Ntchisi Forest- Travel Tips
What to See, How to Plan & Tours- Natural Scenery
- 5 Reviews
Attractions in Malawi
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Reviews of Ntchisi Forest
Quentin Burgart - 2
The lodge is nice, with a great terrace, garden and pool. However our experience was far below our expectations in a number of ways (detailed below) and we would NOT RECOMMEND to any friend to stay there. First of all, know that everything is overpriced here: - 60$ per night to sleep in a tent with no electricity, shared bathroom at 100m which are extremely basic, and on top of that they want to charge you to use the WiFi. At this price in Malawi, it is really not at the level you can expect. - Then the food. It is good, with nice taste. The issue for us here was the dinner, and the way you are tricked into paying a crazy price : you are asked at what time you will be joining (not really leaving the door open to joining or not), without mentioning any price. It cannot be found anywhere: not on the menu, not on the dashboard with the planned meal, not on the website. We asked for a menu to get clarity and they just said it was one set diner for all - right. This aspect was avoided to a point where we thought it should be a regular price and there is no need to discuss. What was our surprise at checkout when we discovered we were charged at least double what would be charged elsewhere for the same setting and quality. - on top of that they make an additional 10% on top of the official rate converting USD to MWK. 10% on your total bill, not a bad business. Apart from these price-related issues, several other things need improving: - there was not enough seats for everyone at dinner and breakfast. Some had to wait for others to finish their dinner, and we had to eat our breakfast outside on a coffee table. - There were 9 toddlers in the lodge, which is not convenient for other guest expecting a relaxing time, with space and quietness. You could imagine the sound level at dinner, which totally killed the romantic atmosphere of your Saturday night dinner… again not what you would expect when you pay so much. - There are not enough seats at the pool for everyone, we could not go the first afternoon. - The dinner is advertised as a three course dinner: well, a small soup and a scoop of ice cream does not transform a dish in a three course dinner (event if tasty). Again, not at that price. Last but not least, the forest is small, partially burnt, and has no real interest (though the sunset point is nice). It is really not worth the several hours on the bad dirt road to get there. So you are just coming for the lodge and all its shortcomings I just listed. Hopefully some work will be done to offer a more pleasant experience to future travellers.
Sibarita DD - 5
Absolutely loved the place and definitely worth the stop on your way South towards the capital, or for a weekend getaway when you live in Lilongwe. Everything was perfect, the food, the service,.. It can get pretty chilly in the evenings at dinner (we went in June) so bring warm clothes, even if there's a fireplace.
Tim Brammer - 5
An excellent place to visit on weekends if you’re staying in Lilongwe! Roads are great if it’s not pouring with rain. The food is amazing and accommodation to match. Do yourself a favor and go for a hike into the Afromontane rainforest. You won’t regret it!
Eric Salima - 5
A walk through the rain forest makes you feel like you are passing through the African amazon jungle. Quite a beautiful place to spend your quiet time and experience the beauty of nature
Wendy Wongani Hara - 5
Absolutely beautiful space, loved the hiking spots and swimming pool. The staff are friendly, and the food was delicious. If you plan on taking the trip to Ntchisi, I would recommend using a big car as the roads are mostly dusty over mountainous terrain.
