"Get involved at Butterfly’s Space

The History:

Butterfly Lodge, in Nkhata Bay, was established seven years ago by an English/Malawian couple. Located in a beautiful setting on the lakeshore, it has accommodation, established gardens and huge potential.

Two English ladies Alice Leaper and Josie Redmonds bought the lodge in May 2007. Alice had been in Malawi for over a year, volunteering at a school nearby and filming documentaries on different aspects of Malawian life. Josie had been in Malawi for nearly five years and been volunteering at different community projects, including a school garden project and mushroom growing project. Their idea when they bought Butterfly was to turn the place into something more than just for back packers.

The Concept:

To develop Butterfly as a unique community space aiming to bring together Malawians and passionate tourists. It will be encouraged as a place with musical, informational, practical and creative opportunities, and hopes to attract longer-term visitors who wish to volunteer in projects and community work. This space will also seek to be respectful of the environment and encourage ways to sustain and develop its beauty.

MWALANDILIDWA!

Three Main Ideas

Community:

We want Butterfly to have a positive effect upon the surrounding community, and as such will encourage activities and projects that are aimed towards them and will hopefully provide them with long lasting experiences and opportunities. (Link to butterfly space community)

Environment:

Environmental changes are at the forefront of people’s minds Worldwide and we will seek to develop Butterfly in a sustainable manner, employing appropriate technologies and permaculture principles wherever relevant. Providing demonstrations and information upon any techniques that we use will ensure that these developments can be available to the local community. (Link to Butterfly environment)

Volunteers:

We hope to attract longer-term visitors to Nkhata Bay and provide them with the resources and opportunities for them to get involved in positive projects within the community. Whether people want to get involved in the on-going projects, or if they have their own ideas and motivation, there are limited funds available to ensure they can get involved.

Accommodation

Dormitory

There is one big hut on the beach at butterfly that is our dorm. At the moment there are eight beds but we are looking to get bunk beds. We have a secure safe for your valuables and always a night watch man patrolling. There is nothing better than rolling out of bed in the morning and waking yourself up with a plunge into the lake instead of or on your way to the communal showers. There is electricity in this room for lighting as well as plugs to charge cameras or other gadgets you may have. All beds have their own mosquito net with no extra charge.

Chalets:

We pride ourselves at butterfly for the weird and wonderful designs of our rooms.

You can stay in a room on a 1st floor with your on private balcony overlooking the lake that you can see all the way to Mozambique on a good day, a frame tee pee like building with big opening windows leading to some steps that double as a great relaxing viewpoint, rooms with funky shaped baths long with many others.

All chalets are individually standing with vast gardens in between so you can have a great level of privacy if needed. There are double or twin options available and again all beds are provided with mosquito nets and electricity.

Everybody has access to showering facilities and baths on request.

We light a fire each evening so that hot water can be enjoyed.

At present we have flushing toilets but we are working on building compost toilet, as we are environmentally friendly.

Restaurant:

Our restaurant serves food all day from a lovely full breakfast from all nations to a light lunch with bread freshly baked. We all share an evening meal that changes daily and is very imaginative. Wednesday is pizza night, which is very popular. If you choose to eat out there are some brilliant local restaurants in town.

We are growing fresh produce in our gardens which stock our kitchen or we buy from local farmers and vendors. Other stock is brought in from town or the colourful fresh fruit market in Mzuzu. The chefs are happy to cook local meals such as nsima with a relish of your choice to sample. Check out our local menu.

Bar:

Separately we have a fully stocked beach bar where all your refreshment needs can be catered for. Serving the famous Carlsberg green and a variety of spirits and soft drinks. Here you can relax and play a local game of bow or chill out on the beach.