SAFARI CAMPS for responsible travellers
Thawale Lodge
MAJETE WILDLIFE RESERVE- MALAWI
The preferred booking platform for lodges & campsites managed by AFRICAN PARKS
✔️ Vested communities ✔️ Authentic experience
✔️ Remote location ✔️ Responsible & sustainable
100% of tourism revenue earned by African Parks goes to conservation and local communities
🎥 WATCH THIS informative video about Thawale Lodge
READ ABOUT Majete Wildlife Reserve
Fully-catered lodge in the Big 5 Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi
Thawale Lodge overview
In a prime location, Thawale overlooks a waterhole that regularly attracts a wide variety of wildlife, including a family of elephants that often frequent the area. The lodge is completely unfenced to give guests a natural safari experience. Thawale is located a short game drive from the entrance to Majete Wildlife Reserve - near the most productive game viewing areas. The word ‘thawale’ means a natural pan that fills with water after the rainy season.
Thawale is a fully-catered lodge featuring eight ensuite canvas tented suites with stone walls (one of which is a honeymoon suite) and two concrete and stone family chalets, each with two ensuite bedrooms. The thatched central dining and restaurant area overlooks the active waterhole, as does a bird-watching platform. Exploring Majete by vehicle or boat is best – both activities are offered to Thawale guests.
See below our photo gallery for more detailed information about Thawale Lodge.
International guests | Africa citizens & residents | |
Standard tent / Family Chalet | ||
Per person sharing | US$220 | US$170 |
Single person supplement | US$50 | US$50 |
Children: 6-12 years old | US$110 | US$88 |
Everything you need to know about Thawale Lodge
Power | Solar | ||
YES | NO | Comment | |
Lodge fenced in | ✖️ | ||
Dining/lounge/bar area - covered | ✔️ | ||
Outdoor dining, social area + fire pit | ✔️ | ||
Curio/boutique shop | ✔️ | Selling local honey only | |
Business centre | ✖️ | ||
Wine cellar | ✖️ | ||
Child-minding facilities | ✖️ | ||
Laundry | ✔️ | No charge | |
Gym | ✖️ | ||
Yoga/workout kit | ✖️ | ||
Disabled people-friendly? | ✖️ | Steps to access rooms + communal area | |
Spa/massage | ✖️ | ||
Swimming pool | ✔️ | Natural rock/bio pool | |
Television (satellite / streaming) | ✖️ | ||
Wifi | ✔️ | In main area only | |
Mobile phone reception | ✔️ | In reception area only | |
Star-bed / sleepout | ✖️ | ||
Telescope/astronomy | ✖️ | ||
Kids program/area | ✖️ | ||
Credit card facilities | ✔️ | ||
Number of units | Number of rooms | |
Standard tented suite | 7 | 7 |
Honeymoon tented suite | 1 | 1 |
Family chalets | 2 | 4 |
Other | ||
Total | 10 | 12 |
Bed size & configuration | Queen & twin | ||
YES | NO | Comment | |
Air conditioning | ✔️ | ||
Fans | ✔️ | Standing fan | |
Amenities | ✔️ | Basic: soap+ shampoo, coffee/tea tray | |
Basins | ✔️ | Double | |
Flush toilet | ✔️ | ||
En-suite bathroom | ✔️ | ||
Outside shower | ✖️ | ||
Bath | ✔️ | Only honeymoon suite | |
Lounge area | ✔️ | Only family unit | |
Private covered patio | ✔️ | ||
Private pool | ✖️ | ||
Safe | ✔️ | ||
Complimentary water | ✔️ | Filtered | |
Mini bar | ✖️ | ||
Additional bed for child | ✔️ | On request | |
Mosquito net over bed | ✔️ | ||
Security | ✔️ | Airhorn | |
Cuisine/style | South African - 3-course meal | ||
YES | NO | Comment | |
In-room dining | ✖️ | ||
Communal table | ✔️ | ||
Separate tables | ✔️ | ||
Bush breakfast | ✔️ | ||
Bush dinner | ✔️ | ||
Wine list | ✖️ | ||
Order beyond the menu? | ✔️ | Limited variety | |
Kosher/Halaal | ✖️ | ||
Dietary restrictions - vegetarian/vegan etc | ✔️ | Limited variety | |
YES | NO | Comment | |
Honeymoon | ✔️ | Honeymoon suite has open-plan outdoor bathroom | |
Welcome drinks/hand towels on arrival | ✔️ | ||
Chaperoned to room after dark | ✔️ | ||
Private game drive vehicle | ✔️ | On request | |
Road/village noise | ✖️ | ||
Exclusive use | ✔️ | By prior arrangement | |
Staff singing/dancing | ✖️ |
YES | NO | Comment | |
Children permitted? | ✔️ | 4 years and older | |
Children on game drives? | ✔️ | 8 years and older | |
Malaria | ✔️ | ||
Yellow fever | ✖️ | ||
Tsetse flies | ✖️ | ||
Medical facilities | ✖️ | ||
Emergency medical evacuation | ✔️ | SATIB24 (Nyasa Express Charter = Air Ambulance) |
Thawale offers a variety of activities, including
morning and afternoon game drives - self-drive or guided;
boat excursions on the Shire River (subject to river conditions);
Nakamba Hide sleep-out;
bush/bird walk;
community guide (accompanying in your private car) - including bird specialists;
community visit;
explore the far reaches of the reserve – the areas of Pwadzi and Pende – on specialised game drives;
cultural dancing performance.
Note that some activities are included in your daily rate, and others are optional extras. Refer to 'Includes/excludes' below.
Guests are welcome to enjoy meals at the Mwembezi Restaurant and make use of its adjacent swimming pool. The restaurant offers breakfast and lunch menus, and dinners can be had if arranged in advance. It is situated at the reserve’s main entrance and has a small shop where basic travel amenities and curios can be bought.
Includes / excludes
The number of activities included in your daily rate:
International guests - two activities per day
Local guests - one activity per day
Thawale Lodge is in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi. Click here for more information about Majete and how to get there.