Situated within Malawi’s Liwonde National Park at the confluence of the Shire River and Namagogodo Lagoon, Mvuu Lodge’s waterside setting naturally attracts an abundance of wildlife and the traveller after an exciting boating safari.
Overview
Mvuu Lodge offers an intimate and exclusive bush camp experience, featuring eight spacious canvas and thatch tents, each with en-suite bathrooms (complete with sunken stone baths and outdoor showers), king-sized beds and a private deck overlooking the lagoon. Wildlife such as hippo can be safely observed from the open-sided, thatched-roof lounge, dining and bar areas, which also offer wonderful views across the lagoon and river. Other features include a swimming pool, yoga deck, and boma. WiFi is available.
Food & service
The menu is international, with many ingredients grown in Mvuu’s own gardens. Service is affable and attentive. Many staff members are local to the area and have worked at the lodge for much of its 30-year history, adding to the lodge’s comfortable atmosphere.
Rooms
Mvuu has five tented chalets with thatched roofs, each with furniture in keeping with local traditional design, private decks, en suites and outdoor showers. A further three suites enjoy all the above plus secluded settings and plunge pools. Mvuu also offers a star-bed option, a raised platform located 2km from the main site where guests can sleep under the stars while wildlife roams freely below.
Activities
Early morning and late evening game drives through Liwonde offer sightings of buffalo, black rhino, cheetah, and elephant, all with a dramatic backdrop of sunrise or sunset. Night-time safaris led by expert guides reveal rarely-seen activities of species such as civets, aardvark, pangolin, lion and jackal. Bushwalks provide a fascinating take on flora and fauna, with local spotters sharing insights on tracking and the use of medicinal plants. Boating along the Shire River offers excellent birding opportunities, as well as sightings of hippo, crocodile, and an array of insects.
Impact
Conservation
Liwonde National Park is managed by the NGO, Africa Parks, which works with national governments and local communities to restore and protect wildernesses across the continent. Mvuu Lodge works closely with the NGO to realise their shared conservation goals, such as reforestation.
Commerce
The lodge established the NGO, Children in the Wilderness, alongside the local school at Nanthomba, which aims to educate young people on environmental matters.
Community
The lodge promotes the initiative Pack for a Purpose, which recommends items travellers may wish to bring with them and contribute to local communities. Mvuu also welcomes volunteers to work with them on a variety of projects, such as recording wildlife numbers.