Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Liwonde
Straddling the Shire River, Liwonde is one of the gateways to Liwonde National Park.
The river divides the town in two; to the east you'll find the main bus stations, the market,
supermarkets and the train station. West of the river are several tourist lodges. It can be a
pleasant place to spend the night, or if you want to do a DIY safari on a budget - heading
into the park just for a day.
Sleeping & Eating
Shire Camp $
( 0999-210532, 0888-909236; campsite per person MK500, chalet incl breakfast
MK3500; )
Shire Camp has a colourful restaurant-bar serving chambo, chips and cool
greens, and has friendly staff. Bamboo-and-brick cabanas are meticulously clean with
tiled floors, fans, hot-water bathrooms and netted breeze vents.
The campsite is less appealing with hard, rocky ground and a basic ablutions block.
Shire camp can take you on a river safari (US$25 per person), which lasts for 4½ hours
and heads deep into Liwonde National Park. The camp is on the river's north bank. Take
the dirt road on the right just before the National Bank.
GUESTHOUSE
Shire Lodge $$$
( 01-542277; s/d MK14,500/23,000; )
Crouching low against the river this
plastic-flower-accented digs has '70s porno couches in reception and feels as if it was
built for an event that never happened. There's a restaurant here selling steak and chicken
while the 52 new rooms are large, cool, very clean, and have coffee-making facilities.
HOTEL
Hippo View Lodge $$$
( 01-542116/8, 01- 542255;
www.hippoviewlodge.com
; s/d MK14,500/23,000;
)
This 95-room behemoth has a faded grandeur about it; there's a volleyball court, de-
cent restaurant, pretty gardens, and DSTV and bathrooms in respectable river-view rooms.
That said, the lodge feels a bit corporate and soulless.
To reach it turn right down the dirt road just before the National Bank and look out for
the two hippos flanking the road just before the entrance.
LODGE
