Kumbali Country Lodge

–Excellent location - show map
+52 photos
Scored 9.1
Rated superb

Staff

9.6

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About this property

Just 10 minutes' drive from the centre of Lilongwe, Kumbali Country Lodge is situated on a 650-hectare forest reserve and dairy farm. The lodge has a garden with outdoor pool. The spacious, thatched rooms have their own entrance and a private bathroom. The beds are draped with a mosquito net. Kumbali's restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fine cuisine, including home-grown vegetables and dairy products are offered. Drinks can be enjoyed at the well-stocked bar. Activities in the surroundings include bird watching, forest walks, visits to the Kumbali Cultural Village and the Permaculture Centre at the Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology. Lilongwe International Airport is a 40-minute drive from Kumbali Country Lodge.

Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.5 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Most popular facilities

  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Free WiFi
  • Airport shuttle
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Restaurant
  • Room service
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Bar

Property highlights

Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.1)

Breakfast info

Continental, Full English/Irish, Buffet, Breakfast to go

  • Free private parking available on-site

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Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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Room type
Number of guests
 
1 large double bed
1 large double bed
1 double bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free WiFi

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Guests who stayed here loved

John
South Africa South Africa
“The grounds were fantastic. Service a little slow. Food is not the best.”
Hayley
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“This lodge is a tranquil luxury oasis in a location you wouldn’t expect. A lot of effort had been put into amazing customer service, beautiful gardens and lovely food. The room was well appointed and was a great ending to our 2 week trip.”
Lisa
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Peaceful and the new game reserve looks great - the owner took our kids on a drive. The staff were very friendly.”
Hannah
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Peaceful location, fantastic rooms that are clean and comfortable with excellent staff. The food and drinks are good with a good breakfast. The grounds, gardens and game park are lovely to enjoy a stroll or drive, we particularly liked the...”
Henry
Malawi Malawi
“The customer service was top notch and room was so comfy. We liked the view and the food was nice”
Nkhambule
Malawi Malawi
“Kumbali is such a beautiful place. And has the greenest grass I have ever seen. The staff was friendly, the room super clean. The food was great. Stunning views!”
Susan
South Africa South Africa
“Beautiful lodge in a beautiful setting. Room very comfortable and clean. Good restaurant. Staff very helpful and efficient.”
Ruth
Netherlands Netherlands
“A peaceful retreat but still close to the city. My room was clean and very comfortable, the food was delicious and the staff were super friendly and helpful”
Julie
Norway Norway
“Great staff, beautiful gardens and surroundings, spacious and cozy rooms. The food was great as well. Ideal for a quiet getaway, but still close enough to the town.”
Simon
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Very relaxing place - beautiful grounds and a nice pool Food is good - not exceptional but good”

Quality rating

Booking.com rated the quality of this property as 4 out of 5 based on factors such as facilities, size, location and services provided.

Hosted by Guy, Maureen, John & Jes Pickering

9.6
Host review score
Guy, Maureen, John & Jes Pickering
KUMBALI COUNTRY LODGE Kumbali Country Lodge is a private lodge situated on a 650 hectare forest reserve and dairy farm in Lilongwe, Malawi. Only 10 minutes from the capital city along a quiet traffic-free road. Stylish, relaxed and informal, it is the perfect stopover to other travel destinations such as Lake Malawi. For Professional Travelers or Tourists, Kumbali Country Lodge offers you the best accommodation Lilongwe can offer. 16 individual thatched suites offer comfortable and spacious accommodation. Private entrance, en-suite bathroom and veranda. Internet and laundry services. Fine cuisine, including home-grown vegetables and dairy products. Kumbali’s easy-going hosts ensure cheerful, attentive hospitality allowing guests freedom to enjoy the peace of the farm. Bird-life, indigenous forest walks, Kumbali Cultural Village and Kusamala Institute of Agriculture & Ecology offer additional interest.
About the Owners Guy and Maureen Pickering emigrated to Malawi in 1991 with their young children John and Jes. While Guy worked in the tobacco industry, Maureen started Nature’s Gift Dairy producing yoghurt, cheese, and fruit juice. In 1998 they found themselves looking for a new farm and put in the successful bid for Capital Hill Dairy. They found tobacco and dairy farming were not making ends meet so they opened their home as a B&B to supplement their income. Word quickly spread about their delicious food and “homey” atmosphere and their bed and breakfast has turned into Kumbali Lodge, one of Malawi’s most luxurious accommodation options.
Kumbali: Kumbali Country Lodge is situated on a 650 hectare forest reserve and dairy farm making it ideal for some outdoor fun. We have 4 marked farm routes: 5km, 8km, 11km & 21km as well as shorter walks. These are great for mountain biking, jogging or just a casual walk. Lilongwe: The quiet capital of Malawi, Lilongwe is divided into New and Old Towns. The Old Town is where to go for bustling stores, markets, cafes, hotels, and restaurants. The New Town houses embassies, international aid organizations, and corporate headquarters. A large expat population has made Lilongwe a very Western city, and a perfect stopping point for tired travelers to relax and pick up some essentials for their trip to the country’s wildlife reserves or to the beaches of Lake Malawi.
Languages spoken: Afrikaans,English,French

Property surroundings

Restaurants

1 restaurant on site
Restaurant #1
  • Cuisine
    African • American • British • French • Italian • Mediterranean • Portuguese • Steakhouse • Local • International • South African
  • Open for
    Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
  • Ambiance
    Family friendly • Romantic
  • Dietary options
    Halal • Vegetarian • Vegan • Gluten-free • Dairy-free

House rules

Kumbali Country Lodge takes special requests - add in the next step!
Check-in
From 14:00 to 19:30
You'll need to let the property know in advance what time you'll arrive.
Check-out
From 07:00 to 10:00
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required option.
Children and beds

Child policies

Children of any age are welcome.

Children 18 years and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy information, please add the number of children in your group and their ages to your search.

Cot and extra bed policies

0 - 2 years
Extra bed upon request
US$80 per child, per night
Cot upon request
Free
3 - 12 years
Extra bed upon request
US$80 per child, per night
13+ years
Extra bed upon request
US$100 per person, per night

Prices for cots and extra beds are not included in the total price, and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds and cots allowed is dependent on the option you choose. Please check your selected option for more information.

All cots and extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction
There is no age requirement for check-in
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Accepted payment methods
American ExpressVisaMastercardUnionPay credit cardCash
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.

The fine print

Need-to-know information for guests at this property

Please inform Kumbali Country Lodge in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.