which make the area a road builder’s nightmare and an ecologist’s paradise. Zulunkhuni River Lodge is an eco-lodge set within this paradise.

The Makokola Retreat

Lake Malawi

From $180 per person/night

The Makokola Retreat is located on the palm fringed southern shore of Lake Malawi, a setting that is beautiful almost beyond belief. Its waters are the habitat of more species of fish than that of any other body of fresh water on the earth.

A tropical haven with a relaxed pace, Malawi is famous for its artistic traditions, including dances, wood sculpture, painting, embroidery and music amongst others.

Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel

Lake Malawi

From $330 per person/night

Mzuzu is the gateway and the focal point of growth in the Malawi’s Northern Region, and Sunbird Mzuzu is the only premier hotel in this region. Nestled in the green surrounds of the Mzuzu Golf Course, it offers the ideal base from which to explore the unspoilt North. The hotel is 100 km from Chintheche beautiful beaches, 120 km from Livingstonia Mission, and 150 km from the Nyika National Park, Malawi’s largest park.

Chembe Eagles Nest

Lake Malawi

11 Rooms

At Chembe Eagles Nest, the quiet and idyllic chalets all face Lake Malawi under a sheltered thatched patio with a pair of easy chairs to watch the exquisite sunsets. If you are more inclined to outdoor living, the adjoining campsite with spectacular views of the hills and lake will suit you best. Campers have their own wash-up area, braai facilities and beautifully pristine ablutions with ample privacy from the rest of the lodge. The restaurant has been designed with a warm and contemporary feel, carefully designed to enable space yet intimacy, offering a panoramic view of the wonderful gardens and Lake Malawi. The pool sits at the view of the rooms and the beach where people sit and chat or read, and then it gently gets deeper. There are lots of fun activities at Chembe that will excite you - from music to fishing, boating and swimming.