It’s humble, cosy and in every sense a mountain cottage. One drives up a winding roadon the outer slopes of Malawi’s iconic Zomba Plateau to discover a quaint guesthouse, owned and managed by Tom Inch and Petal Wimbush. Tucked away in lush gardens and sitting in 20 acres of mixed woodland, Zomba Forest Lodge offers guests the opportunity to unwind, recharge and reflect, is a perfect location for a digital detox and allows people the time to truly absorb their travel experience while in Africa’s warm heart.
The lodge itself is a testament to simplicity and sustainability. With no electricity, the world slows down to a gentle rhythm dictated by the sun. Solar lamps cast a warm glow as night falls, revealing the lodge’s cozy interior, with furnishings made of hues of mustards, maroons and browns in plush cushioning that provides comfort in the living room’s seating area, and a large dining room table that hosts about 12, masterfully set as an invitation for guests to dine together for their meals.
The absence of digital distractions creates a space for introspection and a profound appreciation for the natural world. Life at Zomba Forest Lodge revolves around the pace of the day. Mornings begin with the gentle chorus of birdsong, inviting guests to step outside and breathe in the fresh mountain air. The lodge’s expansive gardens, a riot of colour and fragrance, offer a tranquil setting for morning meditation, yoga or a piping hot cup of filter coffee or tea. As the sun climbs higher, guests can embark on guided nature walks, discovering the hidden treasures of the surrounding forest, or taking a hike up one of Malawi’s highest peaks, summiting at a height of 2,087 metres.
Tom and Petal: Creating guest experiences through honest hospitality
Nestled so very discreetly away from the buzz of the cityscape and in the dense embrace of Zomba Mountain’s greenery, Zomba Forest Lodge is a sanctuary that invites weary souls to disconnect and reconnect with nature. This off-the-grid retreat is a labour of love for its owners, Tom and Petal, offering a unique experience that is as humbling as it is rejuvenating.
Much like being invited into a loved one’s cosy cottage, you’ll note that it’s not frills of luxury that welcome you, but rather the warmth and humble nature of the tastefully decorated spaces that form the guest house. With only 5 en-suite cosy bedrooms, the lodge has the intimacy of a home away from home.
The heart of Zomba Forest Lodge is its communal dining area, where guests gather to share stories and laughter over delicious three-course home-cooked meals. Tom and Petal’s culinary skills are legendary, with dishes that showcase the best of Malawi’s fresh produce. As a bonus, the food is known to be some of the best in Malawi and described on the lodge’s menu board in Tom’s unique lyrical style.Meals are enjoyed in the company of other guests, fostering a sense of camaraderie and connection, often between strangers meeting for the first time, or couples travelling together for a break away from life’s everyday hum.
Tom and Petal’s commitment to sustainability
But it is the story of Tom and Petal that truly sets Zomba Forest Lodge apart. Their passion for conservation and their commitment to the local community are evident in every aspect of their work. The couple’s journey began with a dream to create a sustainable retreat that would benefit both people and the environment. Over the years, they have planted thousands of trees, restoring the forest and providing a vital habitat for wildlife.
Zomba Forest Lodge has evolved into more than just a place to stay; it is a living testament to the power of human connection with nature. By choosing to live off the grid and embracing a simpler way of life, Tom and Petal have created a haven where guests can truly escape the stresses of modern life. As you sit on the lodge’s veranda, watching the sun paint the sky in hues of orange and pink, you can’t help but feel a deep sense of peace and gratitude.
There is no electricity at the lodge, and so by night, the lodge and the bedrooms are lit up with candles, paraffin lamps and solar lights, providing discrete and atmospheric illumination. While the lodge encourages guests toconsider a complete digital detox, free Wi-Fi is available upon request and the lodge’s office solar system has sufficient capacity for charging guest devices if desired.
Working together with the neighbouring communities
Guests commonly ask if Zomba Forest Lodge grows its own fruits and vegetables. Tom and Petal highlight how much they try to source their fresh produce as much as possible, furtherexplaining how the communities surrounding their lodge need the income as much as they need the vegetables. Equally, the wildlife needs the food that grows on the property more than the lodge needs the avocados or peaches on its grounds. The one thing that is sorely lacking in the community around the lodge is income, and so the twosource and buy as much produce as they can locally, also providing permaculture training to increase their economic and agricultural independence.
Passion for community to action
While guest experience is always at the forefront of their business model, conservation and community development form the bedrock ofTom and Petal’s philosophy. Over the years, the couple has worked to strengthen lodge and community relationships as they work towards an ever-increasing symbiotic relationship. The lodge cannot not operate without it benefitting the communities, neither can the lodge run without considering the environment it is nestled in.
Sustainability and sensitivity to the lodge’s surroundings led Tom and Petal to setting up their own conservation project called TREEZ: The Reforestation of the Environment and Ecosystem of Zomba (www.zombatreez.com). Their aim is to help protect and naturally regenerate the environment’s biodiversity on the outer slopes of Zomba Plateau, while economically empowering the local communities who represent some of the poorest people on earth. The couple firmly believes in climate justice and putting communities first to ensure that the conservation efforts last. Guests are more than welcome to come and visit the project, spend the day exploring their work and maybe trying out some local cuisine at the same time.
Community visits, local football matches with their very own sponsored teams, special interest weekends, or the sheer blissful enjoyment of the ultimate in peaceful tranquillity in the most superlative blending of the basic natural beauties of environment with those little luxuries of life are some of the elements that make it they a stay at Zomba Forest Lodge so memorable.Being off-gridequally allows guests to enjoy a simpler, quieter and more peaceful way of life, an opportunity to connect with others on a deeper level, even if for only a couple of days. This in turn is a real boost to their well-being and happiness.
Creating the ultimate in humble guest experiences
Every visitor to the lodge is different, and every visitor has individual needs, hopes and expectations to be fulfilled during their stay. With Tom and Petal’s hands-on hospitality and fine-tuning of the smallest details, the couple is keen on listening to their guests and ensure that their desires are met. Guided walks for bird or flower/orchid lovers, all-action adventures exploring the grandeur of the plateau in all its facets; to gentle, carefully selected scenic hikes and picnics for all levels of fitness, or personal tours of historic Zomba town and its vibrant market; the lodge offers it all and more.
Joy in the lodge staff’s work is reflected in the joy of its customers. The pleasure that guests take from their stay at Zomba Forest Lodge is what feeds the owners’ desire to please. This drive is a cornerstone of Tom and Petal’s business ethic and is integral to how the couple operates, how they train and motivate their staff, and how they continue to raise the bar on the high standards they have set.
Those travellers who are mindful of their travel footprint and who want to make a positive impact can be assured that any stay at Zomba Forest Lodge will help improve the environment and the community who depend on it. For the guest, staying at Zomba Forest Lodge is an experience that stays with them long after they leave. It is a reminder of the importance of slowing down, appreciating the simple things in life, and living in harmony with the natural world. Tom and Petal’s dedication to conservation is an inspiration, and their warm hospitality certainly makes every guest feel like part of the Zomba Forest Lodge family.To learn more about Zomba Forest Lodge, visit https://www.zombaforestlodge.com/
