This is a beautiful area of rolling lush green hills dotted with tea farms in the Shire Highlands. Easilly accessed between Blantyre and Mount Mulanje and has several lovely small guest houses. The road between Blantyre and Mount Mulanje which passes through Thyolo region is one of the prettiest drives in Malawi.
The climate here is perfect for growing tea and the first bushes were imported from India during the days of the Nyasaland colony and tea growing quickly became a major industry (and still is) for Malawi employing thousands of people as it is a very labour intensive way of farming.
Some of the plantations (estates) have guest accommodation within their farm buildings and these can make a great option for something different to include during your Malawi itinerary. Some of the lodges provide meals and picnics, some are self catering but still provide a cook to assist with meal preparation. We can arrange for you to take food with you to these locations. Several of the lodges in the region have great views to Mount Mulanje and the tea estates can easilly be linked with Mulanje hikes.
Lujeri Lodge is a great location close to Mulanje. Satemwa Tea Estate on the slopes of Thyolo Mountain has a lovely option for self catering (we will include a driver and supplies on your itinerary) at Chawani Bungalow. This is an old plantation managers house which looks over the rolling tea gardens and Mulanje. There are walks through the estate and the Thyolo rainforest for great birding. The bungalow has 4 double rooms.