Chintheche inn located Lake Malawi, book resorts & save on Chintheche inn with Blantyre travel agency offering cheap beach resorts in Lake Malawi honeymoon in Malawi holidays in beach villas and front beach hotels

Lake Malawi is Africa's third largest lake and stretches over 500 kilometres from north to south. Palm fringed beaches and soaring mountains surround the warm crystal clear waters and picturesque fishing villages dot the shoreline as they have unchanged for thousands of years.

The lake supports over 400 species of fish, many endemic; the fascinating cichlid species of this lake (and Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria) are very popular in the tropical fish trade.

The northern lakeshore is the lushest region of the country with remnant patches of tropical rainforest and the dramatic backdrop of the Viphya Mountains. This is the setting for Chintheche Inn. Just south of Nkhata Bay, Chintheche Inn has a wonderful, broad sandy beach and extensive grounds with many fine indigenous trees. Chintheche Inn is operated by Wilderness Safaris.

Accommodation:
The Inn has 10 double rooms which open out onto the beach and all are brightly furnished with local crafts. All rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and are equipped with ceiling fans and mosquito nets. There is a central dining area and a recently completed swimming pool for those days when the lake is rough. Dining is usually done outside under the stars in the lovely warm Malawian night air.

Activities:
There is plenty to do at Chintheche. Guests are offered a comprehensive range of activities beyond the watersports and lake. The knowledgeable local guides are always on hand to lead birding walks in the area and can arrange fishing with the local fishermen.

Guests can enjoy visits to local villages, excellent mountain biking trails (bikes are for hire), trips to the Vizara rubber plantation and the lively market town of Nkhata Bay. Nearby Bandawe Mission provides a fascinating look into the country's colonial past.
Windsurfers, paddleskis, and sailing are all available at the Inn and there is a large and stable wooden fishing boat for trips to the nearby island. Snorkelling gear is provided and the Inn offers a full range of PADI-accredited dive courses.

Guests may also wish to walk the Luwawa Hiking Trail. This is a tough walk though, and only recommended for the very fit.

Geography and Wildlife:
The northern shores of Lake Malawi are among the country's most beautiful and varied areas. Less populated than the south and well within the tropics, the area has the highest rainfall in Malawi and subsequently the most luxurious vegetation.
Remnant patches of trpoical rain forest abound and the spine of the Viphya Mountains runs parallel to the lake and a few kilometres inland, providing a daramatic backdrop. Several large rivers flow into the lake in the area, creating large marshlands, which produce excellent birding. The settlements in the area blend into this natural vegetation with picturesque villages often clinging to the hilly contours of the land.

The lake is at its widest here and yet, on a clear day, one can still see the coast of Moçambique, 80 kilometres away. The beaches here are undoubtedly the finest on the lake - miles of pristine white sand interspersed with jagged rock formations and charming fishing villages.
The birdlife here is outstanding with 'specials' including the Bluespotted Dove, Moustached Warbler, Gunning's Robin, Palmnut Vulture, Green Coucal, Narina Trogon, Böhm's Bee-eater and Purple-banded Sunbird.

The Owners:
Chintheche Inn is owned by the Malawi Government and Wilderness Safaris leases it from them. In 1996 the present Government set up the Privatisation Commission of Malawi with a goal to look at loss-making Government enterprises and either sell or lease these to the private sector . The leasing of the Inn gives the Government a guaranteed return both in lease fees and taxes and is seen as part of a far sighted policy by the government of Malawi to maximize its tourist potential by instigating succesful public-private sector partnerships.