Tongole Wilderness Retreat:
Tranquillity And Conservation Strength In Malawi’s Nkhotakota Game Reserve As soon as Malawi comes off the UK’s travel red-list, I book my flight. Triple-vaccinated and super excited, I arrive to a warm welcome at Tongole Wilderness Retreat, located in the heart of the Nkhotakota Game Reserve. This is a tranquil, idyllic venue set among the verdant miombo woodland. The private deck of my suite is meters above the Bua River; a lofty vantage from which to ‘green bathe’ – that is observe nature while breathing deeply and allowing all my pre-travel stress to ebb away. By Renette Hartridge
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y river-view suite is impressive – not only for its cool expansiveness but for its delightful decadence that features an oversized handcrafted bathtub. I say 'bathtub,’ but this is more like an indoor cocktail plunge pool – and big enough for two. Having worked (virtually) with the passionate Tongole team for the past year, I am highly motivated and excited to experience the retreat myself. Tio Kalanga-Kaluwa, the
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sales, marketing, and reservations manager for Tongole, hosts me, offering an inside track but also providing some much-needed camaraderie. ABOUT THE RETREAT AND TONGOLE FOUNDATION Tongole Wilderness Retreat is an exclusive nature lodge, with just five open-fronted suites, all overlooking the permanent Bua River which is a magnet for wildlife. The retreat has a decade behind it of travelessencemag.com
