Sunbird Ku Chawe

Stunning location.

We visited 3 times on our recent visit to Malawi. The pool , and attendant were great, food was good & generally very good experience. Why 4 stars and not 5… well, goes back to service. Ordered fri is and took ages to come, waitress forgot bottle opener, the dirty glass, all just meant took ages to just have my beer. Lack of towels at some point, so had to wait. All small but significant and really no excuse for any of it. Be better sunbird. Really could be the best spot in zomba!!!!

Sunbird Ku Chawe is situated high up on the Zomba Plateau - one definitely needs a car to get there. It has perfectly manicured beautiful gardens. Even though it was very hot the time that I was there, there is always a cool breeze as it is so high up! I loved my room with the views of the Zomba town & far off mountains such as Chiradzulu and Mulanje. Had a wet room and modern fixtures in the bathroom. There was a good selection of dishes for breakfast and varied menu for dinner. Although the menus seem to be the same in all the hotels I stayed in: Chigumula, Zomba & Blantyre. The food, however, is tasty and fresh. Again the staff were very nice and welcoming: Dumisani, who is so knowledgeable of the history of the Ngoni people (my roots), Miss Loveness, the restaurant supervisor, Gobery the manager and Mr Yason the big boss were all very attentive to ensure a comfortable stay. Second day in Zomba, we hiked about 12 km with my guide. We did William's Falls, Emperor's & Queen's Views, Chagwa lake and Mulunguzi Dam. That was exhilarating! There is so much more to do... but that is for another time. I loved my stay on the plateau. The town of Zomba itself could benefit from regeneration - it is so rundown!

Without a doubt this is the best place to stay in the Zomba area. If I returned to Zomba, this is the only place to stay even if it meant driving up and down the mountain everyday because, otherwise, Zomba does not have any other truly nice places to stay. The Ku Chawe is excellent in every respect...food, service, friendly staff, and well-maintained gorgeous grounds and views of the valley. Beware the baboons as they are out of hand and the WIFI is not reliable unless you are in one of the main areas. Doesn't work well in the rooms. But this is a great place to stay!

Positive was the friendliness and competency of staff. Negative was the absence of the once unique trout dish.

Sunbird Ku Chawe was worth the visit. It is set in a peaceful atmosphere above the Zomba mountain which speaks to the great views. The staff was welcoming and friendly. They were also very accommodating to our needs. The amenities are a bit dated but all in all a lovely breath of fresh air.