Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
several walking trails and hides overlooking the watering holes, where you can watch the
animals come and graze. There's one within five minutes' walk of the lodge.
Activities
Nyala Lodge can organise a wide range of activities in the park such as wildlife drives
(per person US$20), walking safaris (per person US$12) and evening tours to
Ndankwera
Cultural Village
where you'll be fed and entertained for US$45 per person (minimum
four people). It also arranges a number of boat trips including fishing trips and full-day
excursions to Elephant Marsh (per person US$200).
At the park entrance is a
museum
and a small
gift shop
selling woven rugs and bags as
well as locally made produce such as Lengwe peanut butter and baobab jam.
Sleeping
Nyala Lodge $$$
( 01-823709, 01-835356;
www.jambo-africa.com
;
s/d incl breakfast per person US$72/
103, s/d with half board per person US$85/150, campsite per person US$6, basic chalets
with shared bathroom $US40; )
Managed by Jambo Africa, there's a stylish
bar and restaurant in the central lodge, and high-ceilinged rooms in clay-pink
rondavels
boasting fresh white walls, wicker chairs, polished stone floors and choice African art.
Nyala lacks the geographical drama of say Mkulumadzi, Tongole or Mvuu Camp for
there's no elevation, no river flowing by, nor are the animals particularly exotic. For those
on a budget there is a separate campsite and basic chalets for self-caterers.
LODGE
Getting There & Away
By car, take the main road from Blantyre south towards Nsanje. By public transport, take
a bus from Blantyre to Nchalo or Nsanje. About 20km from the Shire Bridge a signpost
indicates Lengwe National Park to the right. The park entrance is another 10km to the
west through sugarcane plantations.
ELEPHANT MARSH
The Elephant Marsh is a large area of seasonally flooded plain on the Shire River about
30km downstream from Chikwawa, just south of the vast Ilovo Sugar Estate. Despite the
name, there are no elephants here any more, although vast herds inhabited the area fewer
than 100 years ago. Some hippos and crocodiles occur in quiet areas, but the main draw is
