On the glittering shores of Lake Malawi, which is also known as the Lake of Stars, you’ll find Pumulani, the brightest star on the lake. Pumulani offers you the chance to experience the very best of both worlds on your holiday. Whether you want to relax amongst some of the most dazzling scenery in the world, or take the opportunity to be active whilst surrounded by rare natural beauty, it’s up to you.
Open: 16 March – 9 January
Accommodation: Ten luxury villas
Children Policy: All ages are welcome
Airstrip: Makokola Retreat
GPS Coordinates: 14.1031 S 34.8605 E
The lodge Accommodation:
Beach lodge. Ten villas – four twin, four king, one honeymoon & one family villa. Family villa has two interconnected bedrooms and one bathroom – can sleep 5. Views – 5 villas have bush views (including family suite) and 5 have lake views (including honeymoon suite).
Facilities:
En-suite bathrooms with double basins and showers. Each has a bathtub as well. The honeymoon villa has a unique outdoor shower. Each villa has tea/coffee making facilities as well as a stocked mini-bar fridge.
2 infinity pools, one close to the dining area and the other at the beach.
There is no WIFI but there is telephone reception.
Activities:
Snorkelling, fishing, sailing, nature walks, kayaking, mountain bike tours and village tours are included. • Motorized water sports such as diving, waterskiing, fun tubing and snorkelling excursions are at extra cost.
Meals & Drinks:
The rate is inclusive of all local drinks & meals.
We also offer a connoisseurs’ wine & spirits list at an extra cost.
Nut Allergies:
While fully capable of catering for most dietary requests, we regrettably are unable to cater for people with severe nut allergies as we cannot guarantee a completely nut free environment.
Electricity & Water:
The lodge runs off mains electricity with a backup generator.
Bottled water is available throughout the lodge and in your personal fridge. Our tap water has been through a filtering system and is safe for brushing your teeth; however, we recommend that you rather consume only bottled water.
Children’s Policy:
Children of all ages are welcome at Pumulani. Family suite available.
Payment for extras:
All extras can be paid in cash (local currency, US$, Euro or British Pounds) or Visa card. US dollar bills – we only accept the new notes with large heads as any with small heads are not accepted in Malawi. Tipping Is not expected but always enthusiastically received if you are happy with the service. Please always give tips for the staff to the management to be shared out.
Travel information:
International flights South African Airways, Ethiopian Airways and Kenya Airways fly into Blantyre and Lilongwe. South African Airways, Kenya Airways and Emirates fly into Lusaka, Zambia. Getting to the lodge It is a 3.5-hour scenic road transfer from Lilongwe or 4 hours from Blantyre to the lodge or 50-minute light aircraft flight then further 45 min road transfer. Connecting to our sister lodge in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Mkulumadzi, it is a 6-hour road transfer. To Kuthengo Camp our other sister lodge it is 2.5 hours by road. Guests coming from South Luangwa in Zambia should take a 1-hour charter flight to Lilongwe where they will clear immigration and continue a 3.5-hour road transfer or 45-minute flight as above.
Visas:
All travellers must be in possession of a valid passport when entering and leaving the country. Please do check with Department of Immigration Malawi if you need to apply for your visa in advise or can acquire it on arrival https://www.immigration.gov.mw/visa/countries-whose-nationals-need-visa-when-coming-to-malawi/. When applying for the visa you will need to submit an invitation letter which we are happy to assist with! We would need the following information for the letter: • Name of Traveller • Date of Birth • Passport Number • Date of issue • Date of expiry • Nationality Currently the visa fees available at the ports of entry are as follows: Single entry (valid for 3 months) – US$50 Multiple entry (valid for 6 months) – US$150 Online visa service: applicants can register and login on the e-visa platform, fill and submit and applications, upload supporting documents including applicants’ photo and pay the visa fees in advance in line with new payment arrangements. To apply for an e-visa, register and login to the Immigration website: www.immigration.gov.mw or www.evisa.gov.mw.
Airport Tax:
Most airlines now include airport taxes in the tickets. But for charter flights these may still be payable, these will be communicated at the time of booking by our reservations team.
Health:
All visitors should be medically insured.
We recommend that visitors to Zambia take malaria prophylactics.
Tetanus, polio, typhoid, and the hepatitis vaccinations are recommended.
It is advisable to know your blood group type in case of an emergency. Please do ask for up to date health advice in your home country.
Insurance:
We ask that full insurance is put in place at point of confirmation. We highly recommend that every guest has insurance that covers the following as a minimum:
Cancellation and curtailment.
Medical costs (including full hospital costs should it be needed)
Personal accident or death
Emergency evacuation from the point of evacuation to the nearest best hospital and then back to the guest’s hometown.
Family or travelling partner should also be covered for accompanying an evacuation. We cannot emphasize how important it is to be fully covered. Private hospitals in Africa will not accept a patient until full medical insurance has been established.
Photography:
Please be sensitive when photographing local people and their villages. Ask the guide or the villagers first. Be careful when photographing public buildings and persons in uniform – again, ask first. No drones are allowed to be flown in the park.
What to bring:
You should always travel with soft bags not hard suitcases (not only for the smaller aircraft but also to fit into vehicles). Important items to bring along: Sunscreen, hat, good closed walking shoes, natural-coloured, safari-style clothing that can be layered – nothing bright, all charging cables and adaptors, binoculars, camera, medication you may have been prescribed including prophylactics. Depending on which time of the year you visit, a warm jacket and some gloves. Climate Depending on which time of year you visit, you may need waterproofs, a warm jacket or sunscreen. The dry months are from April till October and the wet months November till March. Temperatures range throughout the year from between 11-40 C
