Backpacking In Malawi🇲🇼: My Stay At Mufasa Eco Lodge in Monkey Bay

“Me and my monkey drove in search of the sun” – Robbie Williams.

While backpacking in Malawi on my MMM Tour of 2023, I decided on visiting four main parts of the country – Monkey Bay, Cape Maclear, Dedza (including dipping in and out of Mozambique) and Lilongwe (the capital). “Oh hello, Monkey Bay!”

When researching Monkey Bay I honed in on Mufasa Eco Lodge and contacted the lodge in advance. The owner of Mufasa Eco Lodge is Rikki and she replied immediately to confirm an invitation letter for my Malawi visa and two nights here. For the Malawi Evisa, you need a hotel reservation and an invitation letter – Mufasa can make sure you have both at once. I was all set.

“I won’t cry for yesterday. There’s an ordinary world somehow I have to find” – Duran Duran.

Here are the reasons why you should book to stay at Mufasa Eco Lodge in Monkey Bay. I had two nights here.

1.Helping Secure The Visa

Getting a visa for Malawi has become a strict and annoying process in recent years when once it was one of the easiest visas to secure.

As part of the visa application you not only need a hotel or hostel recommendation but you need an actual letter of invitation from an accommodation to say they invite you to Malawi and recommend you for a visa. Mufasa Eco Lodge will sort this for you so your online evisa should be confirmed ahead of your border arrival into Malawi.

2.Rikki, Your Larger Than Life Hostess

Once you arrive you’ll become aware of your hostess, Rikki. Rikki is from Zambia and has travelled all over Africa and further afield. She is an abundance of knowledge of all things African as well as practicing law and meeting some highly influential individuals in African history.

A pioneer, Rikki as your host also looks after her members of staff, trains them up and you can spend long evenings chatting to her. I also met a history teacher and writer, Emily Seong here and we drank beers and chatted both nights.

3.On Lake Malawi

In terms of views, peace and scenery you’re right on Lake Malawi. Your heart won’t wilt. Savour the views. Hike the hill. Canoe the waters.

This is Africa’s third largest lake (after Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika). I’m glad to say I’ve now been to all three. You can go canoeing and swimming here. Just be aware that there are hippos and crocodiles in the waters so be careful.

4.Mosquito Nets

Malawi has a lot of mosquitos and problems with malaria amongst other diseases. Every bed has a mosquito net here and don’t forget your insect repellent either. I have my Yellow Fever Certificate as well as a hat-trick of COVID jabs now.

There are many other bugs around. And monkeys too well since it’s Monkey Bay.

5.Bar And Food

Aside from this you have a private beach, a short walk to the nearby Monkey Bay village, other backpackers to meet and when there is electricity there is also WiFi. However the electricity was off for 4 of my 5 days in Malawi.

6.A Choice Of Rooms

I had my own room on this trip for two nights but there are a choice of rooms and dorms and you can camp too of course.

7.The Adventure

I’m sure I will have more stories to come on Monkey Bay, Dedza, Lilongwe and Cape Maclear as I also went in and out of Mozambique and Malawi on this trip, the entire journey was an adventure. This included recovering from the aftermath of the cyclone where the April waters were unusually high…

This meant we had to backpack through the waters by Lake Malawi on route to the Mufasa Eco Lodge, as cars couldn’t get near it during the flood. Hippos, monkeys and crocodiles also lurk nearby.

Electricty also went off for a few days duringmy time backpacking in Malawi and Mozambique so make sure you are ready for some offline time and chats over beers.

I took one of my latest books to Africa on this trip and I realise that I’m writing so many more new chapters just from that trip. Thanks to Rikki, Felix and all at Mufasa Eco Lodge at Monkey Bay…

Here are the details for booking a room or dorm at the Mufasa Eco Lodge in Monkey Bay in Malawi:

https://www.facebook.com/mufasaecolodge

Unfortunately I had a sound problem (and still have on my phone) and therefore my videos from Monkey Bay have only video but no audio: